| Every school is expected to have a school travel plan by 2010. The plan details how pupils travel to and from school, their mode of transport, their preferred mode of transport, pupils' safety during their journeys to school and promoting sustainable travel and a healthy lifestyle. At Shire Oak we have just completed our travel plan. It is currently waiting to be signed off by Walsall Council. When this is complete we will be allocated a grant to carry out any improvement we have identified.
Our school travel plan is available as a pdf file. Shire Oak School Travel Plan
Mrs E Hardwick
Mrs D Critchley
School Council reps: Jodie Brampton,
Helena Hassall,
Laura Humphrey,
Hannah Brookes
So far we have carried out travel surveys with the following groups:
Pupils - via online survey
Teaching and non teaching staff - via paper questionnaire
Parents - via paper questionnaire during performance review appointments.
The data collected from these surveys has been analysed. Then after looking at the most common areas of concern, an action plan has been created. As a school we now need to address these action points and make the necessary changes/alterations to ensure that our pupils journey to and from school are safe and the facilities we provide.
The pupil travel reps have carried out speed gun tests on the Lichfield road. The pupils measured the speed of approaching vehicles towards the school. The average speed was 30 mph. However we suspect that this was due to the pupils having the speed guns and approaching cars slowing down. The most common vehicles that were speeding lorries and buses. This causes concern as the breaking distance is longer for larger vehicles therefore is more hazardous to the pupils on their journeys to and from school.
The reps have also carried out a ‘parked car survey’ at the end of the school day. They focused their attention on St Marks road and the 3 surroundings roads.
Between 2.30pm - 3.00pm, 101 cars were counted. These were parents/carers waiting to pick up pupils. As a result of thenumber of cars parked at the main entrance/exit roads to the school, there is a reduced amount of footpath for the pupils to use. This forces pupils to often walk in the roads. This is hazardous to both pedestrians and car users for obvious reasons.
Included in our action plan we have identified the need for better cycle storage and security. We plan to spend part of the grant to improve these provisions.
Pupils
- if you travel by car, if possible (distance permitting) arrange with your friends to walk to and from school at least once per week;
- if you live too far away to walk, see if you can car share with another pupil/ relative;
- why not try cycling to school? Cycling is a great why to energise yourself ready for the day ahead. You will need to get a pass from Mr Howship and arrange a bike check to make sure, for your safety, that your bike is road-worthy.
Parents
- try to encourage your child to walk to school at least once per week;
- take part in our 'park and stride' initiative. Why not drop your child off at a designated drop off point (Shire Oak Pub or Anchor Pub) and then encourage them to walk the rest of the way.
http://www.schooltravelwise.org.uk/
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