Summary
WOW – the Walk to School Challenge, led by Living Streets, is a pupil‑led programme that encourages primary school children to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to school. At its core is the WOW Travel Tracker, a digital tool where pupils log their daily journeys using classroom devices. The tracker automatically identifies eligible pupils for monthly collectable badges, providing schools with clear insights into travel habits, progress and participation, while requiring minimal classroom time. Inclusive by design, it recognises all forms of active travel, including wheelchair and mobility‑aid use. More than 2,000 schools join the initiative, achieving an average 58% reduction in car journeys to school and an 18% increase in walking and wheeling. By blending gamification, data‑driven monitoring and pupil ownership, WOW helps schools build healthy habits and create safer, more sustainable school environments.
Key aspects
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Pupil led behaviour change
WOW places children at the centre, empowering them to actively track and reflect on how they travel to school. -
Playful incentives and celebration through monthly collectable badges, designed around fun annual themes, reward regular active travel and sustain motivation.
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Smart and inclusive data tracking
The WOW Travel Tracker enables pupils to digital log daily journeys, recognizing all forms of active travel and providing schools with clear insights into travel behavior. -
Easy to implement and adaptable
The programme requires less than ten minutes of classroom time per day and its adaptable to each school context -
Proven, large scale impact
delivers measurable reductions in car use and increases in active-mobility habits