St John Fisher Catholic High School in Dewsbury is the latest recipient of a Metro SAFEMark award for promoting good behaviour on school buses.

SAFEMark is given to those schools which make a commitment to improve safety and the behaviour of pupils on school and regular bus services. Metro's SAFEMark team runs the scheme in partnership with local bus operating companies and West Yorkshire Police.

"I'm delighted that St John Fisher has gained this award," said Councillor Tony Brice Metro's Kirklees District Spokesman.

"Metro's SAFEMark scheme rewards secondary schools for taking public transport seriously by making a commitment to improve safety and the behaviour of pupils on school and regular bus services. This award demonstrates St John Fisher's dedication to forging links with the local community and also serves as a good example of what can be achieved through a partnership approach."

Receiving the award for St John Fisher Catholic High School, Headteacher Mr Kevin Higgins said: "We are delighted to receive this award from Metro. The drive to reach the Award standard has come from the pupils themselves. Since signing up to the scheme, pupils have improved on their already good behaviour, and the Award is a just recognition of that. The service is very much appreciated by our pupils and their families and we are very proud to receive this Award and look forward to continuing our work with Metro in promoting the SAFEMark scheme."

St John Fisher School reached the required standard for the award by:

- actively promoting SAFEMark through parents' evenings and the school's web site;

- producing a handbook to make sure all school staff know who to contact and what to do;

- regularly liaising with service operators, C T Plus, Arriva, John Rigby, Longstaff of Mirfield and Alyles, on any incidents.

SAFEMark is one element of Metro's drive to improve public transport and cut road congestion across West Yorkshire. The school run is currently responsible for 1 in 5 cars on the road at peak times and Metro is reducing that figure through schemes such as SAFEMark and My busyellow buses, which encourage pupils and parents to choose public transport for the home-to-school journey.