From running air quality investigations to developing school travel plans, pupils at schools including Kendall Primary School and Queen Boudica Primary School are leading projects designed to improve understanding of air pollution and encourage more walking, cycling and scooting.
The support is available through Colchester City Council's Clean Air programme, which offers schools free curriculum-linked resources, assembly materials, air pollution monitoring equipment and bespoke active travel maps.
At Kendall Primary School, members of the Eco Council borrowed air pollution monitors to investigate air quality around the school and understand the impact of traffic on local pollution levels. They then created posters and presentations to share what they had learned with their fellow pupils, helping to raise awareness of simple actions everyone can take to improve the air we breathe.
The school also worked with the council to develop an Active Travel Map, helping pupils and families identify walking and cycling routes to school.
Meanwhile, Queen Boudica Primary School has been using resources from the CAReless Pollution toolkit to help pupils learn about air quality and encourage more sustainable journeys.
Following an assembly for Key Stage 2 pupils, members of the school's Eco Committee have been developing a school travel plan designed to encourage walking, cycling and scooting. The committee has also created a travel map, carried out a travel survey and shared its ideas with the wider school community through assemblies.
As a result of this work, the school is now working towards the Modeshift STARS Travel Plan Accreditation with support from Essex County Council's Travel Plan Team.
Michelle Parry, Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Queen Boudica Primary School, said: "Our pupils have really embraced the project and have enjoyed investigating the issue of air pollution and thinking about how small changes can make a difference. Through the Eco Committee they have been able to share their ideas with other pupils and help encourage more sustainable journeys to school."
Councillor Darius Laws, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Environment at Colchester City Council, said: "Air pollution affects everyone's health, particularly children, so it's fantastic to see local schools taking such an active role in learning about the issue and helping to create positive change.
"The enthusiasm shown by pupils at Kendall Primary School and Queen Boudica Primary School demonstrates how young people can make a real difference in their communities. By encouraging more active and sustainable travel, these projects are helping to create healthier journeys to school while building lifelong awareness of environmental issues."
Schools across Colchester can access a wide range of free resources designed to help pupils explore air pollution, climate change and active travel. The resources include classroom activities linked to the curriculum, adaptable assembly presentations, air pollution monitors available to borrow and free bespoke active travel maps for schools.
Schools interested in accessing the resources can visit the Schools section of the Clean Air Colchester website or email clean.air@colchester.gov.uk for more information.