Anti-idling campaign
Suitable for primary and secondary pupils. Supports the Geography National Curriculum.
Overview
Education phase
Category of activity
TravelTypes of activity
How it helps
- Supports the Geography National Curriculum
- Reduces the impact on your local environment
- Encourages parental participation
About the activity
Idling is referred to when cars are left running for over a minute after stopping or parking. This is common when parents/carers pick or drop off pupils to school & can result in increased air pollution surrounding the school gate.
The Anti-idling campaign is a great way to raise awareness & improve air quality around the school, this can encourage the wider school community to participate & learn ways to generally become more environmentally friendly.
By using posters, banners, raising awareness in letters, newsletters & the school's website, this can encourage parents/carers to switch engines off. You can even consider a group of pupils that monitors idling at times to observe & compare for improvements. Issuing stickers to pupils for their parents/carers to us on their vehicles can also act as a gentle reminder.
Pupils can use creative innovative ideas & use the GLA Cleaner Air 4 Schools toolkit to explore the topic in more detail. The toolkit contains lesson plans and campaign ideas.
Activity steps
Step 1
Observation - Work with your working group count the number of cars idling outside your school at the start & end of the day (see Resources for guidance). Share with your Borough Travel Planning Officer.
Step 2
Developing a Plan - With your working group decide how you will run your anti-idling campaign. Utilise resources to support your campaign. Liaise with your Borough Travel Planning Officer who may also have resources/ideas.
Step 3
Launching - Get pupils, parents/carers & the wider school community thinking about cleaner air quality. Using resources, highlight & promote the cause.
Step 4
Empowerment - Involve parents/carers, staff & delivery companies to pledge their support for the campaign by signing an anti-idling pledge and/or displaying a sticker in their vehicle's window. Promoting change & provoking thought.
Step 5
Monitor/Observe - Counting the number of cars outside the school gate before & after school, monitoring idling & comparing the counts. Creating a spreadsheet or chart to see changes.
Step 6
Tell your story - Log into the TFL Travel for Life website & create your story including pupil feedback. Detail the activity, the campaign & result, adding photos, posters and/or promotional materials.
Step 7
Working together - Ensure to keep your Borough Travel Borough Officer informed.