Council tops sustainable school travel leaderboard
Buckinghamshire Council has taken the top spot in the Modeshift STARS leaderboard for large local authorities, recognising its outstanding work in promoting sustainable travel to school.
The council now ranks number one for the percentage of accredited schools in its category, with 31% of Buckinghamshire schools holding a recognised travel plan. This achievement highlights the county’s commitment to encouraging active, safe and environmentally-friendly travel options for school journeys.
Modeshift STARS is a national scheme sponsored by the Department for Transport that supports schools in promoting walking, cycling, scooting and public transport. Schools are awarded accreditations ranging from Green through to Platinum, based on the quality and impact of their travel plans.
Buckinghamshire has seen strong growth in participation, with an additional 20 schools recently registered and beginning their journey towards accreditation. In total, 82 schools across the county are now part of the scheme, representing more than 24,000 students.
Thomas Broom, Buckinghamshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“We are thrilled to be at the top of the leaderboard for large local authorities. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all participating schools and encourage even more to join the movement.
“We’ve achieved this by working side by side with our schools, meaning we have been able to address individual needs and encourage initiatives to tackle day-to-day transport issues. It's important to recognise that each school can have unique challenges.
“We’ve worked to alleviate inconsiderate parent parking and have introduced behaviour change techniques aimed at reducing private car use and ensuring children’s safety whilst walking, cycling or wheeling to school.
“We also have an additional twenty Buckinghamshire schools recently registered with Modeshift STARS, achieving their first step on the accreditation ladder. We will keep building on this success and are pleased to be doing so well here in Bucks!”
The council continues to work closely with schools to develop tailored travel plans that support local needs and promote long-term behaviour change.
Find out more about Modeshift STARS at: www.modeshiftstars.org