Peer-led initiatives encouraging walking, wheeling, and cycling are transforming school journeys across England, with nearly a million additional active travel trips recorded in the past year, according to new data from sustainable transport body Modeshift.
The organisation’s annual reports for 2024/25 reveal significant growth in active travel, demonstrating that accredited Travel Plans and student-led campaigns are successfully reducing car dependency in communities nationwide.
The first report focusses on Modeshift STARS, which supports organisations in delivering and measuring Travel Plans, awarded 1,257 accreditations in 2024/25, including 1,101 to education sites. Analysis of 802 schools, representing over 318,000 pupils, found that 52.14% now use active modes for the school run. Notably, 64.65% of pupils stated they would prefer to walk, wheel, or cycle, with just 17.15% preferring to be driven.
The impact has been substantial. Schools recorded 978,796 additional active travel stages over the academic year, while the programme has eliminated 2.58 million car trips annually. More than 2.5 million participants engaged in 14,166 school-led initiatives.
The second report covers Active Travel Ambassadors, which is funded by Active Travel England, The programme saw 30% more schools participating than the previous year, with 67% more young people engaged. The scheme trained 1,246 students as ambassadors, reaching a total student population of 110,906 across 80 student-led campaigns. It achieved a 2.82 percentage point reduction in single-family car journeys.
The interventions demonstrate exceptional value for money. Modal shift through the STARS programme cost just 28p per active travel stage, while the Ambassador programme cost £1.96 per stage.
Success stories include Applefields School in York, a national SEND School of the Year winner, where car use dropped by 8%, and Upper Batley High School, where walking rates increased from 14% to 52% over several years.
With over 800 industry professionals now registered with Modeshift across public, private, and third sectors, the reports underscore the growing momentum behind active travel interventions in England.
Nick Butler, Chief Operating Officer at Modeshift said: ‘These reports provide clear evidence that well-designed, locally delivered programmes that focus on enabling and encouraging walking, wheeling, cycling, and public transport can be extremely effective.
‘Through Modeshift STARS and Active Travel Ambassadors, schools, businesses, organisations and communities are improving everyday journeys, reducing car dependency, and delivering exceptional value for money.
‘The scale of engagement we’re seeing shows that when people are supported to make healthier and safer travel choices, they do so. We are looking forward to growing the number of people involved, and delivering better journeys for more people.’
Both reports can be accessed here.
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