Children say no to cars to make the school run safer

By Jill Dando News

The first steps have been taken towards achieving a “School Street” in Derbyshire to reduce traffic and pollution outside a primary school by banning cars and motorbikes at peak times. 
 
William Gilbert Endowed CofE Primary School in Duffield, part of Derbyshire Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT), has taken the bold steps to pilot the School Street concept, which introduces temporary restrictions on motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times. 

Head teacher Helen Britten said:

“By reducing car use around schools, we can significantly cut harmful emissions, contributing to healthier lungs for our children and better air quality for the whole community. 

“Fewer cars also mean reduced congestion, making the areas around our school gates safer and more accessible. These changes make walking, cycling and scooting more appealing and practical options for families, encouraging healthier, more active lifestyles.” 

The school has been working to encourage less car travel for two years, installing scooter pods and bike racks to support those families choosing greener options. 

 
Each October and May, the school has also taken part in Derbyshire’s Travel Smart Weeks, Modeshift’s Travel Wise Week in September and the Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel event in March, all of which encourage children and parents to embrace walking, cycling and scooting. 
 
On top of these annual events, the school has also hosted fun days and sessions to make sustainable travel fun, including a kinetic-powered smoothie-making session which used an adapted bike to power the smoothie machine. 
 
This has all enabled the latest step towards encouraging Derbyshire County Council to approve a year-long pilot of a School Street.

Work on this started six months ago and involved applying for a one-day road closure to test the scheme’s feasibility. 

Local councillors Gez Kinsella, Alex Dale and Charlotte Cupit, also championed the school’s efforts, while “fume-free Fridays” and road closures attracted increased interest from local MPs.

Whilst the council conducts the necessary regulatory and implementation requirements under their powers as the Traffic Authority, the school is looking to maintain the momentum for active travel through further one- day closures. 

It is hoped that Amber Valley Borough Council will permit further one- day closures in March to allow William Gilbert School and other interested schools to host ‘Walking Wednesdays’ with further one-day ‘school street’ road closures.  
 
Mrs Britten is now working with other schools to help them on their journeys towards making school travel more sustainable.

 
 
She said: “At William Gilbert Primary, we’re not just building a School Street, we’re setting an example for a brighter, greener future for all children across Derbyshire. Let’s keep the momentum going and inspire transformative change together!” 

 Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer of DDAT, said that work is being shared across schools in the Trust. 

“The hard work and shining example of staff and pupils at William Gilbert Primary School is a lesson for all of us and we are able to take their experience and learnings to help other schools in our trust accelerate their work towards greener travel.” 

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