Published: 3rd JUNE 2025

Creating safer school streets in Sefton

Since 2023, Sefton Council and Sustrans have been working in partnership on several collaborative design projects, with the goal of making school neighbourhoods and school journeys in Sefton safer for everyone.

A group of primary school children wearing orange high-vis vests stood outside smiling in the sunshine

The project is helping to build fun, healthy and greener habits for life. Credit: All Saints Catholic Primary School/Sustrans

We've been working with 15 schools in Merseyside alongside Sefton Council to support families in travelling to school in healthy, fun and active ways.

The work, part of our School Streets programme, is helping to encourage autonomy and independence in older children, and greater social interaction within the school community.

This is all while helping to tackle the congestion, poor air quality and road safety concerns that many schools experience.

A case study: All Saints Catholic Primary School 

Sustrans Project Officer, Sam Turner began working with All Saints in March 2024, and has been working closely with Miss Adderley and a task force of amazing young people to improve school journeys.

After completing the Big Street Survey, the task force began exploring ways to reduce congestion outside of school.

They identified the need to lower the number of vehicles parking outside of school.

In order to do this, they set up a Park and Stride scheme, where families who drive are encouraged to park further away from school and walk the end of their journey.

I liked it because we met people we don’t normally talk to and it was less harmful to the environment.
Taleen, Year 5 pupil at All Saints Catholic Primary School
A poster drawn by a child showing a blue sky and a green field with wording at the top which reads Park and Stride along with other text which says stop pollution and save our world

Credit All Saints Catholic Primary School

Encouraging a culture of active travel

Reflecting on the work, Sam Turner, Project Officer for Sustrans, said:

"I've worked with the school community to encourage a culture of active travel, and to help them to design a healthier school journey.

"The school as a whole have taken on this challenge with a roll-up of sleeves and a healthy dollop of enthusiasm.

"The school champion, Miss Adderley has been fantastic at helping to organise activities and encourage staff to get involved too.

"The level of engagement has allowed enabled us to implement the Park and Stride scheme from Bootle Leisure Centre which has enabled families who are unable to walk, wheel or cycle all the way, to be involved in the positive changes around school.

"Taking part in the Big Walk and Wheel and completing the Big Street Survey has created a real buzz amongst the young people.

"Seeing the cycle shelter full to the brim most days makes me feel a real sense of achievement."

It’s great to see the council working with Sustrans and local young people to make these simple changes which can make travelling to and from school safe, healthier, less polluting and a more enjoyable overall experience.
Councillor Diane Roscoe, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families
A small girl riding her bike in the foreground, with people cycling behind her in the background on a residential street.

School Streets projects have helped to reduce traffic and improve the safety of roads and the quality of air in many communities around the UK. Credit: photojB

It was great because I got to talk to my friends. I’ll do it every day.
John, Year 5 pupil at All Saints Catholic Primary School

Addressing safety concerns

Miss Adderley, Year 3 teacher at All Saints Catholic Primary School, has been delighted to see the improvements of the school's local area as well as to the children's learning:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Sam and the Sustrans team in creating safer travel conditions for pupils at All Saints.

"The children, at each stage, have gained so much thanks to her engaging activities and relatable manner.  

“It’s been fantastic to see Sam take their ideas and turn them into tangible, realistic plans that are already being put into motion.

"The children really feel like it is their own project and lasting legacy thanks to the guidance from the team, something they are really passionate about.

“Beyond the pupils’ feelings, it has been great for me to see a real safety concern being taken seriously and addressed.

“Not only have we been able to create a safer travel route for pupils, their knowledge and passion for safer, healthier travel is now evident throughout the school, and spreading!”

Find out more about our work across the UK to improve the streets around schools and see how we could support your school.

Read more about what schools and teachers can do to make the journey to school more active.
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