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Welcome to School Streets North: 2025
The journey towards safer, healthier, and more active school communities is accelerating across the North, with School Streets playing a vital role in reimagining how children and families travel to school.
With Greater Manchester setting an ambitious target to expand its School Streets programme from 30 to 100 by 2028, the region is taking a bold step towards creating safer streets, cleaner air, and healthier travel habits.
School Streets North 2025 brings together local authorities, transport professionals, campaigners and educators to explore the successes, challenges, and future of School Streets. The event will highlight how strong leadership, local engagement and effective policy can drive meaningful change, while providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, debate and collaboration.
From setting up a School Street to long-term sustainability, the conference will provide invaluable insights through:
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Practical guidance on planning, implementing, and sustaining School Streets
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Innovative case studies showcasing best practices from across the UK
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Interactive workshops tackling key challenges such as enforcement, monitoring, and behaviour change
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Inspiring talks from active travel champions shaping the future of streets
With one-third of peak-time traffic attributed to the school run, and with childhood obesity levels rising, the need for change has never been more urgent. Recent efforts in the North demonstrate the growing momentum behind School Streets, with local leaders keen to support communities in launching new schemes.
Join us in Manchester on 1st May to be part of the movement making school travel safer, healthier and more sustainable for generations to come.
Key themes:
The panels will discuss issues including:
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Funding
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Partnerships
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Enforcement
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Active travel
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Technology
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Health and wellbeing
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Consultation and engagement
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Infrastructure design
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Monitoring
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Evaluation
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Traffic management
Who will be attending School Streets North: 2025?
School Streets South will be attended by:
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Local authority officers
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Policymakers
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Councillors and stakeholders
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Teachers and educationalists
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Road safety and active travel campaigners
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Parking and enforcement specialists
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Academics and researchers
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Consultants
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Transport planners
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Urban designers
Join experts, local authorities, suppliers, and community advocates to dive into the latest findings on School Streets, and explore the future of active travel from home to school. Discussions will cover the latest research, best practices in implementation and enforcement, securing funding, and managing the balance between incentives and regulation.
Research by the Road Safety Trust shows that School Streets increase active travel on the school run, are supported by most parents and residents in the nearby community, and do not cause significant road safety issues through traffic displacement.
Research by Active Travel England found that 85% of people in England support active travel and would like to do more, while data from charity Sustrans has previously found that four out of five children want to walk or cycle to school.
Attendee rates
Local authority free registration
*The first 50 places for Local Authorities are provided for free courtesy of our sponsors.
Please note this offer is limited to the first 2 delegates from your Local Authority. If you wish to send more, you will need to purchase a local authority ticket, priced at £95 + VAT. We encourage you to secure your place as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
1st May Conference Programme
Programme currently in development
09.00
Registration opens: Refreshments served in the Pioneer Room
09.45
Welcome
Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
10.00
Session One: Starting Strong: Collaborating for Successful School Streets
A growing number of councils are embarking on the journey of implementing School Streets, having either just started the process, launched their first schemes or are set to roll out more schemes. The opening session will hear the perspectives of all those involved including cabinet members, council officers, headteachers and students, consultants and campaign groups. They will discuss the importance of collaboration.
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Chair: Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
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Panellists:
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Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport,
Manchester City Council -
Aleisha Campion, Transport Planner, Gateshead Council and Project Co-ordinator, Sustrans
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Thomas Johnson, Headteacher, Seymour Park Community Primary
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Sue Codling, Assistant Headteacher, Seymour Park Community Primary and pupils
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
11.15
Morning break: Refreshments served in the Pioneer Room
11:45
Session Two: Laying the Foundations or Enforcing Success?
Choose from one of two sessions: The enforcement breakout session will be repeated in the afternoon, ensuring all delegates have the chance to attend.
Pendulum Suite
Option 1: Making the Case & Engaging Communities
How to get started with your first School Streets, how to properly engage with parents and students, residents and local businesses, and how to make the case for School Streets.
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Chair: Nick Chamberlin, Regional Manager - North West, Active Travel England
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Panellists:
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Jessica Goldstone, Principal Policy Officer, and Kate Stabler, Policy Officer, Manchester City Council
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Hannah Stanton, School Streets Officer, Trafford Collective
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Antony de Heveningham, Transport Evaluation Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
Conference Room 2
Option 2: Enforcement, compliance and exemptions
When are patrols by civil enforcement officers rather than cameras the best option? Can good engagement and strong local support negate the need for cameras? Or is enforcement a necessary requirement and, if so, what form should it take? And is it really possible to achieve a cost neutral enforcement operation?
Chair: Vicki Franks, Active Travel Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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Panellists:
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Rob Shoebridge, Group Manager, Traffic and Transportation, Derby City Council
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Kerry Griffiths, Digital Commercialisation, Enforcement, Governance and Innovation Manager, Derby City Council
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Kathryn Harrison, School Streets Officer, Sheffield City Council
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Nigel Williams, Head of Transport Sales, SEA
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
13:00
Networking lunch: Served in the Pioneer Room
14:00
Session Three: PechaKucha: Fast-Track Innovations for School Streets
Quickfire, image-enhanced presentations on a range of issues shaping today’s School Streets.
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Chair: Steph Bortoli, Director - Sustainable Communities, Project Centre
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School Streets and children’s health and wellbeing – emerging evidence from Bradford
Lisa Dowling, Senior Research Fellow, Bradford Institute for Health Research & Becky James – Public Health Specialist, Bradford Council
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Developing a Child Friendly Places Charter
Pauline Johnston, People and Place Activator, Civic & Social
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Street design – re-imagining the kerbside from parklets to rain gardens
Gareth Morris, Director, What if projects
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Bike Buses – making healthy journeys to school a reality
Hamish Belding, Bike Bus Coordinator, FRideDays
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Park + Stride – a solution for parents travelling further distances
Charlotte McHugh, Project Manager, Living Streets
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How to make School Streets the focal point of active travel neighbourhoods
Cazz Ward, Walk Ride GM & Liz Godfrey, Mums for Lungs
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Youth Travel Ambassador Programme – Why students have a key role to play
Kelly Leat, Active Travel Officer, Transport for Greater Manchester
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Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
15:15
Afternoon break: Refreshments served in the Pioneer Room
15:45
Session Four: Evolving School Streets or Enforcing Success?
Choose from one of two sessions: The enforcement breakout session is repeated from the morning, ensuring all delegates have the chance to attend.
Pendulum Suite
Option 1: Enhancing & Expanding School Streets
How to improve and refine existing School Streets, including monitoring & evaluation, making the best use of data, learning from errors, dealing with traffic displacement, altering School Street boundaries, and working to improve the school journey
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Chair: Janet Belfield, Regional Manager – Yorkshire and The Humber, Active Travel England
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Panellists:
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Simon O'Brien, Active Travel Commissioner, Liverpool City Region​
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Nick Ruxton-Boyle, Technical Director, Citisense
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Jon Little, Co-Founder, BetaStreets
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
Conference Room 2
Option 2: Enforcement, compliance and exemptions
When are patrols by civil enforcement officers rather than cameras the best option? Can good engagement and strong local support negate the need for cameras? Or is enforcement a necessary requirement and, if so, what form should it take? And is it really possible to achieve a cost neutral enforcement operation?
Chair: Vicki Franks, Active Travel Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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Panellists:
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Rhiannon Wade, Sustainable Travel Manager, Shropshire Council
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Hannah Fuller, Director of Commercial Relationships, Unity5
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
17.00
Close of conference
Speakers
Dame Sarah Storey
Active Travel Commissioner
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Tracy Rawlins
Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport
Manchester City Council
Hannah Stanton
School Streets Officer
Trafford Collective
Nigel Williams
Head of Transport Sales
SEA
Charlotte McHugh
Project Manager
Living Streets
Janet Belfield
Regional Manager - Yorkshire and The Humber
Active Travel England
Jon Little
Co-Founder
BetaStreets
Lisa Dowling
Senior Research Fellow
Bradford Institute for Health Research
Dame Sarah Storey
Active Travel Commissioner
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Simon O'Brien
Active Travel Commissioner
Liverpool City Region
Kathryn Harrison
Senior Transport Planner
Sheffield City Council
Rob Shoebridge
Group Manager, Traffic and Transportation
Derby City Council
Gareth Morris
Director
What if projects
Cazz Ward
Director
Walk Ride GM
Nick Ruxton-Boyle
Technical Director
Citisense
Rhiannon Wade
Sustainable Travel Manager
Shropshire Council
Kelly Leat
Active Travel Officer
Transport for Greater Manchester​
Nick Chamberlin
Regional Manager - North West
Active Travel England
Jessica Goldstone
Principal Policy Officer
Manchester City Council
Kerry Griffiths
Digital Commercialisation, Enforcement, Governance and Innovation Manager
Derby City Council
Pauline Johnston
People and Place Activator
Civic & Social
Liz Godfrey
Greater Manchester Coordinator
Mums for Lungs
Aleisha Campion
Transport Planner
Gateshead Council
Thomas Johnson
Headteacher
Seymour Park Community Primary
Vicki Franks
Policy Officer
(Active Travel)
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Exhibition and supporter packages
Supporter Package
Includes:
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Company logo as 'supporter' on the event website, in all advertisements and communications (print and digital)
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Inclusion in the programme, with a speaker or session chair (to be discussed with Programme Manager)
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3m x 2m open space exhibition area supplied with table, chairs, wi-fi and power supply
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Company profile, including logo and 250 word profile on the event website
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Up to 5 delegate places for staff, colleagues and guest invitations
£2,500 + VAT
Headline Sponsor
Includes:
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Prominent logo placement on all event marketing materials (website, e-shots, event signage, social media)
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Feature as “Headline Sponsor” in all event communications and press releases
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Acknowledgement as Headline Sponsor during event opening and closing remarks
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Keynote presentation and opportunity to participate in a panel discussion
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Premium exhibition space at the event for direct engagement with delegates
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Logo featured on event holding slides and delegate packs
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Opportunity to contribute to a pre-event article or article featured on www.transportXtra.com and promoted on social media
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Company profile in event materials distributed to all delegates
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Acknowledgement on event social media channels with posts leading up to, during, and after the event
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Social media shout-outs and inclusion in event hashtags
£5,000 + VAT
Secure your exhibiton stand!
To discuss exhibiting opportunities at the School Streets, contact Jason Conboy on 020 7091 7895
Exhibition Floorplan
Key:
Occupied
Available
To discuss exhibiting opportunities at the School Streets North Conference, contact Jason Conboy on 020 7091 7893
Join experts, local authorities, suppliers, and community advocates to dive into the latest findings on School Streets, and explore the future of active travel from home to school. Discussions will cover the latest research, best practices in implementation and enforcement, securing funding, and managing the balance between incentives and regulation.
