Mode of travel data to support local transport and health policies.
Mode of travel data is still necessary to plan, implement, support and provide evidence of the effectiveness of transport and health policies in schools; we would like to continue to collect it locally using Modeshift Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition for Schools (STARS). You can submit your data at any time during the school year or during Travel Smart week when wall charts are provided for this purpose.
Modeshift active travel days of December
As part of the ongoing promotion of active travel during the school year, Modeshift has developed a suggested calendar of activities for each day in December in the run-up to the end of term, with some ideas for eco-friendly and active ways to get to school.
December is a busy month of the year, and your school may already be taking part in activities like Winter Wheelers with Love to Ride, Alzheimer’s Society Elf day, Save the Children Christmas jumper day and Treetops Hospice Reindeer dash.
The calendar aims to incorporate these and other ideas, to encourage walking, wheeling, scooting, cycling, or using public transport as part of the school journey.
There is even an accompanying song, to the tune of the '12 days of Christmas', featuring 12 active ways of travelling, which you can join in with.
Please visit the Modeshift website to download a calendar and song sheet.
You can take part in as many or as few of the Active travel days of December activities as you like. If you can, please share your participation on social media using #ModeshiftActiveTravelDecember.
Resources from Travel Smart week remain on the SMILERS page and can be used to promote additional road safety messages.
Mode of travel survey
The wall chart supplied during Travel Smart week, for each class to record their usual and preferred modes of travel as well as the modes used during the campaign week, can be used to provide your mode of travel data. You only need to submit the usual and preferred modes of travel which can be collected during Travel Smart week or at any other time of the year with as a hands up survey on the Modeshift STARS page.
Data is required annually for at least 80% of pupils and 50% full time staff at school. You only need to supply it once during an academic year.
To submit your data, if your school has not already done so, please register and then log on to the Modeshift STARS website.
Go to the cog button and select ‘add new survey’ to enter the preferred and actual modes of travel. For ease and a single entry you could tally up the figures for the entire school and add them all in one go. In this instance type in “whole school” where it asks for the class name.
Alternatively on your Modeshift STARS school site home page you will also find a unique survey link that can be emailed to each class teacher so they can complete the survey in the classroom if you have the facility for this.
Your data submission is also an important element to contribute to your school travel plan.
Modeshift STARS school travel plans
With high profile stories concerning climate change, air pollution as well as mental and physical wellbeing in the forefront of many people’s minds, one way to bring about a positive change is to think about how we travel.
According to the Bikeability Trust, if just one parent and child chose not to drive to school all year round, this could save almost half a tonne of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Imagine the impact that could be achieved if every child in your school who is currently driven made an active journey for all or just part of the way!
Fewer car journeys would also contribute to reducing the nitrogen oxides and air pollution particulates associated with traffic as well as alleviating the congestion and aggravation caused by cars parking outside the school gate. Furthermore, encouraging walking, cycling or scooting also provides the opportunity for increased physical activity and improved mental health.
Section 508A of the Education Act places a general duty on local authorities to promote the use of sustainable travel and transport, with further details given in the Department for Education home to school travel and transport guidance.
The authority’s Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy utilises Modeshift STARS as a means of promoting sustainable travel to school through the development of a travel plan which recognises and rewards schools who have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel.
Modeshift STARS is a free online tool that any school can adopt. As a starting point it asks you to conduct a simple survey to ascertain the actual and preferred modes of travel to school from which you can develop an action plan of activities and initiatives to reduce the negative impact car travel has.
Some of these initiatives you may already have in place, such as bikeability training, Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel, national clean air day and taking part in Travel Smart week.
Modeshift STARS aims to bring all these things together to form a coherent travel plan that demonstrates schools commitment and achievements towards the journey to net zero, reducing air pollution, reducing congestion at the school gate and helping to provide opportunities for increased physical activity.
Travel plans are also often required for planning consent for new school buildings, and the mode of travel data you supply also helps to support wider local transport and health policies.
If you need any help with your Travel Plan please do not hesitate to contact the Sustainable Travel team:
Email: sustainable.travel@derbyshire.gov.uk