Pupils and staff redesign routes into primary school

A school pupil is shown jumping on a piece of outdoor equipment in the grounds of their primary school. — A school pupil plays with the newly-installed equipment outside Easter Carmuirs Primary School. Credit: Sustrans

A headteacher has welcomed the completion of a community-led project designed to make the routes into their primary school safer and more accessible.

Pupils, staff and the wider community at Easter Carmuirs Primary School in Camelon worked in partnership with Sustrans Scotland, Falkirk Council and the Safer Community Youth Action Project to deliver Easter Carmuirs Pocket Places.

This photo shows the widened pedestrian walkway and planters and places for sitting that have been added. — A wider pedestrian walkway, as well as planters and additional areas for sitting or playing are among the installations. Credit: Sustrans

Among the improvements are a wider pedestrian walkway and installation of ramps to allow step-free access to school entrances.

The installations follow a collaborative process in which staff, pupils and parents/carers were asked to shape the project, ensuring that the final design meets the needs of those who use it the most.

A group of pupils are shown playing on outdoor equipment in the grounds of their primary school. — Pupils have welcomed the installations. Credit: Sustrans

Shelagh Todd, Headteacher of Easter Carmuirs said:

“We’re thrilled with the redesign of the school grounds which has made the routes into school safer, more accessible and attractive.

“Following our award from Sustrans in 2021 we carried out consultation with children, families, community partners and staff around what would work best for our young people to enable safe travel into school. Work began in June 2023 and was completed in March 2024 including a redesign of the car park and safe paths in to school, ensuring accessibility for all.

“Everyone involved is extremely happy with the end result especially our pupils and their families.”
Headteacher Shelagh Todd

Part of the pedestrian walkway is shown. There is a colourful ground marking in the foreground. — The pedestrian walkway has been extended, now continuing to the entrance of the nursery. Credit: Sustrans

What’s new at Easter Carmuirs Primary?

The protected central pedestrian walkway outside the school has been widened, with planters and additional areas for sitting or playing installed.
Creative ground markings by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good add colour and interest.
The path from the lower car park to the main school door has been widened to increase accessibility.
A ramp has been installed, allowing step-free access to other school entrances.
A further ramp has been put in place between the upper and lower car parks.
The pedestrian walkway has been extended, now continuing to the entrance of the nursery.
The school’s two existing bike shelters have been repaired, with the addition of lockable doors to improve security.

A school pupil is shown playing on a piece of outdoor equipment in the grounds of their primary school. Flowers in a planter are shown in the foreground. — Staff, pupils and the wider community worked together to deliver Easter Carmuirs Pocket Places. Credit: Sustrans

How was the project delivered?

The completion of Easter Carmuirs Pocket Places follows a successful application by the school and Our Place Camelon and Tamfourhill to Sustrans Scotland in 2021 for support through the Pocket Places Programme. The Safer Community Youth Action Project is a legacy of the Our Place project.

Sustrans’ collaborative design process puts the people who use the space at the heart of designing solutions to local issues and the Pocket Places programme is an opportunity for local communities to shape their neighbourhood and take a lead in making their local area a better place to live.

Throughout the process, the project partners invited pupils, staff, parents/carers and the local community to share their views and aspirations for the lanes at a series of engagement activities.

Six people representing the Easter Carmuirs Pocket Places project partners are shown standing by the newly-installed seating area in the grounds of a primary school. — Representatives of the project partners, from left, Serge Neumand, Project Manager, Co-Design, Sustrans Scotland, Sheila Muir, Parent Council Chair, Marion Eele, Project Lead, Co-Design, Sustrans Scotland, Shelagh Todd, Headteacher, Easter Carmuirs Primary School, Bryan Jardine, Transport Planning Officer, Falkirk Council and John Hosie, Youth & Community Development Worker, Safer Community Youth Action Project. Credit: Sustrans

John Hosie, Youth & Community Development Worker, Safer Community Youth Action Project, said:

“The installation of the new traffic management measures, the safe seating and social spaces and the now-enhanced and inclusive active travel access around Easter Carmuirs Primary School have all contributed to the positive legacy of the Our Place Camelon & Tamfourhill Projects Community Safety Strategy.

“I look forward to building on the partnership established with the school as the Safer Communities Youth Action Project supports and facilitates further community development projects and opportunities.”
Youth & Community Development Worker John Hosie

The creative ground markings by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good are shown. — Creative ground markings by Bigg Design and Fun Makes Good are part of the improvements. Credit: Sustrans

Marion Eele, Project Lead, Co-Design, Sustrans Scotland, said:

“We are delighted to see the completion of this exciting project, delivered in partnership with the Easter Carmuirs Primary School community, Falkirk Council and the Safer Community Youth Action Project

“It has been especially pleasing to see the pupils enjoying the new spaces.

“Working closely with people from across the school community has ensured that the installations meet the needs of those who use them most.

“We hope these installations encourage more pupils to walk, wheel or cycle to and from school.”
Project Lead Marion Eele

A parent/carer and school pupil walk past planters in the grounds of their primary school. — Sustrans’ collaborative design process puts the people who use the space at the heart of designing solutions to local issues. Credit: Sustrans

Easter Carmuirs Pocket Places is supported by funding from the Scottish Government through Sustrans Scotland’s Pocket Places programme and delivered in partnership with the Safer Community Youth Action Project, Easter Carmuirs Primary School, and Falkirk Council.