TfL calls on schools to back plan to boost safety, health and air quality

Transport for London (TfL) is urging schools in the capital to sign up to its sustainable travel accreditation programme to help improve air quality, health and safety. This follows a 10% increase in schools achieving the highest ‘Gold’ status last academic year, said TfL. ‘Gold’ status is achieved by reducing car use by 6% or making 90% of school journeys by sustainable transport.

The number of schools awarded Gold in 2024 was 735, a 10% increase compared with 2023.

The TfL Travel for Life programme involves activities that promote walking and cycling to school and the safe use of public transport. Primary and secondary schools can become Bronze, Silver or Gold accredited. The programme is administered by London Transport Museum in partnership with London’s Borough Officers.

Bromley has the largest proportion of Gold schools, with 63%, followed by Islington with 49% and Havering at 45%. Meanwhile, Waltham Forest currently has the largest overall number of schools participating in the TfL Travel for Life programme, with 81% of its schools involved. Bromley and Islington also have large numbers of schools participating, with 74% and 71% of schools respectively, TfL reports.

TfL Citizens, delivered by London Transport Museum, is one of the five TfL Travel for Life programmes and is for children aged 10-11. TfL said the programme now has more than 100,000 pupils and 91% of London schools taking part, preparing children for travelling to secondary school and teaching skills such as journey planning.

Fewer parents driving children to school also improves road safety, said TfL, stating that its measures are reducing the number of road fatalities and serious injuries among under-16s. In 2023, the number of children killed or seriously injured on London’s roads reduced by 40% against TfL’s 2010-14 baseline.

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said: “The New Year is the perfect time to introduce children to sustainable travel so I would encourage as many schools as possible to join this fantastic scheme which improves the environment and supports fit and healthy lifestyles. We know that children who are introduced to active travel from a young age are more likely to continue the habit into adulthood – and it would be great to see even more schools involved this year.”

Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Health, Safety & Environment Officer, said: “Clean air is fundamental for a London where every young person can thrive. Walking and cycling to school cuts out the harmful emissions from cars, and also gets children active, benefitting them both inside and outside the classroom. It’s so encouraging to see growing numbers of schools achieving Gold accreditation and we need to keep that momentum going, and so if your school makes just one New Year’s Resolution for 2025, we would love for you to sign up to TfL Travel for Life.”

Find out more about these initiatives at School Streets 2025