Interest free loans through Salix Energy Efficiency Loans Scheme (SEELS) funding are available for maintained schools.
Until 11th January there is an opportunity for Academies to access funding through the Salix Energy Efficiency Funding (SEEF) scheme.
In Oxfordshire work is proceeding to develop support for Maintained schools to reduce their carbon emissions.
A survey will be sent to all maintained schools to better understand existing activity, barriers and priorities on carbon management. The survey closes on 15th January 2021. Analysis of the results will take place by the end of January. OCC has already undertaken a market consultation to understand what training and advicethe market is able to provide to schools. The results of the surveys will allow OCC to develop a support proposal for schools.
Active travel projects are intended to reduce carbon emissions from school travel.
Formal ‘School Street’ pilots–The project aims to reclaim roads outside schools from traffic at the start and end of each day, reducing air pollution outside the school gates and making it easier for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school. Due to strict DfT criteria, the formal School Street pilots can only be considered as ‘complementary’ measures to other road space reallocation measures which are proposed in Bicester, Oxford and Witney. With the exception of Windmill Primary School in Headington (which received Councillor Priority Funding), the decision on whether to proceed with the nine proposed pilots is contingent on funding from the DfT. OCC is still waiting to hear from the DfT whether the Tranche 2 bid to the Emergency Active Travel Fund to support School Streets has been successful. As soon as OCC learns of the project outcome,the individual schools concerned will be informed.
School Traffic Demand Management funding–OCC are keen to engage with schools that have demonstrable issues with access and/or congestion to implement a variety of targeted initiatives including: *Support with the development and updating of School Travel Plans *Development of Park and Stride initiatives *Scoping the feasibility of enhanced school gate parking management/restrictions.
These above will complement general offers open to all schools: a) Street Tag Oxfordshire: b) Access to resources for schools to develop and update Travel Plans including walking and cycle route mapping c) Promotion of Living Streets’ WOW –the year round walk to school programme for primary school age children -and Little Feet –early years focused resources including journey maps, stickers and educational games to reward families for active journeys.If you would like to find out more about any of the above initiatives please email: SchoolsActiveTravel@Oxfordshire.gov.uk and include the name of your school and ‘School TDM’ in the title. School Wayfinding funding–Sport England funding is available for the development and installation of wayfinding signs and highway markings around, at least, four Oxfordshire primary schools. Wayfinding will be co-designed by school children to highlight active, sustainable and social routes between designated Park and Stride car parks, schools and nearby sites where children can be physically active. This research project seeks to investigate the effectiveness of using wayfinding to increase physical activity on journeys to and from school in a variety of urban and rural settings. If you would like to find out more please email: schoolstreets@Oxfordshire.gov.uk and include the name of your school and ‘Wayfinding’ in the title.