School Superzones
Threats to health such as poor air quality, fast-food takeaways, betting shops and low access to green space and walking and cycling routes tend to cluster in areas of high deprivation. These challenges make it more difficult for children and young people from the poorest backgrounds to stay healthy, further disadvantaging their life chances and leading to inequalities in health outcomes.
School Superzones are place-based interventions around schools in areas of the greatest disadvantage. They aim to protect children’s health and enable healthy behaviours through the place-shaping powers of Local Authorities and local partnership working.
Schools Superzones Programme
The School Superzones concept was piloted during 2018 and 2019 with 13 London Boroughs.
Pilot boroughs created 400 metre radius zones around schools where actions were taken to create healthier places for children, young people and their families to live, learn and play. Some examples of pilot initiatives include working with local fast-food takeaways and convenience stores to create a healthier local food environment, promoting active travel, reducing the flow of traffic in streets outside schools to improve air quality and restricting the advertising of harmful products.
The School Superzones brochure provides more detail about the pilot including the process for establishing a Superzone, the principles underpinning the Superzones model, a summary of common actions taken by pilot boroughs, success factors, short-term and expected long-term benefits and case summaries from the 13 pilot boroughs.
Next steps and how boroughs can get involved
The GLA has committed to expanding the School Superzones Programme by providing funding for 50 grants of up to £30,000 to London boroughs between in 2022 and 2023.
Grants for the establishment of School Superzones will be made available in four funding rounds.
Funding in round four is open to all London Boroughs. Applications to establish up to three School Superzones within a single London Borough will be welcomed.
For more information about the School Superzones Programme please contact Alison Pearce, Principal Policy Officer at [email protected]
Applications for funding in round 1 are now closed.
Applications for funding in round 2 are now closed.
Applications for funding in round 3 are now closed.
Applications for funding in round 4 are now open and will close on Friday 24th March at 4pm.
Find more information in the School Superzones Prospectus.
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