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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

School Streets

Transforming the school run with walking & cycling-friendly initiatives

Youth Travel Ambassadors

Empowering students with the skills and confidence to address transport issues affecting their school community

Travel Plan Toolkits

Get access to an online planning toolkit for schools that encourages sustainable travel

Bespoke School Maps

We can create travel maps and leaflets for your school

Resources for Schools

There are a range of resources available for schools to encourage active travel

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.

Students from Hawkley High School with their £500 prize at the Youth Travel Ambassador event

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.

Stretford High Road Closure

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.

Mother and son walking to school through active neighbourhood square

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

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