Pupil journey planning

About this activity

Suitable for Key Stage 2 and secondary school pupils.

NB: We’re bringing together all the TfL education programmes, including STARS, under one exciting new umbrella programme called TfL Travel for Life. They will be the same great programmes, but with a new name and a new look, easier online process and dedicated support team. STARS for primary schools will be renamed TfL Explorers. STARS for secondary schools will be renamed TfL Pioneers.

As pupils become independent travellers, it is important they learn how to plan their journeys to and from school. They can also think about how they might visit friends and family on foot, by bike or using local public transport.

This activity can help pupils understand bus and train networks and navigate roads and paths as well as reading associated maps. It also highlights the importance of personal and road safety when travelling.

Prior to carrying out the activity you will need to research the local area so you are aware of:

• Quiet or badly lit roads, paths and parks to avoid for personal safety reasons
• Busy roads and junctions to avoid for road safety reasons
• Stretches of roads and junctions prone to congestion around rush hour - highlight that in some cases it may be quicker to walk than take the bus
• Local train and bus routes – if your pupils use public transport, highlight issues around behaviour and safety

You could carry out the above research with your school travel working group as part of a visual environmental audit. See the audit and research card for more information.

What you’ll need

• Bus and train maps
• Road maps of the local area
• Access to TfL’s online journey planner

How to evidence your activity

• Involve your borough officer: Share your ideas, agree your targets and discuss any challenges you face
• Record the feedback from pupils
• Sign in to TfL Travel for Life to tell your story. Explain your activity, include copies of any audit results and examples of pupils’ mapped-out journeys