We read with interest recently published findings from the campaign group Solve the School Run, which reveal a striking disparity in air quality for state school pupils. According to their report below, these students would need to walk to school as early as 5am to experience air as clean as during private school holidays. Furthermore, they highlight that bus journeys take over 50% longer during school term time, intensifying traffic congestion and pollution.
Improving air quality is a key focus of Norwood Forum's Public Transport and Active Travel Campaign and we will examine this shared data as part of our ongoing efforts.
Private schools are driving a near 50% increase in pollution and traffic, despite serving a minority of pupils, according to new data produced by parent campaigners, Solve the School Run.
An analysis of official air pollution and bus journey data from South London reveals a significant rise in congestion and air pollution with the start of the private school term. Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), a harmful air pollutant produced by burning car fuel, increase by 16% during state school terms but surge to 47% when private schools resume. Long-term exposure to NO2 is linked to severe health issues, including asthma, COPD, and cancer, while short-term exposure can cause airway inflammation and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections and allergens.
The research focused on Herne Hill and Dulwich in South London, with similar findings reported in other parts of London and in Oxford.
The analysis used data from the Mayor’s Breathe London air pollution program, covering the period from October 2023 to August 2024. Researchers compared air quality during private and state school holidays to term times, alongside bus journey times sourced from Transport for London (TfL).
This comprehensive approach highlights the stark impact of private school terms on traffic congestion and air quality. The data shows state school pupils in this area are exposed to considerably lower air pollution when walking to school during the private school holidays. Indeed, during private school term times, state school pupils would have to walk to school at 5am to enjoy air as clean as during the private school holidays.
The charity Solve the School Run are calling for:
- Staffed walking lines and ‘bike buses’ to cater for working parents.
- Investment in school buses for primary pupils from private schools.
- School streets which have timed closures around school drop off and pick up times.
- More cycle paths and storage facilities to support parents using cargo bikes.
Across the capital, nearly a quarter of pupils in London (24%) are driven to primary school every weekday, causing a major spike in congestion and air pollution. This equates to an extra 240,000 car trips on the roads during each of the morning and afternoon rush hours.
Nicola Pastore (pictured above), a data analytics consultant and co-founder of Solve the School Run said “The data is clear - we are all affected by the school run, whether we are bus passengers, dog-walkers or families on our way to school. Solve The School Run wants to see better data on these journeys, much safer travel routes to schools for walking and cycling and parent-free travel options like staffed bike buses and school buses.
The Walking and Cycling Commissioner for London, Will Norman said: “We know that the majority of children walk or cycle to school, and the Mayor and I are doing everything we can to encourage more Londoners to choose active and sustainable transport for shorter journeys. TfL has quadrupled the number of cycleways since 2016, and we’re working continually to make intimidating roads and junctions safer.
“There are also now over 500 School Streets across London, as well as more than 100 Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes, which also make it safer and easier for families to get around their local area on foot and by bike. We’re calling on families in London to consider walking, cycling or using public transport for the school run, not just for environmental but for safety and health benefits, to build a better, fairer and greener London for all”.
Kate Hampson, a South London parent and member of Solve The School Run said: “Most days my kids and I cycle the two miles to their independent school. Otherwise we take the train and then walk/scoot the 10 minute journey from the station. Much of the bike ride is joyful thanks to closed roads and school streets. But it’s a different story near the school, where there is no bike lane and heavy traffic. Walking along the same main road from the station is also unpleasant. I want safe options for all families, so they can leave the car at home. If we can reduce the school run traffic, the air around the school will be cleaner and the roads safer for everyone.”
A wider issue
The South London situation has been reported in other areas in the capital, as well as in Oxford. Parents and residents complain of similar trends in Hampstead, Wandsworth and Richmond, which all have similar concentrations of schools, particularly private schools.
Research from Cllr Emily Kerr in Oxford found that up to 50% of congestion during the school run was caused by the city’s private schools. Cllr Emily Kerr said: "We see a clear trend in Oxford where private schools make up about 30% of pupils but a significantly higher percentage of school run traffic within the city. Many pupils at private schools live further away than those at state schools, so these journeys can be harder for families to walk and cycle. One solution would be for private schools to invest in mini-buses for all age-groups. These would provide a cost-effective and convenient alternative to driving for parents. We are delighted to see some schools in Oxford starting to do this, and we hope that private schools in other areas of the country where there are the same school run traffic issues follow suit."
"Congestion and air pollution soars when the private schools go back to school, making the school run (however you do it) unpleasant and dangerous. In fact, it's so awful, we set up our own charity to help try and combat it," says Francesca Agostini, Green School Runs and mother of two, who lives in Hampstead.
“It’s really interesting to see higher levels of air pollution correlating so closely with term time. We know that road transport is an important cause of both nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. We’re really pleased to see communities using their local data from Breathe London to shed light on causes of pollution in their neighbourhood and campaigning to reduce it,” says Professor Ben Barratt, Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London.
About Solve the School Run
Solve The School Run is a charity whose members are parents with children at private and state schools, primary and secondary schools. Fed up with the chaos, congestion, road danger and air pollution children have to face on the school run each day, they focus on data that highlights the issues and informs the solutions. They think all families should be able to have safe, convenient and sustainable options for getting children to school.