The Star Walker Scheme – Be a STAR and Walk to School

The ‘Star Walker’ Scheme rewards pupils for walking to school. Each walked journey is recorded in a ‘Star Walker’ passport and awards are earned at regular intervals, when sufficient journeys have been made.

Can everyone take part?

The Star Walker Scheme encourages pupils to walk to school, but it recognises that some families live so far from school that walking all the way may not be possible.

‘Star Walker’ schools can identify and promote a ‘Star Zone’, an area surrounding the school where drivers are encouraged not to park, but care is needed to avoid moving the school gate congestion problem to another part of the neighbourhood.

Off-road car parks at village halls, supermarkets or public houses can sometimes be used. Owners are often pleased to support local schools and offer free parking for parents/carers during the short time it takes to walk the remaining journey. Permission from the owners of these car parks must be obtained by schools before concessionary parking is promoted in letters home.

Who will help set-up the Star Walker Scheme?

The Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team at County Hall will be pleased to promote the Star Walker Scheme in whole school assemblies. Implementation of the scheme often follows ‘Travel Detectives’, a ‘travel awareness’ resource offered free of charge to schools developing or having a School Travel Plan. Child pedestrian training can also be provided free of charge through the ‘First Steps’ Scheme.

Who Champions the Star Walker Scheme?

Pupils with a special interest in promoting walking to school and road safety education are appointed as Star Walker Champions or Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs). With support from the Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team and schools, Star Walker Champions and JRSOs promote walking to school and road safety education by organising displays and competitions.

Star Walker Champions record walked journeys in pupils’ passports. They do this during registration or at a time agreed with teachers. At some schools, progress is monitored by parents/carers, who are asked to confirm that their child has reached the required target for an award to be given.

Who pays for the Star Walker Scheme?

Leicestershire County Council (LCC) provides the following support for the Star Walker Scheme where it has been requested in a School Travel Plan.

LCC will provide the awards for 2 years and passports for one year.
After one year LCC will prepare the passports for schools to print.
After 2 years schools are asked to seek sponsorship or support from PTAs.
Star Walker awards can be purchased at cost from the Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team.

Where there is no School Travel Plan, schools will be asked for a contribution towards the cost of the Scheme.

What are the benefits?

Reduced number of car journeys to and from school
Less pollution and congestion at the school gate
Safer access to school
Healthy exercise
Quality time with friends and family during the journey
An opportunity for parents/carers to raise children’s awareness of road safety rules
May contribute to Healthy School award
May contribute to Eco School award

Credibility

Parents and children must be aware that for the Star Walker Scheme to be successful there must be trust and honesty. It will soon be obvious if people are being dropped off around the corner and walk the last few metres to receive their stamp!

Schools like the Star Walker Scheme because:

School gate congestion is reduced
Attendance rates increase because pupils are keen to earn their awards
Pupils arrive in a better frame of mind and are generally ready to work

Pupils like the Star Walker scheme because:

The Star Walker awards are attractive and desirable
They enjoy the social time with friends
Even on rainy days they feel better, more awake and have a sense of achievement
Star Walker Champions enjoy the responsibilities of their role
They benefit from regular healthy exercise.

Parents like the Star Walker Scheme because:

It stops arguments at breakfast about ‘needing’ a lift
Those who always have walked find the journey more enjoyable with fewer cars at the school gate and easier access to the school.

Broom Leys Primary School, Coalville, introduced the Star Walker Scheme on Monday 11th September 2006 . . . . .

"We are a large primary school, with 593 pupils on roll but a Travel Survey carried out in January 2006 showed that only 240 pupils were walking to school.

After 4 weeks of the Star Walker Scheme, we measured the success of the scheme on International Walk to School Day (4th October). This showed that 486 pupils walked to school - more than double the number in January!"

Robert Prior, Headteacher,
Broom Leys Primary School

To discuss the scheme further please contact:

Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team
Department of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management
Rutland Building
Room 600
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicester
LE3 8RJ

Tel: 0116 305 7178 e-mail: travelawareness@leics.gov.uk

File for downloading to commit to the Star Walker Scheme

See the Star Walker Scheme Agreement (Word document 987 KB)

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