Walking Schools

Walking and wheeling to and from school as well as throughout the school day improves young people’s physical, social and mental health. It also contributes to better learning outcomes.

Schools are an excellent place to reach children and young people and encourage them to get active by walking and wheeling more.

What is our Walking Schools programme?

We develop and deliver bespoke Walking Schools programmes in high schools across Scotland that respond to local needs and address barriers to walking and wheeling. Our team work collaboratively with schools, young people and partners, to develop programmes that:

• Encourage walking to and from school: identifying barriers and opportunities to support active travel and healthier school commutes.
• Promote walking: developing and delivering walking opportunities throughout the school day, including breaktime walking and walking groups; encouraging walking to be embedded into the curriculum, for example offering walking opportunities in PE.
• Empower young people: offering Walk Leader training for young people and our fun Step Count Challenge.

To support schools and empower young people to take action, our team work directly in schools to co-design and deliver our Walking Schools programme. This includes:

• Stakeholder engagement: we engage with school staff, young people and partners to identify local priorities, barriers and opportunities to encourage walking and wheeling.
• Walking Action Plan: we work alongside young people, school staff and local partners to co-design and implement a Walking Action Plan. This bespoke Action Plan responds to local priorities and circumstances and includes key areas of support from Walking Scotland.
• Walking Scotland support: our Walking Schools programmes are informed by our expertise in supporting young people to walk and wheel more. They offer young people and schools the opportunity to engage with a range of fun activities, including our Step Count Challenge for young people, school walking events, walking activities in PE and our Walk Leader training for young people.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Walking Scotland is working with the Universities of Stirling, Edinburgh and the Highlands and Islands. Together, we are creating a digital tool to help young people walk and wheel more during the school day.

The digital tool will help to build simple habits that make walking and wheeling feel fun, easy and a normal part of school life. It also aims to encourage positive attitudes to walking and wheeling.

Co-production with pupils

Young people are helping to shape this project from the start. In school workshops, we will design the tool with pupils. They will share what matters to them, try out ideas and help decide how the tool should look and work.

This means the final resource will match their needs and interests. It will also help motivate them to walk and wheel more at school.

A partnership for long-term impact

This project is funded by UKRI’s KTP. The project team includes experts in walking, health, co-production and digital technology, who are working together to create lasting change.

Learn more about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

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Get in touch

Want to know how we can support your school to walk and wheel more? Or want more information about our Walking Schools programme? Use our contact form to get in touch.