TfL celebrates London schools’ sustainable travel programme

Transport for London (TfL) is calling on London schools to join its accreditation programme to encourage sustainable travel to school, to help improve air quality, health and safety.

TfL's Travel for Life programme, administered by London Transport Museum in partnership with London's Borough Officers, supports activities that promote walking and cycling to school and the safe use of public transport.

To achieve Gold accreditation, a school must have reduced car use by six% or achieved 90% of the school run being made using sustainable transport. The number of schools awarded Gold in 2024 was 735, a 10% increase compared to 2023.

Bromley currently has the largest proportion of Gold schools, at 63% followed by Islington at 49% and Havering at 45%. With 81% of its schools involved, Waltham Forest has the largest overall number of schools.

TfL Citizens, delivered by London Transport Museum, is one of the five TfL Travel for Life programmes and is for children aged 10-11. It 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.

Numerous studies point to the health benefits of walking and cycling to school, with national charity Living Streets citing improvements in mood and behaviour in children who travel on foot. With the Government's target for 55% of primary school aged children walking to school by 2025, TfL is calling on London schools not currently participating in Travel for Life to sign up to the scheme, so that pupils benefit from better air quality and improved health.

Fewer parents driving children to school also improves road safety, as TfL works to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London's transport network as part of its Vision Zero programme. Following several measures taken by TfL, there has been sustained improvement in safety for under-16s on London's roads. 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.”

Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO at London Transport Museum, said, "A big part of what we do at London Transport Museum is giving young people the skills, opportunities and confidence for the future. This includes working together to make greener choices, and so we're incredibly proud to collaborate with TfL and the London Boroughs on the delivery of Travel for Life. The recent increase in Gold accredited schools is inspiring - demonstrating young Londoners' and schools' commitment to a healthier, brighter, and more sustainable city."