Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the number of participating schools and pupils; increasing coverage across the UK; pupils' health and wellness benefits from more active travel; improved road safety at the school gates; reduced traffic congestion and air pollution around schools.
Our story
WOW is a proven, turnkey programme for schools to encourage their children to walk to school. The scheme is simple to set up and operate: each school sets up its WOW Travel Tracker account; every morning in the classroom, pupils record the way they came to school on the WOW Travel Tracker; at the end of the month, the school hands out a badge to the pupils who have earned one that month. The badges are hugely popular: different collectable designs, designed by students in a separate competition, and biodegradable (no plastic). WOW is also available in Welsh. The wider benefits of running this program are...
For schools:
OFSTED: Helps you achieve your "Outstanding" school rating.
Accreditation: Participating in WOW helps your school achieve Modeshift Stars and Healthy Schools status.
Minimal classroom time: Less than 10 minutes of a teacher's day! The most important part of WOW happens before the school day even starts.
Cost effective: WOW is £2 per pupil; a fraction of £10 PE and Sport Premium per child.
Increases walking rates: Children at participating schools increase by 23% in the first five weeks. WOW Travel Tracker helps you keep track of your school's modes of travel.
Instils life-long healthy habits: Encourages pupils and families to swap the school ride for a school stride. Promotes healthy mental well-being by improving behaviour and concentration levels in class.
Improves road safety at the school gates: Thanks to the drop in car usage around the school.
For local councils:
Reduces congestion: 1 in 4 cars on the road each morning is on the school run.
On average, WOW schools see a 30% reduction in care journeys taken to the school gate and a 23% increase in walking rates.
Our advice
The scheme is worth trialling if you have not done so already. It's not difficult to administer and there are a long list of benefits for participating schools as well as a significant reduction in congestion during school drop-off and pick-up times.
