Westminster City Council has a statutory duty under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to promote sustainable travel to and from school, and between schools and other institutions.
This booklet, along with the work that is delivered and commissioned by the Road Safety Education Team at Westminster City Council, meets the statutory duty.
1 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Contents
Executive summary
What is a school travel plan?
Sustainable Travel and Road Safety Education
School Travel Plan Measures
Public Transport
Partnership working
Good Practice
Useful contacts and websites
School Travel Plan and Road Safety Initiatives
2 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Executive Summary The Strategy will set out all the proposals and programmes that will be undertaken to encourage school communities to Westminster City Council has developed a Sustainable choose safer, healthier and environmentally friendly Modes of Travel (SMoT) Strategy in line with the methods of travel. requirements outlined in the Education and Inspections Act 2006 which incorporates five main elements: To achieve the objectives of the Strategy, the following aims of the City are: - an assessment of the travel and transport needs of children, and young people within the To encourage all schools in the City to have a authority’s area; travel plan in place in line with the targets as - an audit of the sustainable travel and transport follows; 50% of schools with a travel plan by infrastructure within the authority that may be March 2015, 75% of schools with a travel plan used when travelling to and from, or between by December 2015 and 100% of schools with a schools/institutions; travel plan by December 2016. - a strategy to develop the sustainable travel To implement the Better City, Better Lives five and transport infrastructure within the authority year plan to make Westminster a safer, so that the travel and transport needs of healthier, more enterprising and more children and young people are better catered connected city. for; To investigate areas that have been identified - the promotion of sustainable travel and as a road safety concern and where deemed transport modes on the journey to, from and feasible and funding available, improve the between schools and other institutions; and City’s infrastructure for walking and cycling. This - the publication of Sustainable Modes of Travel can help increase walking and cycling, and Strategy. enhance the skills needed for safe and independent travel as identified in the City’s The SMoT Strategy outlines how Westminster are assisting Cycling Strategy and forthcoming Walking schools to produce and maintain approved School Travel Strategy. Plans and promote and encourage sustainable travel and To ease vehicle congestion and improve air transport for children and young people from the ages of 5- 1 quality outside schools. 18 year olds . To contribute to the long term health and well being of children and young people by choosing a sustainable mode of transport. To provide support, guidance and educational 1 Compulsory school age’ and ‘sixth-form age
3 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 resources to encourage sustainable transport choices.
There are over 30,000 pupils that attend the 90 schools that are in Westminster. The school types are as follows:
35 primary schools 2 secondary schools 13 academies (primary, secondary and both) 4 free schools 2 special 1 academy alternative (formerly Pupil referral unit) 4 nurseries 29 private
The Strategy will build upon work already being undertaken by the Council and partners to ensure the maximum success using the resources available. Priority will be given to groups of schools where the potential for achieving beneficial change in terms of safety, congestion, health and the environment is greatest.
Westminster’s Strategy is a living document and will be reviewed and published by 31st August annually.
For more information, please contact:
Carla Lowe Road Safety Officer Telephone number: 020 7641 4095 Email: [email protected]
4 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 What is a School Travel Plan? and effort schools had made to increase sustainable mode of travel use and road safety awareness. School travel plans aim to encourage healthier, sustainable travel on the journey to and from school – i.e. walking, There are three levels of accreditation; Bronze, Silver and cycling and public transport use - and away from private car Gold. trips and the 'school run'. They set out a number of practical steps and measures which will encourage and promote For academic year 2014/15, there are 51 schools that have sustainable and healthy modes of transport. a valid travel plan and 23 of which have been awarded Transport for London’s STARS Accreditation Level. School travel plans are online documents which are produced by schools in response to their own community How are children currently travelling to school? road safety and sustainable travel needs and issues. They are reviewed annually along with travel survey data. This is then used to inform any initiatives the school can 2014/2015 Modal Split (%) implement to increase sustainable travel and improve road safety. Car 17% A school travel plan is a whole school project which can be 39% Rail/Tube linked to the curriculum and address a range of issues 12% Bus around school travel; from environmental education, to River health benefits, from skills and safety training and school- 29% based activities to streetscape measures. Cycling
3% Walking Westminster City Schools 0%
There are 90 schools in Westminster City Council that consist of 35 primary, 2 secondary, 13 academies, 4 free The data shows that for academic year2 2014/15 there were schools, 2 special schools, 1 academy alternative and 29 less than 20% of pupils travelling to school by car, but just private education establishments. In 2013/14 there were 35 over 82% utilised a sustainable mode of transport to get to schools (39%) that had a valid travel plan as of 31st July school. 2014. 11 of which were awarded Transport for London’s STARS Accreditation Level which recognised the work, time 2 1st September to 26th July, dependent on school type and INSET day(s) allocations
5 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Mode of Travel to School - 2013/14 and 2014/15 Comparison 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 Car Rail/Tube Bus River Cycling Walking 2013/2014 – Totals (35 1884 1860 2793 12 204 4151 schools) 2014/2015 – Totals (51 3195 2352 5400 12 502 7387 schools)
In total there were 10,904 pupils that were surveyed in 2013/14 and 18,848 in 2014/15. The bar graph above shows the number of pupils that travelled via differing modes of transport during academic year 2013/14 compared to 2014/15. It is apparent that getting to school by foot and bus are the most popular mode of transport, however car use is slightly higher than rail and/or tube use. Walking, bus and cars are the top three modal choices of transport for pupils in both academic years.
6 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Sustainable Travel and Road Safety Education
Walk to School Campaign The children learn road safety skills to use with the help of Many schools in Westminster take part in Walk to School an adult. The training is intended to give children the skills Week in May and International Walk to School Month in for independent travel in the future and we strongly October. At both times of the year, schools are encouraged recommend that children are always supervised by an adult to take part in activities that promote the benefits of walking , when crossing roads. The pedestrian training scheme is which in turn will encourage children, parents and staff to based off of the Department for Transport’s Kerbcraft model. travel to school by a more sustainable mode of transport. The scheme was re-launched in April 2014 and has trained In Spring/Summer 2015 there were 5 schools that 320 children to date. participated in a Walk Once a Week (WoW) Pilot which saw pupils that walked at least once a week during either The Year 6 extension of the scheme is offered to all schools January or May receive a Strider badge. The pilot was with this age group. based off of the original WoW scheme developed by Living Streets. Legible London Maps As a pilot programme, all primary and secondary schools received a customised Legible London map, which displayed each school in the centre showing a 5 and 10 minute walking ring around it. Schools have used it in lesson plans, for risk assessments, local visits and for visitor Westminster Wiser Walking Scheme information. This child pedestrian training scheme is offered to Year 2 The maps are also used in the Year 6 Wiser Walking and 3 pupils at all Westminster primary schools and takes Scheme. place throughout the academic year during term time. It consists of two sessions; a 30 minute classroom session Park & Stride and upto a 60 minute long walk in groups of upto 10 This initiative requires parents/carers to park a short children. distance away from the school entrance and then walk the rest of the way. This is an easy and gradual step for
7 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 parent/carers to increase their families’ amount of activity Road Safety Lessons and resources every day. Throughout each academic year, road safety education is It also can positively contribute to reducing vehicle offered to all schools. Schools can opt to have the lessons congestion around the school entrance and improving air delivered be a road safety officer or facilitated through quality. resources or staff training. Free resources are also offered to reinforce safety whilst travelling in Westminster. Parking Concession Cards Schools receive road safety literature such as a Highway City of Westminster can offer a concession card to schools Code for young users, bus/cycle/tube maps, parent whose parent/carers drive. An assessment is individual to guidance for 3-5 year olds and 7-11 year olds. each school’s needs. It allows for a ten minute window for drop off/collection of children in specified areas. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) The card is to help reduce inappropriate parking behaviour Transport and practices which can impact on road safety around the immediate vicinity of a school such as double parking, Every academic year, pupils’ journeys to and from school engine idling and blocking of residential driveways. The are assessed and if deemed appropriate, they will have concession card is offered in conjunction with other road assistance via a travel escort (including walking and public safety and school travel initiatives and schools are transport). If this travel intervention is not appropriate, then encouraged to have a travel plan to discuss all road safety transport on a shared bus or individual taxi is arranged. and travel concerns. There are further investigations into developing independent travel training programmes in Westminster, such as a travel School Crossing Patrol Service escort services for assessed students. Westminster City Council adopted the School Crossing Patrol service from the Metropolitan Police in 2001 and maintains a service at sites which meet the recommended criteria to help both children and adults alike to cross the road safely. There are currently 10 School Crossing Patrols operating at various sites across the City of Westminster.
8 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Cycle and Scooter Training A level of funding from Transport for London cycle and scooter parking is available to all schools that have a school travel plan, are STARS accredited and would like new or additional cycle parking. Where there is no space on school sites, the City of Westminster are scoping locations for on- street cycle parking that schools may be able to benefit from due to the locality.
Bike It Plus Programme The City of Westminster is committed to making cycling an enjoyable and preferred mode of transport for children This programme aims to increase levels of cycling to school travelling to school. through tailored assisted activities to meet each schools Anybody who lives, works or studies in the City of needs and create a pro-cycling culture. Westminster is eligible to make use of this service. A Bike It Officer will work with pupils, staff, parents and the Cycle Confident, Westminster City Council’s cycling provider wider community to achieve: saw 581 pupils cycle trained from September 2014 to July 2015. Sustained increase in the number of children and young people (and parents) cycling to school. Cycle Led Rides Reduction in the use of private motor vehicles to take children and young people to school. Westminster Road Safety in conjunction with Cycle Provide children and young people with cycling skills for Confident produced cycle-led rides that are themed around life. its history and culture. Bike It Plus is funded by Transport for London and These rides are being offered to schools at the end of their Westminster City Council. cycle training assessment. It is delivered by Sustrans in partnership with the City.
The first year of the Bike It Plus programme started in Cycle/Scooter Storage September 2014 through to July 2015, working in two ‘hubs’.
9 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Each ‘Bike It hub’, had one secondary school and five Westminster schools had over 80 JTAs and/or dedicated primary schools. This was to develop stronger links for pupils disseminate road safety and sustainable travel continued cycling in the transition from primary to secondary information from September 2014 to July 2015. school and beyond. Youth Travel Ambassadors (YTA) Activities consisted of bike maintenance sessions, cycling days, Bikeability training, Olympic Park Velodrome visits,
BMX Track days, assemblies, kit sales, assemblies and more. This is a youth-led education project developed by Transport To monitor cycling uptake, pre and post surveys were for London delivered by the London Transport Museum in completed by all the participating schools to measure conjunction with Westminster City Council and other whether the activities and initiatives increased cycling as a stakeholders. mode of travel to and from school. It was discovered that Young people are given the opportunity to create and deliver there was an increase in cycling from the participating a campaign to alleviate a travel and/or road safety issue that schools ranging from 3% (5 pupils) upto 23% (24 pupils)3. affects them and their local community.
We had three secondary schools participate in the programme since May 2014.
Junior Travel Ambassadors (JTA) In July 2015 Transport for London hosted a YTA Expo Event which invited all schools from across London that were The scheme encourages peer-to-peer engagement and involved in the scheme to take part in activities that provides schools with free toolkits and guidance in order to encourage peer-to-peer learning for active travel, road and promote safer, active and independent travel within the personal safety. school community. The YTA programme will reopen to secondary schools in September 2015.
3 Data range based on the 12 participating schools in the Bike It Plus programme for academic year 2014/2015.
10 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Public Transportation
Transport for London Zip Oyster Home to school travel assistance
In some circumstances it may be necessary for children to have assistance travelling from their home to school. Westminster City Council can offer financial or alternative travel.4 Further information can be obtained from Westminster’s School Admissions Team.
Since September 2005 all children living in London under the age of 16 have been able to travel for free on London's buses and trams if they hold the relevant Zip Oyster Card. Parents/carers can collect applications from their local Post Office or apply online via Transport for London’s website.
Transport for London School Party Travel Scheme
This scheme provides free off-peak travel from Monday to Friday to schools based in London (including summer, special needs and nursery schools) that are visiting an educational or cultural venue within the city. Schools just have to register to take advantage of the scheme. All Westminster schools are eligible for this scheme.
4 Special educational needs and disabilities, exceptional circumstances and low income families are taken into account. Financial or alternative travel is provided if funding is available.
11 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 School Travel Plan Measures
Through the travel plan programme, schools highlight road safety concerns that they feel have a direct impact on the safety of their pupils.
Through assessing these concerns, it is sometimes deemed appropriate to implement changes to the highway. Engineering schemes could include, but are not limited to school warning signs, review of school keep clear markings and improvement of pedestrian crossings.
Engineering schemes are implemented via funding from Transport for London.
12 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Partnership working and happiness of their pupils, staff and wider school communities. Air Quality The partnership is an alliance of local authority and health services together with a range of other agencies and, most To improve air quality, the City has its own ‘Westminster Air importantly schools. Quality Action Plan’. Measures include the following: Schools can participate and gain recognition for their work at Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation levels. engaging with schools to deliver sustainable transport A school travel plan is one of the criteria to obtain a Healthy solutions and installing two 'living walls', and Schools Award. promoting cycling and walking infrastructure Westminster Sports Team Two ‘living walls’ have been installed at St Vincent de Paul RC Primary School and St Marylebone CE School. To keep children active, the Sports Team offer activities in the form of borough wide competitions such as cross In order to ease congestion and improve air quality outside country, netball, sports hall athletics, football, swimming, the main entrance of schools, anti-idling is promoted to golf, basketball, tennis, cricket, athletics, dance, tag rugby schools via the Westminster School’s newsletter that is sent and multi-skill exercises. to every school in Westminster. They have an ever-growing leadership programme that provides training for young people to be effective and Healthy Schools Awards responsible volunteers. This department also offers other partnership activities as and when they are available.
The Healthy Schools Partnership (HSP) is the local programme award and Healthy Schools London (HSL) is the Pan-London award. Both award structures support and encourage schools to develop and deepen their focus on health and wellbeing to support the attainment, achievement
13 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Communications
Westminster has its own communication team that is dedicated to disseminating information to various audiences throughout the City of Westminster and beyond.
Road safety and sustainable travel information is relayed via the following methods:
Westminster Wiki Children’s First The Reporter Westminster’s website Schools Improvements Team Westminster’s social media accounts i.e. Twitter
The Westminster Road Safety Education Team maintains contact with schools via telephone calls, emails and visits.
14 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Good Practice
Westminster City School Pimlico Academy
As part of the Bike It Plus Scheme pupils had an introduction
to cycling and trick skills with a BMX Track Day. A special Campaign Showcase Expo was held in July 2015 at Central Hall Westminster, where Youth Travel They have plans to hold other cycling events in the school to Ambassador (YTA) teams from across London shared their raise awareness of cycling. experiences, celebrated their successes and explored their developments through the YTA programme. The school have a Bronze STARS accreditation level.
The event had an exhibition format with stalls, activities, College Park talks, films and workshops.
Rollapaluza were one of the activities that YTAs from Westminster City School too part in.
They are now working toward a STARS accreditation level.
College Park embeds journey planning in their curriculum. They have the Gold STARS accreditation level.
15 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Useful contacts at Westminster City Council
School Travel Plans and Westminster Sports Unit Westminster Wiser Walking Scheme – Child Pedestrian Training Andrew Durrant, Head of Sports & Wellbeing Carla Lowe, Road Safety Officer T: 020 7641 5885 T: 020 7641 4095 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Westminster’s Children First Magazine Road Safety Education E: [email protected] Peter Wilson, Road Safety Officer T: 020 7641 2016 Other useful contacts and websites E: [email protected] Sustainable Travel: Active Responsible Safe (STARS) Legible London Transport for London, Education and Training Team Colleen Gardner, Legible London Project Manager W: www.tfl.gov.uk/stars T: 020 7641 3142 E: [email protected] Zip Oyster Cards and other travel information Transport for London Air Quality W: www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/travel-for-under-18s Jennie Preen, Principal Policy Officer W: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/schools-and-young-people T: 020 7641 1883 E: [email protected] Metropolitan Police: Westminster Safer Transport Team W: www.met.police.uk/teams/transportcentral/westminster Cycle Training W: www.westminster.gov.uk/cycling-courses-schools Healthy Schools Partnership David Millard, Healthy Schools Tri-Borough Coordinator Schools Admissions Team T: 0773 847 6236 T: 020 7745 6433 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: http://www.healtheducationpartnership.com/healthyschools.aspx W: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/assistance-home-to-school-travel
Parking Service Delivery Karl Parish, Lead Engagement Officer T: 020 7641 7022 E: [email protected]
16 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 School Travel Plan and Road Safety Initiatives
Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation
Abbey College (DLD College
London Belgravia Campus) ● Abercorn School ●
● ● All Souls CofE Primary School ● ●
● Abingdon House School
● ARK Atwood Academy ● BRONZE
Bales Private School and Sixth
Form College
Barrow Hill Junior School ● ● BRONZE
Beachcroft AP Academy ●
Burdett Coutts and Townshend ● CofE Primary School CET Primary School ● ● Westminster Christ Church Bentinck CofE ● ● ● BRONZE Primary School Churchill Gardens Community ●
Primary School ● ● College Park School ● GOLD
17 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation ● ● College Park School ● GOLD
● ● Connaught House School ●
Davies Laing and Dick College (DLD College London
Marylebone Campus)
Dorothy Gardner Centre ●
Eaton House School
● Edward Wilson Primary School ●
Essendine Primary School ● ● ● BRONZE
Fairley House School
Francis Holland School
(Regent's Park) Francis Holland School ●
(Sloane Square) ● ● ● Gateway Academy ●
● ● ● ● George Eliot Primary School
● ● Hallfield Primary School ●
18 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation ● ● Hallfield Primary School ●
Halcyon London International
School Hampden Gurney CofE ● ● ● ● BRONZE Primary School International Community
School
King Solomon Academy ●
Lansdowne College
L'ecole Bilingue Elementaire
L'ecole Internationale Franco- ● Anglaise Ltd
Mary Paterson Nursery School
Millbank Academy ● ●
Naima Jewish Preparatory
School Our Lady of Dolours RC ● ● ● ● BRONZE Primary School
Paddington Academy
Paddington Green Primary ● School
19 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation
Pimlico Academy ● ● BRONZE
Pimlico Primary ● ●
Portland Place School
Portman Early Childhood
Centre Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee ● ● BRONZE School
Queen's College London
Queen's Park Primary School ● ● ● BRONZE
Quintin Kynaston School ●
● Robinsfield Infant School ● ● GOLD
Soho Parish CofE Primary ● ● ● BRONZE School Southbank International ● School St Augustine's CofE High
School St Augustine's CofE Primary ● ● ● ● BRONZE School St Barnabas' CofE Primary ● ● School
20 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation
St Christina's School ● ● ●
St Clement Dane's CofE ● Primary School St Edward's RC Primary ● ● School St Gabriel's CofE Primary ● ● School St George's (Maida Vale) RC
School St George's Hanover Square ● CofE Primary School St James's and St Michael's ● CofE Voluntary Aided Primary
School St John's Wood Pre- ●
Preparatory School St Joseph's RC Primary ● ● ● ● BRONZE School
St Luke's CofE Primary School ● ●
St Mary Magdalene CofE ● ● ● BRONZE Primary School St Mary of the Angels RC ● ● ● ● ● BRONZE Primary School St Mary's Bryanston Square ● ● ● ● ● BRONZE CofE School St Matthew's CE Primary ● ● ● ● ● School
21 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation St Nicholas Preparatory ●
School St Peter's CofE Primary ● ● ● BRONZE School St Peter's Eaton Square CofE ● ● Primary School St Saviour's CofE Primary ● ● BRONZE School St Stephen's CofE Primary ● ● ● School St Vincent de Paul RC Primary ● ● ● BRONZE School St Vincent's RC Primary ● ● ● ● ● SILVER School ● Sylvia Young Theatre School ●
Tachbrook Nursery School
The American School in ● ● London
The Grey Coat Hospital ● ●
The St Marylebone Church of ● BRONZE England Bridge School
St Marylebone CE School ● ●
Westminster Abbey Choir
School
22 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015 Bike It Wiser Parking Healthy School Transport for Cycle School School Plus Walking concession Schools Travel London Training Crossing Patrol 2014/2015 Scheme card Award Plan Accreditation
Westminster Academy ● ● ● ● BRONZE
Westminster Cathedral Choir
School Westminster Cathedral RC ● Primary School
Westminster City School ●
Westminster School ●
Westminster Under School ●
Wetherby Preparatory School ● GOLD
Wilberforce Primary School ●
All information and data within this document accurate as of 31.8.15
23 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015
24 Westminster City Council: Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) 31.8.2015