London’s Polluted Schools: the Social Context

This report concludes that the authorities must undertake ‘serious and coordinated action’ to protect the most vulnerable school children in London from air pollution.

Commissioned by the FIA Foundation, the report shows the combination of health factors facing children in the most polluted London schools – including social deprivation, obesity and lower levels of activity.

Published ahead of International Walk to School Day 2017 (4 Oct), the study highlights how the Capital’s most deprived children attend schools most affected by poor air quality, yet contribute least to traffic pollution – because they walk to school more frequently than the average child.

Further to that, 86% of primary schools affected by poor air quality have catchment areas with lower than the London average for car ownership.

Looking specifically at active travel, the report highlights the positive benefits of physical activity, such as walking and cycling to school, while raising questions over the barriers to the long-term take-up of cycling.