Primary schools

Primary schools overview

Summary of indicator

Objective

To measure the walkable access to primary schools and nearby public transport.

Application guidance

Walkable communities offer opportunities for personal interaction and social involvement. Proximity to the local primary school can influence the health, equality and social connection of households with young children.

This indicator will support practitioners to understand the accessibility time and distance of primary schools for young children. Based on the outcome of the assessment, practitioners can determine whether there are gaps in access to educational opportunities.

Practitioners can use the walkable access to primary schools metric to measure the distance that students would be required to walk to access a primary school.

Practitioners can use the public transport access to primary schools metric to measure the distance that students or parents would be required to walk to access the nearest public transport stop from the school.

Metrics

• Walkable access to primary schools
• Public transport access to primary schools

Related indicators

	Access and Connection Walking paths Equitable access Steepness
	Amenity and Use Local living Transport node facilities
	Green and Blue Tree canopy
	Comfort and Safety Road safety Safe speed for environment Community safety
	Character and Form Permeability

Recommendation

• Refer to related indicators for complementary assessments that could be undertaken to provide a more holistic perspective on walkability
• Consideration could be given to total journey time for students who fall outside a reasonable walking distance from the school, including travel by vehicle. This would be particularly relevant for independent and private schools where catchments are not requirements for enrolment and/or rural schools where catchments can be significantly larger.
• Analysis could be expanded to include High Schools, although it is assumed that their journeys would be captured in the 4 Public transport accessibility indicator. This should include analysis for the more strenuous 2km crow flies catchment and 2.9km on path catchment.
• Analysis could be expanded to include cycling accessibility to primary schools.

Metrics in detail

Map