Modeshift STARS
What is Modeshift STARS?
Modeshift STARS (Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition for Schools) is a free national awards programme that helps schools promote walking, wheeling, cycling, scooting and public transport. The scheme provides an online travel planning platform, enabling schools to record activities, monitor progress and work towards nationally recognised accreditation.
By signing up, your school will have access to a School Travel Plan and a framework of activities designed to encourage safer, healthier and more sustainable journeys to and from school.
Register with Modeshift STARS (Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition for Schools) programme. For help setting up your Modeshift STARS account, please contact us on choosehowyoumove@leics.gov.uk
Why is Modeshift STARS good for your school?
Taking part in Modeshift STARS can help your school to:
- Encourage more pupils to travel actively to school
- Reduce congestion and improve road safety around the school gates
- Support pupil health, wellbeing and physical activity
- Promote sustainable travel and reduce carbon emissions
- Demonstrate your school’s commitment to environmental initiatives
- Gain national recognition through accredited awards
- Support wider school priorities such as wellbeing, sustainability and community engagement
How to get accredited and accreditation levels
Schools can work towards four accreditation levels:
- Approved
- Good
- Very Good
- Excellent
- Outstanding
Schools can submit their Modeshift STARS accreditation application throughout the year. There are three annual submission deadlines: 31 July, 31 December, and 31 March. Schools are encouraged to keep their travel plan updated and submit their application before the next available deadline.
Active Travel Inspectors
Active Travel Inspectors is a pupil-led programme that empowers Key Stage 2 children to explore and assess their local school environment. Acting as inspectors, pupils identify what helps and what makes it more difficult to walk, wheel, scoot or cycle to school, before suggesting improvements.
Using a range of themed activities, pupils investigate areas such as school grounds, road crossings, pavements, traffic, green spaces and the local environment. The programme provides a valuable opportunity for children to have their voices heard while supporting active travel, road safety and school travel planning.
Findings can be shared with local authorities to help improve journeys for the whole community
Helpful information on the Active Travel Inspectors can be found here: Active Travel Inspectors – Modeshift
Active Travel Ambassadors
The Active Travel Ambassadors (ATA) programme empowers secondary school pupils to lead active travel campaigns within their school community. Supported by Modeshift and funded by Active Travel England, ambassadors develop skills in leadership, communication and behaviour change while encouraging their peers to walk, wheel, cycle and use public transport.
Travel Plans
Every school should have a Travel Plan to help identify travel issues, set objectives and deliver activities that encourage active and sustainable travel. Modeshift STARS provides schools with an easy-to-use online Travel Plan framework, helping you monitor progress and record achievements throughout the year. A Travel Plan can support improvements to road safety, health, wellbeing and environmental sustainability. The Sustainable Travel Team can provide support and guidance to help your school develop and maintain its Travel Plan.
SMoTS:
A Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy (SMoTS) is a document produced by local authorities that sets out how they will promote and support sustainable travel to, from, and between schools and other educational settings.
It provides a coordinated framework for encouraging greater use of walking, cycling, scooting, and public transport, to improve health and reduce congestion. A well-developed SMoTS can also help strengthen a local authority’s Modeshift STARS programme and support schools in achieving their sustainable travel goals.
Eco Schools & Climate Action Plans
Many Modeshift STARS activities can contribute towards your school’s Eco-Schools work, Climate Action Plan and wider sustainability objectives. Actions such as promoting active travel, reducing vehicle journeys, improving air quality and engaging pupils in environmental projects can support evidence for accreditation schemes and sustainability commitments while helping create healthier school communities.
For support with setting up a Modeshift STARS account or developing your school’s active travel programme, please contact the Sustainable Travel Team at choosehowyoumove@leics.gov.uk
