Support for schools
Supporting the school run
We have plenty of schemes available to help students, parents and schools to walk, wheel or cycle more in their daily lives
Youth Travel Ambassador programme
Empowering students to make change
TfGM have partnered with Modeshift to support secondary schools in making active travel the number one choice for their pupils. The Youth Travel Ambassador (YTA) programme empowers the students themselves with the skills and confidence to address transport issues affecting their school community.
YTA teams of between 8-12 students, with support from a YTA coordinator and a member of school staff, research and develop campaigns with the focus on encouraging more active travel amongst their peers. Funding to deliver their campaign is secured at an interschool “Dragon’s Den” style pitch event where each school is awarded a grant of up to £500.
Youth Travel Ambassador in action
Stretford High School delivered their ‘No Car Day’ and active travel competition in May. They recorded:
a 4% increase in the number of students walking to school, with two further students choosing to regularly cycle.
a 6% drop in car use.
They plan to deliver their campaign again and hope a permanent school street can be put in place.
Register your interest
The 23/24 year programme has begun, but to register your school’s interest for future years and to find our more, please contact active.travel@tfgm.com.
Keen to get the programme underway this year? We have also created YTA ‘Lite’ resources for schools to deliver in their own time. Please email active.travel@tfgm.com to request the resources.
Current Youth Travel Ambassador Schools
Altrincham Grammar Schools for Girls, Trafford
Levenshulme High School, Manchester
Manchester Communication Academy, Manchester
Matthew Moss High School, Rochdale
Piper Hill Specialist High School, Manchester
Saddleworth School, Oldham
Shevington High School, Wigan
St James’ Catholic High School, Stockport
Stretford Grammar School, Trafford
Stretford High School, Trafford
Wardle Academy, Rochdale
Wright Robinson College, Manchester
Travel Plan Toolkits
Want to encourage more active travel at school but not sure where to start?
Modeshift STARS is an online travel planning toolkit for schools, which assists in:
Creating, developing, and implementing travel plans
Monitoring and evaluating the initiatives contained within them
Recognising and rewarding excellence in the promotion of active and sustainable travel.
National STARS accreditation is awarded to the schools who show excellence in promoting walking, cycling, and wheeling to and from school. There are 5 levels of accreditation: Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Register for your school here.
More reasons to get going with STARS!
We are currently offering prizes for all schools who gain their accreditation before December 2023.
Any school who gains their accreditation or moves up an accreditation level (eg from Good to Very Good) will receive an exclusive goodie bag with walking resources in.
In addition, any school gaining a Modeshift STARS accreditation level of good or above will be entered into a prize draw. Two schools across Greater Manchester will win the first prize of a scooter training session for their school and two schools per local authority will win a scooter for their school (total of 20 scooters across Greater Manchester)*.
Plus, all schools who gain accreditation receive a certificate and the right to use the Modeshift STARS logo on your website and letters.
There are other advantages to gaining accreditation, such has having a great data set on travel habits and the potential to reduce air pollution and congestion around your school.
*Age-appropriate alternatives available for winning secondary schools.
Current STARS accredited schools in Greater Manchester
Bury
Guardian Angels RC Primary School
Manchester
Manchester Communication Academy
Levenshulme High School
Oldham
Hey-with-Zion Primary School
Christ Church C of E Primary School
St Anne's C of E (Aided) Primary School
Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School
Stockport
Stockport Academy
Cheadle Hulme High Schoo
Tameside
Denton Community College
Trafford
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
Stretford High School
Wigan
Aspull Church Primary School
Castle Hill St Philip's C of E Primary School
Lowton West Primary School
St William's Catholic Primary School
Woodfield Primary School
St John's C of E Primary School, Abram
St Mary's C of E Primary School
Bespoke School Mapping
Get a localised active travel leaflet and map for your school
TfGM have partnered with Pindar Creative to provide primary schools with bespoke school maps. The maps provide information on how to travel actively to and from school. They highlight walking zones, park and stride locations, safe crossings, and the best routes to school.
To request a bespoke map leaflet, complete this form and return it to Active.Travel@tfgm.com.
School run guidance
Our guidance has lots of tips and resources that can help you walk, wheel or cycle as part of the school run.
Resources for schools
There are a range of other resources available that support schools to encourage active travel. Here are a few useful links:
Get in touch for more support
If you would like to find out more about how TfGM can support your school to encourage active travel, contact active.travel@tfgm.com
