Students have asked for more safety measures in ‘dangerous points’ outside Forge Valley School in North Sheffield. 

Students at the school have complained about road safety issues while travelling to school and gave their possible solutions to North Sheffield councillors at a meeting on Thursday.

Annie, a 16 year old student at Forge Valley School, said she had “experienced not the best things when walking to school or cycling,” which motivated her to want to create a positive change. 

The students conducted a study, asking 889 fellow pupils, what their biggest road-related concern was, and 86% of respondents said the lack of a safe crossing outside the school was their biggest issue. 

The students have offered solutions to the councillors, Grace, a student at Forge Valley School, said: “We would like to consider having a zebra crossing as this is one of the safest options. Cars will have to stop for us.”

Suggestions such as barriers along the pavement or the introduction of lollipop ladies were also mentioned. 

Melisa Rana, a teacher at Forge Valley School, said: “As a teacher there’s only so much you can do. It’s not our job to manage traffic.”

Miss Rana said the collaboration between the council and the students on this topic is a ‘step in the right direction’ but, ‘the proof is in the pudding,’ and it’s up to the council now to keep the ball rolling.

This idea was reinforced by the students. Annie said to the council a the meeting on February 28: “Us students will keep campaigning and fighting but it’s you guys who can make the change.”

Annie also directly asked the councillors: “Why would you hesitate to make young people in Sheffield safer?”

The students spoke at the meeting after being invited by councillors.

Miss Rana said that she and the students had already set up the group and had decided to focus on road safety, and that it was ‘just by coincidence really’ that the council was covering the same topic.

Councillor Alan Hooper, who chaired the meeting, suggested the expansion of a current ‘School Streets Scheme’, which is currently just for primary schools, to include more secondary schools.

The scheme involves excluding traffic from areas around primary schools for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon in an attempt to make the roads safer for those travelling to and from school.