Schools | Teachers Resources - Transport

Energy and School Travel

Transport is directly responsible for about 30% of the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide. Both the Government and the transport industry are taking steps to reduce the quantities of CO2 released. But ordinary people have to play their part too, whether as individuals, families, businesses, or communities and their schools.

School-related travel affects the health and safety of children, teachers and communities, together with the physical and mental development of pupils. In recent years there has been an increase in travel by car involving the taking and collecting of children to and from schools, commonly known as 'the school run'. This has led to congestion at school gates, increased pollution around the school and a less safe environment for those children that walk or cycle to school, as well as the obvious increase in fuel usage.

To support the development of travel plans, a curriculum module has been developed to assist schools in establishing strategies that will alleviate some of the adverse impact of the school run. Background information is provided on the range of programmes that are available to support school travel plans, together with examples of activities that pupils can engage in.

For further information on travel plans see www.sustrans.org.uk