Holycroft Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive primary school located on Victoria Road in Keighley, West Yorkshire. At the heart of a diverse and dynamic community, the school values its role in the community, fostering strong relationships with families and encouraging children to become confident, responsible individuals with a love of learning.
Holycroft Primary School, Bradford
The school’s involvement with Modeshift’s West Yorkshire Education Officer Tanya, Blake Miller was initiated in December 2025 by Executive Headteacher, Geoff Morrison, who was keen to tackle the road safety issues caused by car use and inappropriate parking on roads around the school site. Further meetings with Hannah Hurd, Headteacher and Richard Taylor, Sports Coach, demonstrated the passion the school had for prioritising safety, health and wellbeing and increasing active travel opportunities for all.
Prioritising safety, health and wellbeing and increasing active travel opportunities for all
Building on existing travel initiatives at Holycroft Primary School, which included road safety sessions, bike storage and bike skills training, Tanya, Richard and Hannah set about devising an ambitious active travel campaign that included a Modeshift Active Travel Launch assembly, signing up to the Living Streets Daily Travel Tracker, increasing security and provision for bike and scooter storage, a new walking bus and even generating their own Active Travel school logo! An Modeshift Active Travel Inspection delivered by Tanya to pupils from the school council, gave pupils a voice. The inspection empowered pupils to identify barriers to active travel in the school’s local area and helped inform both the school and the local authority of practical improvements to support safer, more sustainable everyday journeys to school.
Educating parents and carers was also key, and regular active travel messages and updates were provided through social media and newsletters, as well as a Modeshift information stand at their recent parents’ consultations.
Tanya joined both Richard and Hannah on their newly established Walking Bus in April, and it was clear from comments from both pupils and parents/carers, that all were enjoying and benefiting from the new active travel experience.
‘I am getting outside and walking, which I just didn’t do and I feel better for it. My children have asked if we can go for walks on an evening too!’
‘My child has been up early, not wanting to miss the walking bus!’
‘It’s good fun and I can talk with my friends’
But the school is not standing still, with further active travel initiatives planned that include a bike skills after school club and a school triathlon.
Hannah Hurd, Headteacher, said:
‘All of the active travel work Holycroft Primary School has undertaken (both existing and new) has contributed to the development of a clear and comprehensive Modeshift STARS School Travel Plan. Through Modeshift STARS, which is free to schools, Holycroft’s commitment is formally accredited and celebrated, with recognition from both Modeshift and the Bradford City Council local authority team. Holycroft Primary School will be submitting for Good accreditation in July 2026, marking the start of their Modeshift journey through the accreditation levels as active travel becomes further embedded in school life.’
About Active Travel Inspectors
The Modeshift Active Travel Inspectors (ATI) programme puts young people at the heart of improving their local area. Pupils inspect routes, crossings, streets and public spaces before rating different aspects of their neighbourhood and recommending improvements. Their findings help schools, local authorities and decision-makers prioritise future investment.
