Telford and Wrekin Council is celebrating a major milestone in its STARS journey, with Lawley Village Primary Academy & Nursery becoming the area’s first accredited school.

Case Study: Telford and Wrekin – Celebrating their first STARS accredited school

Congratulations to the whole school community and particularly to Gemma Marchant, Active Travel Monitoring Officer whose dedication has helped get Modeshift STARS firmly back on the agenda locally.

Starting the journey

Telford and Wrekin restarted their STARS journey after the COVID pandemic caused the scheme to lose momentum. Like many areas, the impact on schools was significant, and travel planning understandably dropped down the priority list. Re-engaging schools needed fresh energy, strong relationships and practical support.

In June 2025, Gemma Marchant came into post to monitor travel plans. From the outset, she was determined to get STARS back up and running across local schools.

Telford and Wrekin Council’s Active Travel & Road Safety Education Team has spent years building strong partnerships with schools through their work delivering Bikeability and other road safety workshops.

Gemma explains:

‘STARS acknowledges the work schools are already doing. It rewards them for the great work taking place and brings everything together in one place.’

Accreditation Success

Lawley Village Primary Academy & Nursery has now achieved an Approved status, a fantastic achievement for the school and the local authority.

Toni Tanner, Travel Plan Coordinator at Lawley Village Primary Academy & Nursery, shared:

‘STARS has helped us focus on active travel for everyday journeys in a really positive way. It recognises what we’re already doing and has encouraged even more families to walk, wheel and cycle. The impact across the school has been brilliant.’

The results speak for themselves:

• 200 pupils walking to school
• 86 out of 90 pupils learnt to ride / completed level 1 Bikeability training
• 40 pupils achieved level 2 Bikeability
• 7 bicycles and 3 scooters donated to children through the Re-Wheeled scheme.

Making it easy for schools

A key part of the local authority’s success has been making STARS simple and accessible.

Gemma highlights how the survey tools have been particularly helpful:

‘Making it easy is important,’ Gemma adds. ‘Travel Plans can feel overwhelming, but STARS simplifies the process.’

The alignment with Eco Schools status has also helped schools see the wider environmental benefits of improving everyday journeys.

Engaging the community

Telford and Wrekin’s approach goes beyond accreditation alone.

With a New School Journey – Schools receive targeted support to enhance road safety education and encourage small, achievable changes in how families travel to school – increasing active travel, helping to reduce congestion and improve safety outside school.

The programme offers a wide range of workshop – such as pedestrian training, scooter skills, Bikeability sessions, and environmental education. Alongside additional benefits including walking bus support, led walks, bike buses ad air‑quality monitoring.

Schools also receive ongoing guidance through assemblies, competitions, national campaigns, and active travel assessments that measure behaviour change from the start to the end of the project.

Supporting the campaign is Rocky the Active Travel and Road Safety Crocodile mascot who has become a firm favourite at events and activities.

The authority also runs a ‘Re-Wheeled’ scheme, collecting donated cycles from the community and recycling centres. cycles are refurbished and redistributed to pupils, families and the wider community who need them, including helmets and training, helping remove barriers and support more children to cycle.

Looking ahead

Telford and Wrekin may be a smaller authority, with 52 primary, 13 secondary, 6 infants / nursery, and 6 SEN schools – but their ambition is big.

Allscott Meads Primary School, a new school just two years old, is also due to receive their Approved STARS accreditation in the next round.

In addition:

• 11 other schools are actively working towards accreditation
• 6 more schools have initial meetings booked.

Gemma’s goal?

‘To get Telford and Wrekin on the STARS leaderboard!’

With strong relationships, practical support and a growing number of accredited schools, the authority is well on its way.

Their journey proves how STARS can re-energise travel planning, recognise existing good practice and make improving everyday journeys achievable for schools of all sizes.