Walking

Teaching secondary-aged children about walking, particularly walking to school, is an important aspect of education because it develops essential life skills, promotes health and wellbeing, and helps students become safe, confident, and responsible members of their community.

As many young people begin travelling to school independently during their secondary education, they need the knowledge and skills to navigate roads safely, recognise potential hazards, and make informed decisions in a range of traffic environments. Walking education supports both personal safety and lifelong independence.

Key educational benefits include:

• Developing pedestrian safety skills: Students learn how to cross roads safely, use pedestrian crossings correctly, identify hazards, judge vehicle speed and distance, and remain aware of their surroundings. They also learn about the risks associated with distractions such as mobile phones and headphones.

• Promoting independence and confidence: Walking to school allows young people to travel independently while developing confidence, responsibility, and decision-making skills that prepare them for adulthood.

• Supporting physical and mental wellbeing: Walking is an accessible form of daily physical activity that improves cardiovascular health, supports healthy weight management, and contributes to better mental health. Walking before school can also improve concentration, alertness, and readiness to learn.

• Encouraging sustainable travel: Walking reduces reliance on cars, helping to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality around schools, and lower carbon emissions. It encourages students to understand the environmental benefits of active travel.

• Developing risk awareness: Walking education teaches students to assess risks, anticipate the behaviour of other road users, and make safe decisions in changing environments. These skills are transferable to cycling, public transport use, and eventually driving.

• Building community awareness: Walking encourages students to engage positively with their local community, understand shared public spaces, and respect other pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

• Creating safer school environments: Increasing the number of students who walk to school can reduce traffic around school entrances, making the area safer for everyone.

Educational significance

Walking education contributes to several areas of the secondary curriculum by:

• Developing practical life skills for independent travel.

• Strengthening critical thinking and hazard perception.

• Promoting healthy lifestyles and personal wellbeing.

• Encouraging environmental responsibility and sustainable choices.

• Supporting personal, social, health, and citizenship education by fostering responsibility, resilience, and awareness of others.

Teaching secondary-aged children about walking to school is an essential part of preparing them for independent life. It equips students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to travel safely, make responsible decisions, and adopt healthy and sustainable travel habits. By promoting safe pedestrian behaviour alongside physical wellbeing and environmental awareness, walking education makes a valuable contribution to both students' personal development and their wider education.