Students at more than 1,000 London schools have made significant progress in reducing car use on the school run and increasing walking and cycling, bringing benefits for health and air quality, as part of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) schools programme.
TfL has recorded a year-on-year increase of 283 schools that have achieved Gold Accreditation with its TfL Travel for Life schools programme, coming in at a total of 1,009 schools at the end of August. The programme, running since 2004, comprises free educational programmes for schools for children aged 3 to 17, and is delivered in partnership with London Transport Museum and all London boroughs. It inspires children to travel actively, responsibly and safely, and, to reach Gold accreditation, schools must reduce car use by six per cent or achieve 90 per cent of the school run being made on sustainable transport.
Over the last academic year Barking and Dagenham, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Westminster have at least doubled the number of their schools achieving Gold accreditation, with Harrow increasing from 12 to 27 schools. Waltham Forest currently has the highest proportion of its schools engaged at any level with TfL Travel for Life, with almost nine in 10 taking part, whilst Lambeth saw the biggest year-on-year increase of engaged schools, almost doubling the number over the last year.
St Helen’s College in Uxbridge has reached Gold accreditation for the third time. The achievements of its students over the years include sourcing money for new scooter parking and funding from London borough of Hillingdon to go towards road safety and active travel initiatives at the school. Other initiatives include sessions led by sixth form students for younger year groups on hate crime and racism.
The new academic year has begun with a series of TfL Travel for Life visits to schools across London. Schools that are not yet involved with the programme are being encouraged to find out more and sign up, to help reap the benefits of walking and cycling, and reducing car use.
TfL’s Chief Health, Safety & Environment Officer, Lilli Matson, said: “TfL Travel for Life has gone from strength to strength, empowering children to make safer and healthier choices about how they travel. We’ve achieved a major milestone of 1,000 London schools at Gold accreditation, but we would love to see every school in the capital benefit from the fun and engaging programme and the benefits it brings for health and air quality. If your school isn’t involved yet with TfL Travel for Life, find out more by visiting our website or getting in touch – this could be the start of your school’s journey to a safer and more sustainable future.”
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “It is fantastic that over 1,000 London schools have achieved the highest level of accreditation with TfL’s schools Travel for Life programme. Each additional school that gains ‘Gold’ accreditation helps deliver real benefits to both the environment and people’s health.
“TfL’s Travel for Life is helping the next generation of Londoners understand both the importance and the joys of active travel so I’m delighted that the programme is continuing to expand as we build a greener and safer London for everyone.”
