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
Modeshift STARS Travel Plans
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.
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
School travel plans with Modeshift STARS
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:
Identifying and addressing transport issues around school
Recognising and rewarding excellence in the promotion of active and sustainable travel to and from school
Creating, developing, and implementing travel plans, and monitoring their impact
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: Approved, Good, Very Good, Excellent, and Outstanding.
Register for your school's interest in a travel planning toolkit.
More reasons to get going with STARS!
All schools who gain accreditation receive a certificate and earn the right to use the Modeshift STARS logo on your website and letters.
There are other advantages to gaining accreditation too, such has having a great data set on travel habits and the potential to reduce air pollution and congestion around your school.
Active travel also improves mental and physical health of staff and pupils ,and helps pupils arrive at school ready to learn.
The Modeshift STARS platform supports other TfGM projects such as the School Steets programme and the Youth travel Ambassador scheme (secondary schools only).
TfGM and your local authority are able to support you through the process. We hold half termly support webinars, and have a range of support material and resources.
Here are a couple of resources to download:
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
