Shropshire primary schools invited to join Travel Tracker scheme
Primary schools across Shropshire are being encouraged to sign up for a popular travel tracker initiative designed to increase the number of pupils walking, cycling and wheeling to school.
Funded by Active Travel England, the Living Streets WOW Travel Trackers are already being used daily by 28 schools across the county.
The digital system allows children to record how they travel to school each day, rewarding regular active travel with monthly badges and trophies for winning classes.
Schools currently using the trackers have reported an increase in the number of pupils walking, cycling or scooting to school, helping to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce traffic around school gates.
Rob Wilson, cabinet member for transport and economic growth at Shropshire Council, said active travel can have a major impact on children’s wellbeing and safety.
He said: “Walking or wheeling to school is a great way for children to keep fit and stay healthy. Research has shown that travelling to school by active means is linked to improved mood and concentration. It also helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads near schools, so helps to keep children safe too. It’s win-win.”
He added: “Not only is the travel trackers scheme really popular with the children, it also leads to an increase in the number of journeys to school using active travel, and a fall in journeys to school by car. It’s a simple and effective way this is to encourage more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.”
Samantha Hill, headteacher at Oakmeadow C of E Primary School, said both staff and pupils had embraced the scheme.
She said: “Pupils and staff have evidenced that they enjoy using the trackers and it is part of their morning routine. Children enjoy looking at the leaderboard comparing schools in the county and country. Some pupils have expressed it has changed the way they come into school through making them more motivated.”
The WOW Travel Tracker records all forms of travel, giving schools and councils valuable information about travel habits among pupils.
Children and teachers can log journeys using classroom interactive whiteboards, PCs or iPads. The system uses icons instead of pupil names, although schools can choose to display names if they wish.
Pupils who actively travel to school at least once a week throughout the month — whether by walking, wheeling, cycling, scooting or using Park and Stride schemes — can earn a WOW badge.
The programme also supports children with special educational needs and disabilities, recognising journeys made using wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other mobility aids as active travel.
Primary schools interested in introducing the Living Streets WOW Travel Trackers from September 2026 are being asked to contact [email protected] by 22 May 2026 for further information.