Swaythling Primary School Wins Southampton Primary School of the Year for School Travel Planning

Swaythling Primary School has been named Southampton’s Primary School of the Year at the Modeshift STARS regional awards, after achieving Platinum accreditation for its exceptional school travel planning and commitment to sustainable travel.

Modeshift STARS is a national accreditation scheme that supports schools in developing effective travel plans to promote walking, cycling, scooting, and the use of public transport among pupils, families, and staff. The initiative aims to reduce car dependency, improve air quality, and enhance road safety around schools.

Reflecting on the achievement, John Draper, Headteacher at Swaythling Primary School, said:

“Achieving Modeshift STARS Platinum truly reflects a long-term cultural change at Swaythling Primary. We didn’t just run a few events; we fundamentally embedded sustainable travel into our curriculum, our leadership, and our community. This change is visible every morning, with more of our pupils walking, cycling, and scooting than ever before, leading to a safer, healthier school environment for everyone.”

Swaythling Primary’s success contributes to Southampton City Council being ranked the number one small local authority in the country for schools with Modeshift STARS travel planning accreditations. In total, the council’s Sustainable Transport Team has supported 27 schools in achieving recognition for excellence in school travel planning.

Nick Butler, Chief Operating Officer at Modeshift STARS, praised the city’s success:

“Southampton City Council’s Sustainable Transport Team has delivered exceptional results this year, supporting a record number of schools to achieve Modeshift STARS accreditation. Their flexible, hands-on approach, combined with strong relationships with families and the local community, alongside pupil-led initiatives, has made active travel planning both achievable and inspiring. We’re proud to celebrate their success and the positive impact they’re making across the city. A brilliant example of a small local authority achieving big change!”

Adding to the celebrations, St Anne’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College achieved its Silver (Very Good) STARS accreditation and was named Southampton’s Modeshift STARS Secondary School of the Year.

The School Travel Champion at St Anne’s said:

“St Anne’s has worked with Southampton City Council colleagues over the past two years on ambitious projects to increase the number of our students who travel actively and sustainably to school. Our particular concern is the air quality around our school located in the heart of the city.

With a grant from Southampton City Council, we have installed a ‘Living Wall’ of plants that absorb air pollutants and a Bike Barn to increase our provision for safe storage of bicycles. This work has resulted in an increase in students walking to school and a reduction in those travelling by car, from 2023 to 2024. We are delighted to be winners of Southampton’s Modeshift STARS Secondary School of the Year and look forward to continuing our work with Southampton City Council.”

School travel planning forms a key part of Southampton’s Safer Routes to School (SRTS) programme, which delivers active travel and road safety infrastructure in partnership with schools and local communities. Since 2023, SRTS has delivered 10 new pedestrian crossings, six school streets, numerous pedestrian and cycle improvements, and speed calming measures near school sites.

To build on this progress, the council has implemented 19 permanent School Streets, temporarily limiting traffic outside schools at peak times to create safer, predominantly pedestrian and cycle zones. Camera enforcement is being introduced to support compliance — starting at Bassett Green Primary School’s School Street on Honeysuckle Road in June 2025, and Shirley Warren Primary School on Warren Crescent in September 2025.

Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Transport at Southampton City Council, said:

“I am inspired by the commitment to active travel shown by so many of Southampton’s pupils and their families and very proud of the colleagues in Southampton’s schools and the school travel planning team that have been instrumental in making Southampton a league leader in healthier, active journeys to school.”