Modeshift STARS Awards

Nominee: Becket Primary School, North Somerset

Active travel is a core part of daily life at this school. Students walk on local trips and take the lead by using the WOW Travel Tracker to record their own journeys. The school joins in with national events and runs activities like Bikeability and “Bling Your Bike” to make cycling and scooting popular. These efforts are linked to PSHE and mental health lessons to show how exercise helps the mind. With extra support from PTA walking trails, the school is helping students build healthy habits, improve their wellbeing, and stay connected to their local community.

Nominee: Birkenhead Christ Church C of E Primary School, Wirral

This school has achieved significant success in promoting active travel across its community. A permanent School Street, supported by Park & Stride and a Walking Bubble, has improved safety and reduced traffic, earning strong family support. Pupils excel in national initiatives such as the Big Walk & Wheel, placing first in Wirral and third nationally, alongside popular annual events like Active Travel Week. Daily WOW incentives, bike and scooter training, and regular media coverage have strengthened a positive eco culture. These initiatives have boosted pupil confidence, focus, and independence, making active travel a defining feature of school life.

Nominee: Ecclesall Primary School, Sheffield

This School has demonstrated leadership in active and sustainable travel through behaviour and infrastructural change. The school works closely with its eco team, Junior Road Safety Officers, Living Streets, and local authority to promote safe, active journeys and improve road safety in the community. Daily WOW participation, diverse active travel options, and strong pupil ownership have driven high engagement, with car use reduced to just 5.4%. Significant environmental action, including securing EV charging points, further reflects the school’s commitment to greener travel and whole school sustainability.

Nominee: Horley Infant School, Surrey

The school has built a strong culture of active and sustainable travel, continuously building on their School Travel Plan and contributing to a Climate Action Fund research project. The school partnered with the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust to deliver impactful active travel initiatives, including popular Dr Bike It sessions. Alongside this, the University of Surrey studied what makes school travel plans effective, involving staff, parents, and governors in a focus group. Through these partnerships and research contributions, the school has helped drive positive change well beyond its own community. The school remains fully committed to promoting active, low carbon travel.

Nominee: Hollybush Primary School, Leeds

This school has integrated sustainable travel into daily life, supporting its ‘Outstanding’ travel plan through a practical, community-focused approach. As an early ambassador for the Active Travel Inspectors resource, the school delivers road safety education and anti-idling campaigns involving both pupils and families. These efforts are strengthened by partnerships with Hertfordshire County Council, RAFT, and the Ware Reuse Shop, which have provided 29 refurbished bicycles to the school community. Combined with the Big Walk and Wheel, these collaborations and resources have successfully reduced car use by 21% and increased walking to 73%.

Nominee: Outwoods Primary School, Staffordshire

This school has built a culture where active, safe, and sustainable travel is part of everyday life. It shares its expertise at conferences and has become a leading influence across its Trust, inspiring other schools to adopt travel plans, further extending its impact. All children receive scooter, cycling, and balance bike training, supported by well used shelters and opportunities to practise in clubs. Pupils lead clean air and anti idling campaigns, while Walk to School Week brings creative themes and strong family involvement. Through daily engagement, practical training, and community partnership, the school develops confident young advocates who carry sustainable travel habits forward.

Nominee: Stannington First school, Northumberland 

Having achieved an Outstanding Travel Plan for the fourth time, they reduced car drop-offs by over 30% and increased walking by 20%. Cucling engagement has improved with investment in safe cycling infrastructure and with all but one pupils earning their Bikeability Level 1 Award. Through creative community initiatives and staff training, they have promoted active travel, earning Ofsted praise for enhancing pupil health, safety, and readiness to learn. Unique activities like curriculum-linked ‘Illuminated Sheep’ promotions, themed walking trails, and daily Living Streets Travel Tracker engagement have kept participation high, securing first place in their local authority for four consecutive years. 

Nominee: Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Trafford

This school has achieved a remarkable shift toward active travel, with car use dropping significantly over three years thanks to the leadership of its Youth Travel Ambassadors. Their creative student led campaigns such as Walk Like A Bee, the BeeaThon, cycle training programmes and Movember video diaries, boosted walking, cycling and bus use. Pavement parking was tackled and safer drop-off points promoted, making the school environment more accessible. Collaboration with the Eco Council, School Council, and Wellbeing Ambassadors strengthened a culture of active travel linked to wellbeing and environmental responsibility. Their efforts have transformed behaviour, increased confidence in active travel choices, and embedded a lasting commitment to greener, safer journeys for all.

Nominee: High School, Surrey

Guildford High School have a whole school approach to sustainable and active travel. More than 30 initiatives promote walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing, and are supported by incentives such as the One Planet Award, curriculum linked carbon foot printing, and the train buddy system which is used by over half of all Year 7 pupils. Staff, pupil, and parent voice shape continuous improvements through dedicated sustainability groups and regular consultations. The school shares its expertise widely, presenting at national conferences and partnering with over 200 schools through events like the Doughnut Economics Workshop and Mock COP. Their collaborative, innovative work has inspired wider community action, demonstrating exceptional leadership in sustainable travel.

Nominee: Ninestiles an Academy, Birmingham

The school delivered an exceptional programme of sustainable travel leadership through their Active Travel Ambassadors, achieving Outstanding accreditation after two years of strong progress. Student led campaigns on air pollution, road safety, and sexual harassment on public transport sparked collaboration with the Mayor of the West Midlands. Through competitions, surveys, safety videos, and whole school challenges, they inspired lasting
behaviour change and secured funding to expand their initiatives.
They have connected with partners such as Let’s Go Zero to cement their sustainable campaign work. Their collaborative, forward thinking approach has influenced other schools in their Trust and demonstrated how student led action can transform a community.

Nominee: The Castle School, South Gloucestershire

The Castle School has demonstrated exceptional commitment by completing the Active Travel Ambassador programme across three years and consistently achieving Excellent and Outstanding STARS accreditation. Initiatives such as the Golden Lock campaign and the transformative weeklong road closure have driven lasting behaviour change and strengthened community engagement. Students receive regular road and rail safety education, while staff were supported through cycle to work schemes, an e-bike pool, and improved cycling infrastructure. With plans to work alongside South Gloucestershire Council to improve road safety and redesign the school entrance, the school continues to lead with ambition, collaboration,
and impact.

Nominee: Townsend C of E School, Hertfordshire

Townsend School deliver an exceptional programme of travel initiatives, transforming how students, staff, and families travel to and from the school. Safety upgrades including speed bumps, pedestrian barriers, and re-designed parking bays improved traffic flow, while electric vehicle charging points encourage greener travel. Strong partnerships with six bus companies ensured reliable, supervised, and well-coordinated transport, with recent changes allowing public buses to enter the school grounds, removing the need for students to cross busy roads. Walking, cycling, and scooting are actively promoted through whole school events. Townsend School has created a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable active travel culture.

Nominee: Withernsea High School, East Riding of Yorkshire

Withernsea High School have delivered three years of outstanding active travel initiatives, driven by its Active Travel Ambassadors and strong partnerships with Active Withernsea, East Riding Council, and the Physical Activity and Community Engagement network. Successful campaigns secured funding for new bikes and a secure shelter, enabling the launch of an inclusive bike library and a popular afterschool cycling club. By embedding cycling into both extracurricular and curriculum provision, the school created meaningful alternatives to traditional sports and broadened participation. Their commitment to active travel has transformed student wellbeing, expanded access to physical activity, and strengthened a culture of sustainable, confident, lifelong travel.

Nominee: Applefields School, City of York

Students at Applefields School have embraced improving their independent travel skills by working closely with an external independent travel team. They endeavour to become more independent travellers, focusing on their bus travel skills, and route and journey planning. They also take part in learn to ride and Bikeability training, giving further travel mode options. Through their ATA campaign work they have recently launched their “Travel Buddy Passport” scheme which allows confident students to undertake the role of “Travel Buddy”, passing on their skills to younger, less confident pupils, establishing a legacy of active and sustainable travel at the school.

Nominee: Aurora Hedgeway School, Bristol

This school’s STARS journey started in 2020 with a bold vision to make their school a beacon of sustainability by aligning their travel plan with Net-Zero ambitions. Knowing that collaboration would be key, they began working with their local authority, councillors, local community, and external providers to maximize student transport efficiency while honouring individual SEND needs. Inspiring road safety and sustainable travel training sessions were delivered. Today they can proudly show a complete reversal of travel habits for all pupils, plus an incredible speed reduction from 60mph to 20mph outside the school, proving that even in the most challenging circumstances, change is possible when everyone works together.

Nominee: Queensbury School, Birmingham

At Queensbury, the primary focus is on promoting independence by expanding students’ confidence through real world travel experiences. By increasing exposure to local bus services, nearby facilities, and
safe pedestrian routes, they have empowered pupils with safe independent travel skills. Pupils have gained vital life skills through road safety education, walking, cycling, and an expanding Independent Travel Training Programme. Working closely with the council and local partners, the team also drove meaningful change, proposing safety improvements such as a 20mph zone, adjusted traffic light timings, and more considerate parking solutions. Their commitment strengthened community connections while creating safer, more accessible routes for all.

Nominee: The Valley School, Hertfordshire

The Valley School demonstrates a whole school community approach with strong commitment to developing pupils’ confidence, independence, and practical travel skills. Pupils take part in daily walks, local road safety practice, and use the school’s mock road facility to rehearse safe crossing. Students also learn to navigate public transport using maps, timetables, and travel cards, with Year 11 pupils receiving dedicated independent travel lessons. New scooter and cycle storage encourages active travel, and a park and stride site reduces congestion. This inclusive and holistic approach sees independence, wellbeing,
and safer travel habits
strengthened across its
community.

Nominee: The Waterloo School, Hampshire

The Waterloo School demonstrates an exceptional commitment to road safety, sustainability, and independent travel for SEND pupils. This is done by embedding active travel into daily routines through road safety lessons, local walks, cycling, scooting, and using training such as Bikeability and scooter skills. Their Golden Mile track, with simulates real travel scenarios, helps pupils with journey planning and hazard awareness. The school also supported Hampshire County Council by shaping inclusive resources for SEND settings. Through creative initiatives, family engagement, and strong partnership working, the school strengthened pupils’ confidence, promoted healthier travel choices, and built a safer,
more connected community.

Nominee: Slough Centre Nursery School
Slough
This Nursery School helps children stay active and safe from an early age. Students build their balance and coordination through Balanceability training and Bling Your Wheels events. As a Makaton Friendly School, they use sign language to make sure every child can join in, even learning the signs for ‘Bike Hero’. Families act as Clean Air Superheroes to learn about the environment, while partners like local engineers help children learn how bikes work. By teaching road safety through weekly play and farm walks, the nursery has seen a 12% increase in walking and scooting. Their success has even inspired nearby schools to start their own travel plans.

Nominee: South Normanton Nursery School, Derbyshire

By bringing together parents, staff, and children, the nursery has turned daily travel into an opportunity for physical development. Students build confidence in the large outdoor area through year-round access to bikes and Scooter Smart training. Curriculum themes like SMILERS Travel Smart also link emotional wellbeing directly to active journeys. To tackle local congestion, the nursery introduced a parking pledge, encouraging families to park further away and walk. These practical and family-friendly efforts have led to a 12% increase in active travel, creating a safer and more active environment for the whole community.