Ealing Council has marked a milestone in its School Streets programme, with 50 schools now taking part in the scheme aimed at reducing traffic and improving air quality around school gates.
One of the latest schools to join is Twyford High School in Acton, where traffic restrictions were introduced earlier this month (12 January 2026) been introduced during drop-off and pick-up times. The council says the measures are intended to cut congestion, encourage walking and cycling, and lower carbon emissions.
Phil Bennett, associate headteacher at Twyford High School, said: “Seeing the street today with no cars driving down it as the students were arriving was a lovely experience. They had big smiles on their faces knowing we’d done something like that for them.”
He added that calmer streets helped promote road safety and healthier travel choices.
According to the council, more than 27,000 children and families across the borough are now covered by School Streets. Since the first scheme was introduced in 2020, school-related car journeys have fallen by up to 18%, while walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling to school has increased by up to 29%.
Sobha Sandhu, a member of Twyford High School’s student leadership group, said: “It feels much safer, more pleasant and even quicker to get to school.”
Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: “Reaching 50 schools with a school street is a fantastic achievement. This initiative will make a real difference to children and young people’s health and wellbeing.”
