Hands-up surveys
About this activity
Essential for all TfL Travel for Life schools and nurseries.
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
Carry out a hands-up survey annually to find out how your staff and pupils travel to and from school, and how they would like to travel. The results will help you to better understand your school’s travel habits and identify areas for improvement.
To apply for or maintain TfL Travel for Life accreditation each academic year, at least 90% of pupils and staff need to take part in an annual survey.
Your borough officer and the TfL Travel for Life team will use the results to calculate your school’s modal shift away from car use, which helps determine your level of TfL Travel for Life accreditation as follows:
Bronze accreditation
Carry out an annual pupil hands-up survey. Carrying out a staff survey is recommended
Silver accreditation
Carry out an annual pupil and staff hands-up survey. Demonstrate modal shift away from car use, compared with the school’s very first hands-up survey.
Gold accreditation
Carry out an annual pupil and staff hands-up survey. Demonstrate either:
- A 6% modal shift away from car use, compared with the school’s very first hands-up survey
- At least 90% of the school population travel by sustainable modes such as public transport, cycling or walking
How and when to carry out your annual survey
If your school or nursery has carried out your annual hands-up survey in a previous academic year, we recommend you conduct your annual survey in a short time period. Ideally, all surveys should take place on the same day. If this is not possible, please ensure they are completed within the same week.
School travel plan champions - find a guide to setting up a ‘hands-up survey group on TfL Travel for Life Online’ in the resources section of this card. This takes you step-by-step through how to capture and log your schools survey data on the system.
Please note: You do not need to complete the ‘Tell your story’ page, this page is for guidance only.
Activity steps
How it helps
- Supports all TfLTravel for Life travel activities
- Demonstrates the success of activities
- Encourages class participation and team work