What is A*STARS

The A*STARS programme is a series of walking, cycling, scooting and road safety initiatives, along with training, expertise and support that is given to schools to help them to develop and promote safer, healthier lifestyle choices for all.

The programme promotes health and wellbeing by combining and providing road safety, health and sustainable travel education, training and awareness. It targets all educational establishments and school communities; supporting children’s development at every stage from birth to adulthood.

The Benefits of the A*STARS Programme:

• Ensures that schools have access to road safety, sustainable travel, parking enforcement and other associated council traffic management and engineering services
• Offers a tailor made package of road safety and sustainable travel measures designed to suit an individual school’s needs
• Offers free resources, training and support
• Raises awareness of road safety issues in and around school
• Provides opportunities to increase levels of physical activity
• Uses a dedicated  A*STARS website to support  and deliver the programme

Objectives:

• Increase the number of pupils using all forms of safer, sustainable travel on the journey to and from schools and provide evidence of modal shift
• Increase knowledge and understanding of healthy lifestyles, road safety and sustainable travel by providing education, training and encouragement
• Provide a safer, cleaner environment in the vicinity of schools to benefit everyone
• Enable schools to take ownership of the programme and promote its key messages to parents and the wider community

Targets:

Short term

• Increase walking and cycling 
• Every school to participate in walking/cycling/road safety campaign
• Provide training and volunteering opportunities for adults
• Every school to have a dedicated school champion 
• Every school to have student advocate groups to lead the programme (Sheriffs)

Long term 

• Majority of schools registered on the A*STARS programme
• Increase walking and cycling levels by 1% per annum
• Increase the number of children between the ages of 10 and 16 participating in Bikeability Training in line with Department for Transport targets
• Every primary school participating in Child Pedestrian Training
• Educate young adults about the benefits of safer driving and sustainable travel