Events > Safer, Greener, Healthier School Travel Planning: Transforming Rhetoric into Reality

Event Details

Title:

Safer, Greener, Healthier School Travel Planning: Transforming Rhetoric into Reality

Date:

Thursday 20th May 2010

Time:

10:15am – 3:40pm

Venue:

The Guoman Charing Cross Hotel, The Strand, London

“ There is no single 'magic bullet' solution to improving school travel…While there are benefits to reducing car use and encouraging walking and cycling where appropriate, no single mode is suitable for everyone to use. Government and local authorities should work with schools, parents and students to encourage them to consider the impact of different forms of transport. Safe and suitable alternatives to car use for children and young people must be provided, be they public transport, dedicated school buses, walking schemes or safe cycling.”
— Second Report on School Transport, Transport Select Committee, March 2009

“As a Department we have a joint target with the Department for Education and Skills, that by March 2010 all schools in England will have a school travel plan. More than 10,000 schools already have one in place. And last year we announced grants to encourage 'walking buses' for school children. Over 3,200 primary schools - more than 1 in 6 - will receive these grants….”
— Secretary of State for Transport, March 2007

Overview

The School Transport Bill, introduced in 2004 to overhaul outdated school travel planning, paved the way for a number of new Government initiatives. Central to the strategy for school transport was the need to find workable alternatives to unsustainable levels of car usage. It was hoped that various schemes involving better bus services, walking, cycling and car-sharing would tackle congestion and promote a safer, greener and healthier route to school for all children. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 and Home to School Travel and Transport Guidance, published by the Department for Education and Skills in 2007, provided further momentum by placing more statutory obligations on local authorities in relation to school transport provision.

In March 2009, the House of Commons Transport Select Committee published its second report on school transport, and whilst expressing disappointment at the lack of progress on aspects of school travel planning before the introduction of 14-19 diplomas, the committee of MPs recognised that “There is no single 'magic bullet' solution to improving school travel”. The report did, nevertheless, outline a series of key recommendations, including:

Rethink the potential of concessionary bus fare schemes for young people

Review ‘statutory walking distances’ framework

Assess the impact of the introduction of new 14-19 diplomas on student travel costs

Local Authorities must work within Multi-Agency frameworks to integrate and deliver transport, health and education objectives for school travel

Collect and disseminate examples of good practice in local school transport

To coincide with National Walk to School Week 2010, this special symposium offers a timely opportunity for local practitioners, schools and other stakeholders to assess the progress made at the local level since the report’s findings, and consider future initiatives to develop more effective and innovative local school travel plan strategies. Delegates will have the opportunity to debate, share good practice and network with colleagues from across the school transport and local authority landscape.

Programme