Art and road safety project adds blaze of colour to journey to school for Ipswich youngsters

Ranelagh Primary School worked with Art Streets to brighten up key routes to the school.
Published: 02 Jul 2026

A colourful public art project is brightening up the daily journey for pupils and parents of one Ipswich school.

Ranelagh Primary School teamed up with Art Streets, a purpose-led street art company, and Suffolk County Council, to develop a fun way of encouraging walking, cycling and using scooters to get to school.

A boy and a girl and a man and a woman on a red-painted step with 'You Are A Star' painted in yellow.
Councillor Christopher Hudson, left, and Ranelagh Primary School head Olga Hopper with Junior Road Safety Officers Samreen and Tommy on the ‘red carpet’. (Picture: SCC)

The project installed colourful, interactive artwork along Hadleigh Road, London Road and Ranelagh Road, which are all key routes to the school.

Children are invited to hop, jump and bounce along their route, turning familiar pavements into a vibrant trail that culminates in a striking painted ‘red carpet’ at the school’s main entrance.

The installation will also generate valuable data for Suffolk County Council as the designs were made based on existing knowledge around travel behaviour to and from the school.

Four people in yellow high viz jackets painting coloured logos on a brick wall.
Artists at work on the wall at Ranelagh School in Ipswich. (Image: SCC)

As well as aiming to make the journey more fun, the council will monitor whether the artwork encourages walking, cycling, and scooting.

Any findings could help shape similar creative placemaking projects across the UK.

Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said: “This is a wonderfully creative way of encouraging youngsters to think about road safety and healthier ways of getting about.

“Encouraging youngsters to walk or cycle to school is good for them and also supports better physical and mental health, helps reduce congestion and improves air quality, which is good news for all of us.”

Three round coloured shapes painted on the pavement at a road junction that say Look, Stop and Listen
One of the aims of the art project is to teach road sense to youngsters. (Picture: SCC)

Iona Hodgson, founder and director of Art Streets, said: “This project demonstrates how public art can do much more than brighten a space – it can actively change how people use it.

“By transforming ordinary walking routes into something fun and engaging, we’re helping to make active travel a positive choice for families while creating a more vibrant neighbourhood for everyone.”

A painted gate and pavement
As well as aiming to make the journey more fun, the council will monitor whether the artwork encourages walking, cycling, and scooting. (Image: SCC)

Ranelagh Primary School headteacher Olga Hopper said: “What makes this project particularly special is that it has given our children the opportunity to contribute directly to their local area and take pride in creating something that will be enjoyed by residents, families, and visitors for years to come.

“Not only has it created a brighter and more welcoming environment, but it has also encouraged conversations about active travel, road safety and caring for the spaces around us.

“I am incredibly proud of our pupils and grateful to everyone involved in bringing this vision to life. In particular, I would like to thank Suffolk County Council, for its support and commitment in making this project possible.”

Multi-coloured posts on a pavement
The artwork can be seen on key routes to the school. (Image: SCC)

Chair of Governors Gary Morgan said: “It is fantastic to see our pavements given such a bright and vibrant makeover, bringing even more colour, creativity, imagination and learning to every step of the journey into school.

These wonderful additions reflect the energy and character of Ranelagh and help create an even more welcoming environment for our children, families, and wider school community.”