Rue de L’Arquet, which runs along the west side of the school, has now been permanently closed off to traffic at drop-off and pick-up times on school days, following on from a year-long trial started last year.
‘I think it’s fantastic,’ said Annelotte Jehan, who is mother to a Year 1 pupil at La Houguette.
‘It gives the children more space and freedom to cycle and walk, and it’s safer for them when it’s dark or there’s low visibility.’
Mrs Jehan was cycling into the school with her son that morning – something she has made a habit of doing since moving to the island from the Netherlands last summer.
Her sentiment was echoed by other parents too, who appreciate the School Street for encouraging children to take more active modes of transport into school.
‘I think it’s brilliant,’ said parent Nicola Gibbons.
‘Even just doing a bit of exercise in the morning can help the children be more ready to be sitting down and concentrating.’
La Houguette is the second local school to have a permanent designated School Street, following on from the implementation of one at St Martin’s Primary School in 2023. Official trials are also ongoing for Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s High Schools.
‘It’s brilliant,’ said La Houguette headteacher Claire Judd.
‘I can especially see the benefits when we run our walking bus – not just benefits for their health, but also for them talking together.
‘It’s so nice to see them all talking to each other outside and spotting the animals.
’It’s important to remember it was the pupils who instigated this positive change back in May 2024, and their initiative has encouraged a large cohort of students and parents to travel actively to and from school – forming healthy habits that will last a lifetime.’
The trial for the scheme at La Houguette was started last January, and has, by anecdotal report, catalysed a notable increase in the number of students arriving to school by active means.
‘It used to be a real rat run in the mornings,’ said La Houguette lunchtime supervisor Kim Carre, who herself lives along Rue de L’Arquet.
‘At first I was sceptical of how they were going to police it, and whether people would just ignore the signs, but the trial went really well.
‘The children have walked and cycled in a lot more.’
Paul James, Traffic & Highway Services road safety officer, said he had been pleased with the positive reception from all four School Streets so far trialled.
‘Encouraging the use of alternative transport by making it safer to walk or cycle is a key part of our objective, and it’s been really good to work with La Houguette to make this a permanent fixture for their school community.’
Rue de L’Arquet is now closed to traffic on weekdays during term time from 8-9am, and from 2.30-3.30pm.
Exceptions remain for those who are cycling, as well as for emergency vehicles and vehicles accessing their properties.
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