Frequently asked questions about School Streets

• What is a School Street?
• Where are the current School Streets?
• What are the operating hours for School Streets?
• How do I request a School Street?
• How does the Council consult residents and local businesses?
• Which vehicles are exempt from School Street restrictions?
• My School Street does not use ANPR cameras. Do I need to apply for an exemption?
• How does the Council use my personal data?
• What if I am already parked inside the School Street before the operating time?
• How will parents, carers and children with limited mobility be affected by the School Street?
• Will the School Street cause displacement of traffic?
• How will the scheme be governed or managed?
• How will the scheme be enforced?
• How will visitors know about the School Street?
• How will the School Street be monitored?
• Is there help available to get to school by walking, cycling, and public transport?
• What if I want to speak to the Council about the School Street?

What is a School Street?

A School Street is a road outside a school with a restriction on motor traffic at school pick-up and drop-off times. The restrictions create a safer and more pleasant environment for all road users.

Signage informs motorists about the timing of closures. Traffic control methods differ for each scheme and may include any of the following:

• Barriers
• Trained volunteers
• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Find out how School Streets are enforced.

Some vehicles (e.g. emergency vehicles) are automatically exempt from the scheme, while others (e.g. residents and blue badge holders) can apply for free exemption.

Find out how to apply for a School Street exemption.

Where are the current School Streets?

View the School Streets locations for up to date information on approved and proposed school streets.

What are the operating hours for School Streets?

School Street operating hours are specific to each school. They vary according to the school start and end times. They generally operate for 30 to 60 minutes during morning and afternoon school peak times.

School Street schemes only operate during term time. Term dates are specific to each school, and can be found on that school’s website.

During school holidays and half term breaks, School Streets will act like normal roads. If present, camera enforcement will be inactive. However, signs will remain visible to motorists. It is not a statutory requirement to close them.

Refer to School Street locations for the correct information on term dates and operating hours.

How do I request a School Street?

If your school is interested in a School Street, we would love to hear from you. Please contact schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk for advice.

Each school’s situation is different, so we have prepared a School Street checklist (pdf, 109 KB) that will be useful to include when you contact us. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information at this stage.

A School Street is a big commitment for a school, so the request must be made with approval from the Headteacher.

How does the Council consult residents and local businesses?

We normally carry out engagement and consultation before introducing a School Street and will use the feedback from the local community to reach the best design.

In the first sixth months of a new School Street trial, we will continue to collate feedback. This feedback, along with monitoring data, will be used to adjust the School Street and to decide whether to make the School Street permanent. 

Visit our consultations page for more information and to register your views on any live consultation.

Which vehicles are exempt from School Street restrictions?

Find out more about School Street exemptions, including which vehicles are automatically exempt and how to apply for an exemption.

Please do not confuse permits holders with holders of Controlled Parking Zone permits. These are entirely separate permits, and one does not cover the other.

My School Street does not use ANPR cameras. Do I need to apply for an exemption?

You only need to apply for a School Street exemption for an ANPR enforced School Street.

Residents and businesses on School Streets without ANPR enforcement do not need to apply for exemptions, but visitors to the street should still adhere to the restrictions.

How does the Council use my personal data?

If you would like more information about how we use your data, please read our Privacy Policy and the School Streets privacy notice.

What if I am already parked inside the School Street before the operating?

Vehicles already parked in the roads before the times of operation will be able to exit. During the operating times any vehicles are advised to travel at walking pace.

How will parents, carers and children with limited mobility be affected by the School Street?

The School Street will make it easier for pupils, parents, and carers with limited mobility to access the school by reducing traffic outside the school gates. 

Those holding valid blue badges will be able to apply for exemption from the restrictions but should still avoid parking on school keep clear (zigzag) markings. If you feel you have an exceptional circumstance, but do not hold a blue badge, please email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk.

Will the School Street cause displacement of traffic?

Through the introduction of a School Street, the total volumes of traffic near to the school are expected to decrease during drop-off and pick-up times.

It is difficult to predict exactly how much traffic will be reduced and this will vary for different School Streets, however, initial monitoring data for phase 2 School Streets shows that the reduction of vehicles recorded within most School Streets surveyed was greater than the increase in displaced traffic in adjacent roads where these were monitored.

There is potential for parking to be dispersed over a wider area rather than concentrated outside the school gates. We are working with schools and communities to identify locations away from schools where parents can park safely without obstructing residents on neighbouring streets.

A wider monitoring review has been undertaken and the results are currently being assessed and will be summarised once available.

How will the scheme be governed or managed?

A Memorandum of Understanding will be drawn up between the council and the school, detailing the ongoing roles and responsibilities and will look something like this.

Council and school responsibilities

What the Council will do	What the school will do
Develop/provide communications resources for the school and local community	Provide senior management commitment to the programme and a key contact point
Provide on-street engagement where appropriate	Carry out whole school travel behaviour survey (using Travel for Life online tool) – before and after implementation
Deliver engagement activities within the school	Distribute communications through its usual channels (newsletters, parentmail, etc.)
(Subject to engagement outcomes) Implement traffic order changes	Host engagement activities (coffee morning, assembly, classroom activities) and/or deliver resources provided
Install signs to comply with road traffic regulations	Maintain or achieve Travel for Life accreditation
Provide risk assessment	Amend risk assessment where necessary
Provide training for volunteers, if necessary	Provide location for storing equipment (e.g. barriers)
Provide activities supporting travel behaviour change	Host behaviour change activities (cycle skills, Dr Bike)

How will the scheme be enforced?

How the scheme is enforced will depend on the design of the School Street. Vehicles may be restricted using physical barriers such as retractable barriers, initially managed by volunteers.

Some School Streets have ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras, where feasible. In these cases, vehicles entering School Streets during operational hours without having applied for an exemption, will receive a PCN.

Smaller schemes may be managed by signs only.

How will visitors know about the School Street?

Department for Transport regulation signage, including advanced warnings, where appropriate, inform all drivers that they are approaching a School Street.

We also produced banners, lamp column wraps, flyers, information on our website and letters to notify residents, parents, school staff, and local businesses of our School Streets.

We ask the school and anyone within the School Street to tell their visitors about the restrictions when visits are being planned. Visitors can park on surrounding roads outside the closure or, in the case of ANPR camera enforced School Streets, they can apply for exemption, where eligible.

Richmond recently trialled a School Street enhanced gateway at St John the Baptist School. This includes pencil bollards, red surface treatment and white dragons' teeth at the entrances to the School Street.

We hope that this can be implemented across all School Streets in the borough to make them recognisable, uniform and more visible.

How will the School Street be monitored?

A range of measures may be used to assess the impact of School Streets before and after implementation, including:

• Traffic counts
• Surveys on pupils’ journeys to school
• Consultation feedback
• Road Safety Audits in Stages 1 to 3
• Safety reviews after implementation
• PCN data

A range of qualitative and quantitative information, including assessment metrics, resident feedback and Council priorities, is used to make decisions on School Streets.

Is there help available to get to school by walking, cycling, and public transport?

We offer many types of support to schools and pupils in need.

This includes:

• Financial assistance to cover transport costs for pupils under the age of 16
• Schemes for safe and sustainable travel
• Free cycling lessons for adults and children (tailored to skill level), including bookable group lessons for schools
• Travel advice and support for SEN pupils

Find out more about public transport initiatives.

What if I want to speak to the Council about the School Street?

To contact us about the School Street scheme please email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk.