At the start of the 2024–2025 school year, our School Travel Champions made a pledge:

“We want to involve more parents and local shops to help reduce pollution around the school, especially as we have three entrances and exits. We also want to encourage more families to ‘park and stride.’”

This year our main focus has been reducing engine idling outside the school. At the start of the year, the TFL Explorer Ambassadors carried out a survey during drop-off and pick-up times. They noticed that many cars were idling or parked on double yellow lines. To raise awareness, the children created colourful posters using sections of the Walk to School Map. These posters are now displayed around the school and on the gates.

Since 2023, the Tudor Road entrance has been a School Street, which has helped reduce traffic. We also took part in the Big Walk and Wheel again this year. The Explorer Ambassadors held assemblies to explain the event, encourage participation, and remind pupils that prizes could be won.

During the two-week challenge, we ran the popular Golden Lock competition. Each day, the ambassadors placed a lock on a scooter or bike, and the lucky owner won a prize. We also compared cycle and scooter usage before and after the event and found scooter use had increased by 12%! Thanks to everyone’s hard work, our school came 1st in London and 29th nationally – a fantastic achievement. Top 3 Nationally

We have also set up a new School Travel Working Group, which includes pupils, parents, a governor, staff, and ambassadors. At our first meeting, we discussed future events and how we can encourage even more families to walk, cycle, or scoot. Parents suggested that teachers could also speak in assemblies about sustainable travel. The group will meet once a term.

Because we have maintained our travel accreditation, the school has received funding from the local council. This has been used for travel activities, information leaflets, and resources for children across the school.

The Explorer Ambassadors also worked with the Eco School Council during Cut Your Carbon Month in November. Pupils were challenged to walk five miles a week and take part in other eco-friendly activities. The Eco Council has now won the Green Flag Award two years in a row, with the Travel Ambassadors playing an important role.

Across the year, pupils have also learned about road safety, air quality, recycling, and sustainable travel in their PSHE lessons and assemblies. Some highlights include:

• Big Walk and Wheel

• TFL Explorer Ambassador projects

• Road safety bookmarks

• Cycling training

• Air quality activities in KS2

• Water-only and Sugar Smart policies

• Our new classroom light system

Through all these activities, pupils are learning how to make healthier, greener choices and to take care of their environment.