Air quality

Air quality and schools

Why air pollution harms children

Imagine breathing in tiny bits of smoke, dust and chemicals, well that’s exactly what happens when children are exposed to air pollution. These tiny particles irritate their developing lungs, making it harder to breathe and potentially causing wheezing, coughing and even asthma. Because children breathe faster than adults, they take in more air and therefore more pollution. Over time, this can affect how their lungs grow and may even influence how their brains develop, making it harder to learn and concentrate.

Air pollution is often at its highest outside school gates during drop‑off and pick‑up times. This is mainly due to the large number of cars arriving at the same time and drivers leaving their engines running, a behaviour known as ‘idling’. Idling engines produce more pollution than when a car is moving, meaning children are exposed to the worst air right where they walk, wait and play.

Benefits of clean air

Clean air is essential for healthy lung development, reduces the risk of respiratory illness and supports better physical health overall. It also leads to more playtime, fewer missed school days and improved wellbeing. Clean air boosts cognitive (or ‘brain’) development too, helping children to learn, concentrate and remember information more easily. Simply being in cleaner air can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and create a healthier, more positive learning environment.

What can schools do?

Take part in the Auntie Duck Air Quality Education ProgrammeClean

Sandwell's Auntie Duck programme helps pupils learn about air quality, healthier travel and the effects of pollution on their bodies in a child‑friendly, engaging way. It links directly to the PSHE curriculum and supports your schools' sustainable travel work. The programme centres on an air-quality-themed story book written by the Dog, Duck and Cat Charitable Trust in partnership with Sandwell's Air Quality Officers. Designed specifically for 7- to 9-year olds (Key Stage 2), the programme also contributes to progress towards achieving Asthma Friendly School status by helping pupils understand air quality and asthma triggers.

Become a 'Modeshift STARS School'

Join the growing number of Sandwell schools taking part in Modeshift STARS, this is a national accreditation programme that supports safer, healthier and more sustainable travel to school. By encouraging walking, cycling and scooting, schools can reduce congestion at the gates, cut air pollution and help pupils stay active every day. STARS is simple to get started with and there are free resources, ideas and recognition for the great work your school is already doing find out more at Modeshift STARS. Schools taking part in the Auntie Duck programme or working towards Asthma Friendly School status will find that many actions they are already doing support their STARS journey. Just email our Active Travel Officer SuzyStreet-Hall she can support you with the registration process and how to achieve Modeshift STARS accreditation.

Become an 'Asthma Friendly School' 

Asthma Friendly Schools is an initiative established by the National Health Service (NHS). It is a whole‑school approach that is designed to reduce children's exposure to common asthma triggers and improve staff confidence in managing asthma. This includes maintaining an asthma register, ensuring staff complete annual training, and creating an environment that minimises avoidable asthma risks. Schools engaging with Auntie Duck and Modeshift STARS are already supporting this whole-school approach to creating safer and healthier environments.

Read our leaflet A Joined Up Approach to Asthma Friendly Schools for more information and contact details.

Tackle idling outside the school gates

Anti‑idling campaigns can significantly cut pollution outside your school at the busiest times, reducing exposure to harmful exhaust fumes. This is especially important for children with asthma and other respiratory needs and can be used as a specific initiative in achieving Modeshift STARS accreditation.

Embed air‑quality awareness into school life and celebrate Clean Air Day!

Bring discussions about air quality into your lessons, assemblies or projects that are run through initiatives such as Eco-school. Pupils who can understand the link between air pollution, health and travel choices are more likely to make environmentally conscious decisions in the future. And if you are struggling for information or ideas, don't worry, we have lots of free resources in our Auntie Duck air quality programme for you to use.

Clean Air Day takes place every June and is organised by Global Action Plan. Schools, community groups and individuals across the country take part to highlight the importance of clean air. Global Action Plan provides free resources, posters and activity ideas to help schools make the day impactful.

Work with families and the wider community

Try to encourage families to avoid short car journeys where possible.

Did you know that we now have walking and cycling maps for Sandwell's six towns? These user friendly maps are designed to highlight roads in Sandwell which are 'quieter' i.e. less traffic and also have less air pollution. Digital versions are available by clicking on the links below, but if you would like paper copies of any of these maps please email pollution_control@Sandwell.gov.uk.

  1. Oldbury Walking and Cycling Map
  2. Rowley Regis Walking and Cycling Map
  3. Smethwick Walking and Cycling Map
  4. Tipton Walking and Cycling Map
  5. Wednesbury Walking and Cycling Map 
  6. West Bromwich Walking and Cycling Map

Share tips with families about exposure to air pollution on their route to school for example:

-  Pollution levels drop sharply with every meter you move away from the road. Walking on the “inner” side of the pavement furthest from the traffic helps reduce exposure to vehicle exhaust emissions.

-  Opting to walk or cycle along a street just one road back from a main road can significantly reduce the amount of pollution you breathe in. This is because trees and buildings and distance all help block and dilute traffic fumes.

-  Walking is usually less polluted than driving. Air pollutants often build up inside cars, especially in traffic, so walking or scooting can actually help children breathe cleaner air on the school run.

What can parents or carers do?

  • Consider walking, scooting or cycling to school instead of taking the car. Not only is it better for your children's mental health and physical fitness, but it reduces their exposure to air pollutants. Did you know that air pollution is often worse inside a car than outside? It also reduces the high levels of air pollutants from cars at school gates during pick up and drop off times. And it doesn't just have to be the school run - when heading out to get your shopping or popping into town, try to walk or take public transport if you can.
  • Talk to your school about what they are doing to combat air pollution. There are lots of great schemes in place that any school can take part in, like Modeshift STARS, "walking buses" and Living Streets. Chat to your child's teachers or other staff members about air pollution and see what ideas they have to help reduce the number of car journeys being made to the school each day.
  • Talk to other parents and carers. Individual action is a great way to make a difference, but talking to other parents and carers about changes that you plan to make can encourage others to change their daily habits too. 
  • Avoid wood burning stoves. Burning wood in stoves or open fires, releases large amounts of harmful particulate matter and chemicals that are carcinogens (cancer causing). Even 'Eco-design' or Defra-approved stoves release huge amounts of these particles. If possible stick to cleaner home heating sources, like electric, gas boilers or air source heat pumps.

Additional resources for schools, parents and guardians

 A list of resources recommended by Sandwell Council's Air Quality Team are available below that can be used by teachers, parents or guardians.