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School Travel writing competition

We want to hear what Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils would tell the government to do to make it easier to walk and cycle to school. Get your pupils to either write a letter or newspaper editorial aimed at their government.

Winning pupils will also win a bike and there are six runner-up walking and cycling packs up for grabs.

We'll be looking for entries in both key stages that demonstrate an awareness of sustainability, health and safety issues... and which contain creative, imaginative and innovative ideas!

Download the Submission form, a Pupil Entry template and a Competition Resources document (for both key stages) from our Toolkit page.

Post all the pupil entries together with a covering submission form to School Travel Competition, Sustrans, 2 Cathedral Square, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5DD by 5pm Thursday 1st April 2010. Winners will be announced during Bike to School Week (26-30 April 2010).

Make a film, win a camcorder!

For pupils in Scotland, we are running our "Reel Journeys" competition - make a 3-minute film about how you get to school now and how you would LIKE to get to school. Six camcorders are up for grabs.

For details visit www.movingimageeducation.org or download a flyer(pdf)

March-April 2010 news

Observer Ethical Awards

QUICK! They close 12th March. They are looking for young people who have been taking action against climate change. £2000 bursaries up for grabs. Visit the Observer website.

Bike It Virtual Bike Race

100,000 pupils from Sustrans' Bike It schools are racing to complete an 8,500km race around all the Bike It schools in the UK. Over 60,000 journeys have been made in the first week of March with three more weeks to go - and you can check out everyone's progress live! Visit our Bike It pages.

Curriculum resources

Travelwise on Merseyside have got some new free curriculum resources  - these are only for the local council areas, but they do have a useful website with a myriad free curriculum plans anyone can use, visit www.gotravelwise.com and click on the Staff Room.

Health News

Leeds University have found that promoting emotional benefits of exercise to teenagers may be more effective than highlighting health and physical benefits.

January-February 2010 news

Walk Once a Week expands to 900 new schools

Living Streets walking campaign for school shas received a £800,000 contribution to run in more areas of low activity and higher obesity rates, such as the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Tyne and Wear.

Read more on the Department of Health website.

What's silent, costs up to £20bn and could prematurely kill up to 51,000 people per year in the UK?

Air pollution from transport. Every year Britain breaches EU limits on toxic airborne particulates and we now risk hundreds of millions of pounds in fines. Read more online in the Telegraph.

Our latest newsletters are out

Both Routes 2 Action and Tracks, our young people's newsletter, are both out - just visit our Newsletter section under Resources.

£60,000 Big Challenge Project fund

This is available for 16-25 year-olds. Does a school travel project you do help the community? If so, check their website - they are also looking for young people to sit on their Youth Leadership Team (deadline 12th February 2010).

Health Headlines

UK children's fitness is falling twice as fast as other countries and Manchester hopes to tackle child obesity via residents-only parking permits around schools. Also, polices to tackle climate change make us healthier and only 30% of teenagers get the bare minimum recommended physical activity after they leave school.

New government road safety website

Replacing the old "hedgehog" and "arrive alive" resources - and much improve - visit talesoftheroad.direct.gov.uk. Includes games and ongoing competitions.

New National Travel Survey out

Find out who travels, why they travel and what they travel for - including to and from school. www.dft.gov.uk

November-December 2009 news

20mph zones save lives

Yet more research on the dramatic effectiveness of lower speed limits - a recent report found that the introduction of 20 mph zones in London was associated with a 41.9% reduction in road casualties. Read more at www.brake.org.uk, including Brake's response.

Interestingly, there are studies that show lower urban speed limits make little difference to journey times (and can improve them) due to better traffic flow and lower congestion.

What's going on in Scotland?

Sustrans' I Bike project to get more girls cycling and young people's Action Days for starters - more details on our Scottish School Travel page.

SEEd/WWF online sustainability course for educators

Starting January 2010 and using the DCSF's National Framework for Sustainable Schools as a starting point, this professional development programme offers an opportunity to explore how taking a sustainable schools approach can benefit pupils, teachers, the wider community and of course the health and wellbeing of the planet on which we all depend.

Full details at www.se-ed.org.uk/onlinecourse2010

Free & discounted reflective gear

The Co-op has FREE hi-vis walking bus packs to give away if your school is near one of their businesses, visit www.co-operative.coop for more info. BrightKidz also have a new clearance section on their site, www.brightkidz.co.uk.

Seen & Heard Awards 2009 - closes 20 November

BT and the UK Youth Parliament are looking to recognise the achievements of inspiring young people. In their own words:

"Young people who've made a real difference to their own lives and the lives of others. Young people who make their voices heard about the issues that matter. Whether it was contributing to a magazine, defending the rights of young carers, or giving a voice to children on the streets - if you or someone you know has used their speaking and listening skills to achieve something positive, we want to hear about it!"

The closing date is 20 November 2009, so get nominating, either yourself or someone else - all the info you need is on the Better World website.

September-October 2009 news

The Health effects of Climate Change

Eighteen of the world's professional medical organisations have warned that if December's Copenhagen climate talks do not produce a strong UN climate deal, it will be "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century". Read more on the BBC website, or on the BMJ and Lancet sites for more detail.

Funding

If cycling promotion at your school has a sports element and helps the community, you may be eligible for funding from utltd.org's Sports Relief Awards. Find a host of other funding grants in our Resources section, within the Toolkit.

Routes to Play

The school journey isn't the only one young people take! Our Active Travel and Play team have produce Routes to Play, a new guide for local authorities and other organisations managing outdoor play space, on ensuring children and young people can get to play areas actively and independently.

Sustrans' Motion for Women - petition

Our research shows that most women (79%) don't cycle because they don't feel safe. We want the government to change that by creating environments that encourage and support cycling - specifically this must include cycle paths separated from traffic. Lend your support at www.bikebelles.org.uk, it only takes a minute. Closes 29th November.

Youth Parliament debates transport

For the first time in 300 years, non-MPs will be sitting on the famous green seats. On 30th October, Youth MPs from ages 11 to 18 will debate the issues that affect them - including transport. www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

Interactive cycle training resource

Developed for schools in Argyll and Bute, now nominated for a national transport award, iCycle was developed as the Council sought how best to boost children's theoretical knowledge of road safety issues. It's gone down a storm with pupils apparently, read more at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk. Want the resources? See the news story below!

Free interactive whiteboard resources

Available at www.prometheanplanet.com - they designed the iCycle tools used to great success in Argyll (see news story above). Check the Resource Pack section for various cycling lessons and packs.

Can you reduce your carbon output by 10%?

Can't be that hard, right? Thousands of businesses, organisations and individuals are showing the government - and world - what can be done by pledging to reduce their carbon use by 10% by the end of 2010. www.1010uk.org

2nd Scottish school travel Hands-up Survey

Taking place between 7-11 September - get on board!

Right to Ride - children's rights to cycle to school

The CTC continue their campaign to ensure every child has a right to cycle to school - for parents whose children have been prohibited, a free information kit will be available from the end of the first week in September. Visit www.ctc.org.uk/righttoridetoschool

July-August 2009 news

• Sustain your efforts with The Pod

A website devoted to helping your school be more sustainable. Transport is covered alongside energy, water and waste, with some good features, appealing layout and a fairly comprehensive list of funding sources - visit www.jointhepod.org

• Transition from Primary to Secondary School

Various councils in London have produced an excellent website to deal with this crucial period. This is when children are most keen to cycle and walk, but good work and habits learnt at primary are often lost as adapting to a new school seems to reduce opportunities.

With sections for parents, pupils andteachers, it features positive, practical advice but in a fun format with great graphics and features... prizes, games, lesson plans, discounts, mapping, videos and competitions are all on there.

If you aren't in one of the boroughs listed, just select one at random and see what they offer, it isn't just borough-specific. We had a snoop round a few and most of the info is relevant to all.

Visit http://upgrade7.org.uk and you can also have a look at Sustrans' own transition work in our Resources section - read the Executive Summary in our Toolkit.

• Why do some schools ban cycling?

The CTC wants to find out! Following the high profile case of 11-year old Sam O'Shea whose family moved mountains to over-turn the school cycling "ban", the CTC are asking people to let them know if their school bans cycling - so that they can find out why and help schools change their perceptions.

If you know of a school that bans cycling, please email debra.rolfe@ctc.org.uk with "school cycle ban" in the subject line.

• £230,000 to get Scottish Schoolgirls cycling

Schoolgirls in Scotland will be encouraged to start cycling to tackle their decreasing levels of activity as part of a two-year pilot project by Sustrans - read more on our News Release. Boys will benefit as well though!

• Health headlines

More active children stay thinner as they get older, a University of Iowa study has found. For every extra 10mins of exercise they took at 5 years old, they had a third of a pound less at 8 and 11 years old - visit www.telegraph.co.uk

These are available here to download for free, but you can order hard copies by calling tel: 0117 9150100 or emailing us on schools@sustrans.org.uk

• Safe Routes to Schools Introduction (pdf)
• Staying Safe on the School Journey (pdf)
• Cycling to School (pdf)
• Walking to School (pdf)
• The Health Benefits of Walking and Cycling to School (pdf)
• Developing a School Travel Plan (pdf)
• Resource List for School Travel Initiatives (pdf)
• Facts and Figures to support School Travel Initiatives (pdf)
• Cycle Parking for Schools (pdf)
• Pupil's engagement and participation in School Travel Plans (pdf)
• Scottish Resource List (pdf)
• Scottish Facts and Figures (pdf)
• School Travel and the Obesity Challenge (pdf)

School Travel writing competition (open until 17:00, 1 April 2010)

Download our full details in our Competition Flyer(pdf). Other downloads are:

Key Stage 2 resources(pdf)

Key Stage 3 resources(pdf)

Submission form (Word doc)

Pupil entry template (Word doc)

Template forms

Sample "Bike It" Cycling Policy (pdf)

Sample cycle permit (Word)

Pupil School Travel Questionnaire (Word)

Parents School Travel Questionnaire (Word)

Quick School Travel Questionnaire (Word)

Sustrans School Travel publications

Choose Another Way - a Teacher's guide to developing a school travel plan (pdf)

Guide to Pupil Particpation (pdf)

Pedal Pack - step-by-step guide to running events or Bike to School Weeks (pdf)

Beauty & the Bike - Bike It project to encourage girls to cycle (pdf)

Primary to Secondary Transition Project - Executive Summary 2008 (pdf)

Healthier Routes DVD - Pupil Guide(pdf)

Healthier Routes DVD - Teacher Guide(pdf)

Northern Ireland Rural SRS Project - Final Review 2009 (pdf)

Also see our Newsletter and Infosheets pages.

Other resources

Benefits of Active School Travel (pdf)

Cycle Parking Manufacturers (pdf)

SEN Factsheets (pdf)

SEN Schools and School Travel Plans (pdf)

Finding Funding(pdf) - list of various funding bodies and grants, plus how to apply and how to raise your own

Aims, Objectives and SMART Targets (pdf) - guidance to help write your Travel Plan

Pedometer Guidance (pdf) - how to make successful use of pedometers to boost activity

Private suppliers (pdf) - of SRS goods and services

Can't find what you want?

Try looking under our other Resources - we have sections for our Newsletter, Infosheets, Curriculum, Useful Links and Travel Plans.

Bike It resources can be found under the Bike It pages.

Still can't find it? Why not call us on 0117 915 0100 or email schools@sustrans.org.uk

In it you'll find inspiring stories of what other schools and councils have done, as well as top tips, common Q&As, resource reviews, competitions and the latest policy and research news across the fields of health, transport and the environment.

You'll find the most recent issues here, but you can subscribe to the newsletter by calling us on tel: 0117 915 0100 or emailing schools@sustrans.org.uk. Alternatively, you can sign-up online to receive the latest edition via email three times per year.

Routes for Spring 2010 is our latest - download Routes 20 (pdf).

Tracks

Our brand new newsletter, written for young people, by young people.

Includes articles by pupils on what they are doing to get school transport issues going - sustainably. Also interviews, websites, key facts, resources, competitions and jargon-busters designed to help pupils not just to be aware of travel issues, but engage in them and let the decision-makers know what they think.

Download the latest issue Tracks 05 (pdf) or sign up online to receive the latest edition via email three times a year.

Scottish & Northern Ireland newsletters

We produce two newsletters a year for both countries and if you subscribe to Routes in either Scotland or Northern Ireland, you will automatically get these too.

Electronic copies

Don't want to receive hard copies? Just check the site regularly for the latest editions, sign-up for our monthly e-bulletins which will let you know when they are posted or contact us via 0117 915 0100 or schools@sustrans.org.uk

In addition, there are many other regional events tackling the issues around School Travel. Coming up over the next few months:

January-February 2010

Annual School Travel Conference, 26 January, London

"New challenges for a new decade" - This conference will examine the likely implications of increased demand for school transport services going into the new decade, and look at successful initiatives from local authorities that can form the basis of sustainable solutions. Speakers come from various authorities, government bodies, consultants and other organsiations - including Sustrans. Download a conference flyer (pdf), or visit the Neil Stewart Associates website, www.neilstewartassociates.com

SEEd/WWF online sustainability course for educators, 11th January - 26th March

Starting January 2010 and using the DCSF's National Framework for Sustainable Schools as a starting point, this professional development programme offers an opportunity to explore how taking a sustainable schools approach can benefit pupils, teachers, the wider community and of course the health and wellbeing of the planet on which we all depend. Full details at www.se-ed.org.uk/onlinecourse2010

November-December 2009

Road Safety Week, 30 November - 6 December

www.brake.org.uk

Modeshift Conference, 26th-27th November, Glasgow

The principal conference for school travel professionals: www.modeshift.org.uk

Cycling Scotland Annual Conference, 17th November

This year's event in Aberdeen will discuss three major opportunities to grow the number of cyclists: The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places, Cycling and Schools. The event will also provide delegates with a unique platform to engage with those most intimately involved in cycling in Scotland. For more details visit www.cyclingscotlandconference.org

Free training for Pupils, teachers, parents and school representatives. The focus of the days will be to help boost healthy school travel and help school champions learn more about promoting healthy and environmentally-friendly travel to and from school.

Scotland

Oban, Argyll and Bute - 24 March 2010, Corran Halls, full details TBC

For details or to book, contact Cecilia Oram on 0131 539 8128 or email cecilia.oram@sustrans.org.uk. We will be able to supply funding to cover the cost of a supply teacher for a limited number of schools.

We have Bike It Action Days throughout the year. If you are a Bike It school you will automatically be invited and Bike It Officers may sometimes open events to other interested schools. See the Bike It pages for more info.

Having your own Action Day

Our School Travel Action Days are a one-day package that equip school champions (teachers, governors, parents and young people) with the inspiration and knowledge needed to take a leading role in school travel plans and safe routes to schools.

The School Travel team at Sustrans combine enthusiasm and experience to stimulate lively and productive sessions. Well-informed and knowledgeable, the team use fun and unique approaches to ensure a high level of participation and enjoyment from the day.

Sustrans can organise and run events for individual local authorities or consortiums. For more information contact Merryn Preece by email merryn.preece@sustrans.org.uk or tel: 0117 915 0117 to discuss a package to suit your needs, costs and availability.

For Scotland, contact Lynn Marshall on tel: 0131 539 8129 or email lynn.marshall@sustrans.org.uk

Comments from recent events

• "Enjoyed very much. Great to meet other teachers and hear what other schools are doing." - London
• "Very helpful. Good speakers with enthusiasm and relevant information." - Buckinghamshire
• "Very enjoyable day, packed with useful ideas." - Brighton

• English Curriculum Resource Key Stage 1
• English Curriculum Resource Key Stage 3
• Scottish Curriculum Links
• Scottish Curriculum Planning
• NI Making the Links Guide (pdf, 2MB) - Northern Ireland Curriculum Resource (Feb 09)
• NI Making the Links Resources (zip, 5MB) - Northern Ireland Curriculum Resource (Feb 09)

Please note, Making the Links Resources is a large "zipped" (compressed) file, comprised of various documents. You will need to unzip it to open these. The Making the Links Guide will tell you how to make best use of the resources.

Other curriculum resources

Local authorities and many other organisations provide excellent free or low-cost resources. Roady Safety ones can be found on the Department for Transport website's lesson plans.

There are also numerous websites which can be used to gather information or carry out exercises, such as working out your "carbon footprint" - get in touch with your local council and have a look at our useful links page.

We will rotate with new ones periodically, so if you see one you particularly like, make sure you save a copy!

You may also like to take a look our School Travel Plans.

 KEY:

Type of School

P=Primary, S=Secondary, SEN=Special Educational Needs, U=Urban, R=Rural

Key Features

W=Walking, B=Cycling, STP=School Travel Plan, C=Curriculum, PI=Pupil Involvement, CI=Community Involvement, IC=Infrastructural Changes

There are many great stories out there, we have simply tried to cover a broad range of what schools - and individuals - are doing.

However, if you have your own case study that is a particularly good example to others, please email alistair.goulding@sustrans.org.uk. We can't promise to put them all on, but we would be delighted to have a look.

We also have a template form (Word doc) which you can fill in to provide the required details.

This free downloadable resource, produced by Sustrans, is intended to help parents and teachers organise cycle to school events to encourage children to take to two wheels and enjoy a green, healthy and independent way of getting around.

Research shows that just 15 minutes exercise a day can halve a child's risk of becoming obese - cycling to school can be a great way of building exercise into children's daily routine. And with 20% of traffic at 8.50 on a school day morning coming from the school run, it will also help to ease congestion at the school gate. Plus we know that children who cycle to school arrive more alert and ready to learn - it really is better by bike.

Sustrans draws on ten year's experience working with schools to create this information resource, full of tips and advice on how to get in gear organising a cycle to school day or week.

• Download the free Pedal Pack resource (pdf).

For further information about Sustrans' school travel programme, see the Bike It and Safe Routes to Schools projects.

The Welsh Assembly Government has a budget for Safe Routes in Communities projects and each year the local councils bid for funding from this for school travel initiatives in their areas. This can include creating safe walking and cycling routes to schools as well as school cycle parking.

Schools should contact their council's School Travel officer to discuss their needs. Try ringing the council, call us on 0117 915 0100 or email schools@sustrans.org.uk, and we will see if we can give you a contact name.

We also have Welsh case studies and School Travel Plans to look at in our Resources section.

General Information

Look through our News, Events and Resources sections for more help with your school travel initiative.

Some of these can be found in our Where are you? section.

Otherwise, we will be posting any applicable national and regional policy documents on this page as they become available.

We have included a few key ones here, plus a list of links to download (pdf).

Getting started

• www.bikeability.org.uk - National Standard Cycle Training
• www.walktoschool.org.uk - runs the national Walk to School Weeks and WOW campaign
• www.brake.org.uk - Brake are the national Road Safety charity
• www.bikeforall.net - The one-stop-shop for all things cycling!

School Programmes

• www.healthyschools.gov.uk - Healthy Schools initiative, all school should be partcipating by 2009
• www.healthpromotingschools.co.uk - the Scottish Healthy Schools programme
• www.eco-schools.org.uk - Eco-Schools initiative, run by Encams
• www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools - Sustainable Schools initiative, all schools should be involved by 2020

• Broadmeadow SEN Primary, Wolverhampton, England
• New City Primary, inner-city London
• The Elms SEN School, Knowsley, England
• Torbain Primary, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
• St Marys Cushendall, Co. Antrim, NI
• Hezlett Primary, Coleraine, NI
• Muthill Primary, rural Perthshire, Scotland
• Central Infant and Junior, Port Talbot (joint STP), Wales

There are many fantastic travel plans out there, these are just a handful of examples.

It is a good idea to contact your local council to see if they can show you some succesful ones. The Tower Hamlets website has a large number of STPs to look at that have received the grant, including "specialised" schools such as Pupil Referral Units. The Thurrock Council's website also has examples - they are the first authority to have STPs at all their schools.

If you are in England and submitting your STP to the School Travel Advisor (STA) to receive the government capital grants, you do need to meet certain criteria, so make sure you speak to the STA. Also see our England information page for further details.

Not sure who this is? Call us on 0117 9150100 or email schools@sustrans.org.uk and we should be able to find them for you.

Don't forget it will need to be submitted by March each year... but contact the STA much earlier to make use of their expertise and advice!

Want a quick introduction to school travel plans?

Download our free STP infosheet. Our Scottish team have also produced a Teacher's Guide to developing STPs in conjunction with www.chooseanotherway.com

The Departments for Transport and for Children, Schools & Families jointly run a school travel initiative in England.

They are funding School Travel Advisors (STA) in every local authority who can help schools to write travel plans (STPs). The target is for all schools to have an STP by 2010.

School Travel Grants

If a school writes a travel plan to the required criteria and it is approved by the STA, they are eligible for a travel plan grant. The deadline is March each year.

Primaries receive £3750 + £5 for every pupil, Secondaries receive £5000 + £5 per pupil.

More information is available on the Teachernet website, including criteria for the STP and what you can spend the grant on.

It is best that you contact your STA for full details on eligiblity and grant conditions. Independent schools are not entitled to grants, but STAs can help them write plans and offer other advice... and local authorities may have budgets to help in other areas.

Contact your Council to speak to your STA is, otherwise call us on tel: 0117 9150100 or email schools@sustrans.org.uk and we will try to provide a contact.

General Information

Look through our News, Events and Resources sections for more help with your school travel initiative.

School Travel projects also:

• improve road safety and reduce child casualties
• improve children's health and development
• reduce traffic congestion and pollution

School Travel projects involve:

• the whole school community
• local residents
• local authorities
• health and education workers
• police

School Travel projects are all about working together as a community to make the school journey safer and healthier for everyone.

Successful projects are child-centred, build on small steps to raise awareness and change travel behaviour and benefit the whole local community by helping to create safer, more healthy environments. Each school is different, with its own local problems and possible solutions.

Developing a School Travel Plan can help ensure the complete situation is considered and embed safe and sustainable school journeys into the whole schools ethos.

We have further information about school travel initiatives and policy specifically in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can also read more about what the Sustrans School Travel team does and use our News, Events and Resource sections for all the help you need to get your own project started!

Information Service

Our information service is free. Whether you want hard copies of our infosheets, would like to subscribe to our newsletters and e-bulletin, or need some specific advice, either call us on (tel) 0117 915 0100 or email schools@sustrans.org.uk.