School Travel Reward Scheme

The School Travel Reward Scheme (STaRS) is aimed at children of primary school age, and rewards pupils for walking or cycling to school rather than travelling by car. This helps to cut traffic congestion and improve air quality outside schools, and can help to achieve School Travel Plan targets. Also, encouraging walking and cycling to school increases pupil health and fitness levels and therefore supports Healthy Schools programmes.

How does it work?

Every time a pupil walks or cycles an agreed minimum distance to school (around 400m), they get a star stamp in their STaRS logbook. Repeated walking and cycling is rewarded with bronze, silver and gold stickers in return for 10, 20 and 40 stars. In addition, collecting 30 and 50 stars entitles pupils to a free activity. This currently includes roller disco, swimming, judo, karate, multi activity day and many more. For further information see pdf below.

For those pupils who live within 400m of the school, they can walk twice round the school playing field to earn their star. STaRS can also be used with Park & Stride schemes, where pupils travelling to school by car are dropped off at agreed locations and walk the rest of the way to school. However, the drop off points should be a suitable distance from the school.

STaRS can be used to kick-start your School Travel Plan. Why not do some surveys to find out how pupils currently travel to school before and after running STaRS? You could map the routes used for walking and cycling to schools and identify locations where pupils experience difficulties, e.g. crossing a busy main road.

Schools can get a free STaRS pack by contacting the Transport Policy Team (Tel: 01628 79 6097 or E-mail: transport.planning@rbwm.gov.uk).

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