War on school run traffic

Headteachers are to be urged to stagger timetables because of the chaos created by the school run.

The move is one of a series of initiatives to be unveiled by the Government as traffic congestion in streets around popular schools reaches crisis point.

But it could face opposition from parents with children at different schools who could be forced to make several separate journeys every day to deliver their children to the school gates.

It comes as thousands of children return to school today after the holidays. Experts say that in order to reduce congestion levels significantly, school timetables would have to be staggered over an hour either side of existing start and finish times, which could mean some pupils beginning lessons at 8am.

Other measures will be aimed at persuading parents to abandon the school run entirely by making it safer for children to walk or cycle, or to travel by bus.

The measures will be announced by Education Secretary Charles Clarke and Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

Four in ten primary school children are taken by car to school - a 12 per cent rise in a decade. In London up to one fifth of traffic congestion is said to be caused by the school run.

Most parents take their children to school by car because they fear for their safety if they make the journey on their own. But a recent study showed one in five have been involved in a traffic accident.

The drive to stagger school opening times is to be launched with a consultation exercise urging all schools to review their hours. It comes as the school day is already becoming more flexible.

An Education department spokesman said: "Schools will be asked to consider staggering opening and finishing times. It will be part of a package of suggestions on school transport."

Several London education authorities said they would consider staggering timetables but that the final word would remain with schools.

Croydon councillor Gerry Ryan said: "It would have the most beneficial of effects. Dispersal is everything and this could be a massive step forward to alleviate problems on the roads and on the buses."

A spokesman for Wandsworth said for staggering timetables to work "it will have to be an hour not just minutes and that brings its own difficulties".

He added: "The only longterm answer is better education, increasing awareness of travel safety and practical measures to make walking and cycling to school safer."

Peter Brooks, deputy leader for Greenwich, said: "It's something that could make sense as long as you haven't got families making two journeys instead of one - that's when it won't work."