National Clean Air Day

Air quality across the county has improved considerably since the mid-1990s, with NOx, Particulate Matters PM10 and PM2.5 levels all reducing significantly. This is great news, since these are particularly harmful to children, whose immune systems, lungs and brains are still developing. Exposure to these can negatively affects children’s physical health and their ability to learn. Millions of children remain exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution, because almost all UK schools are in areas above WHO air pollution limits.

Despite this, roadside emissions – from vehicles engines, brake pads and tyres - remain the largest source of these pollutants, and so for this year’s National Clean Air Day - Thursday the 20th of June – we’d value your support in asking your parents and carers to leave their car at home and walk, wheel or cycle to school instead for the day and explore the “art of the possible”.  Please see a template newsletter.

By making a non-car drop off, a one-off event it can help parents and carers who currently drive to try out other ways of getting to school, such as discovering a bus route, perhaps the new Oxford Bus live tracker tool, finding a new footpath or cycle route, or seeing if lift-sharing might work on occasion. Once they have done it the first time, they are more likely to do it again. 

To help you to promote clean air day to your school’s community, Action for clean air  have created a range of resources suitable for Key stages 1 – 3 or you can check out Kids Zone on the Oxfordshire air quality website.   The Oxonair website is also a valuable tool, as it shows and forecasts air quality at locations throughout Oxfordshire.  

You can also find your nearest air quality sensor and track air pollution levels – does your school receive dangerously high levels of pollution? Parents and teachers can sign up to air quality alerts – these could be very useful for those who suffer from asthma and other breathing conditions made worse by poor air quality.  This helps being prepared by ensuring inhalers are close to hand or taking different routes avoiding busier roads which are more likely to have higher levels of pollution.

If your school would like to take part in Clean Air Day, but are unsure where to start, then consider adding the text below to your school’s newsletter:

“Air quality across the county has improved considerably since the mid-1990s, with NOx, Particulate Matters PM10 and PM2.5 levels all reducing significantly. 

This is great news, since these are particularly harmful to children, whose immune systems, lungs and brains are still developing. Exposure to these can negatively affect your children’s physical health and their ability to learn. Millions of children are still exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution, because almost all UK schools are in areas above WHO air pollution limits.

Roadside emissions from vehicles engines, brake pads and tyres - remain the largest source of these pollutants, and so for this year’s National Clean Air Day - Thursday the 20th of June – we are asking parents and carers who usually drive to the school to leave their car at home and walk, wheel or cycle to school instead for the day to explore “the art of the possible”.

For those who have no choice but to drive to the school, please park a few streets from the school and walk the rest of the way. 

With your help through small changes, we can create a healthier and safer space around the school together.