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Safeguarding
every child's right to
breathe healthy
classroom air
An Invisible Harm
Indoor air can be 2-5 times and sometimes up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air
Children spend most of their day in homes and schools. They breathe the same air, but they don't share the same risks.
In classrooms, children can breathe pollution from outside traffic, along with pathogens and contaminants from indoors, such as pollen, mould, viruses, microplastics and everyday chemicals.
Up to 80% of fine particles indoors can come from outside. Closing windows alone is not enough. In busy, crowded classrooms, carbon dioxide levels can rise quickly, affecting comfort, concentration and learning, while pollutants become trapped inside.
Health
Polluted, contaminated air can affect every organ in the body. It increases school absence and reduces concentration and learning outcomes.
Children breathe the same air, but they don't share the same risks. It worsens asthma and allergy symptoms, and other chronic illness too.
Climate
Climate change is worsening indoor air quality in schools. Heat, humidity, flooding, pollen, damp, mould and air pollution can all increase indoor pollutants and worsen asthma, allergies and respiratory illness.
Practical Solutions
Safe Air Schools promotes practical, evidence-based solutions for safe, equitable and sustainable education, showing that healthier learning environments are both essential and possible. Improving classroom air quality doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Every action counts.
Local Action: Hampshire
Our founding county is a blueprint for community action, and our website is a living, regularly updated online resource, sharing guidance and proven practical resources to spark conversations and support decision-makers in creating healthier, safer and more inclusive learning environments.
National Impact
National health strategy Involvement
Policy Engagement
Global Clean Air Pledge
Resources
Safe Air Schools shares tried and tested, and relevant resources that have been instrumental in facilitating conversations and driving progress in our founding county, nationally and beyond.
Resources, guidance; evidence; downloads
Community and Collaboration
Working together for safer schools.
We collaborate with children, charities, schools, parents, researchers, organisations and experts to help create healthier learning environments nationwide.
Community Interest Company
Safe Air Schools is a not-for-profit social enterprise, registered as a Community Interest Company in the UK. This means that any profit is reinvested solely for the benefit of our community.
Our latest news
Commissioned by TCPA
A commissioned article for the Town and Country Planning Association examining why indoor air quality is an overlooked public health issue in schools, and how better classroom environments can support healthier, more inclusive learning.
National Allergy Strategy Launch
Our founder was invited to the launch of The National Allergy Strategy at the Palace of Westminster, in recognition of her contribution to the strategy's indoor and outdoor air (respiratory) working group.
Statutory Guidance
Invited to contribute to the evidence and consultation informing England's updated statutory guidance on Allergy Safety in Schools.
Contribution to The Discussion
Safe Air Schools was invited to contribute to an iPaper article on heat waves, sharing insight on the impact of overheating in schools.
Open Letter
Safe Air Schools sends an open letter to the four nations' education ministers and children's commissioners gaining national support.
Featured in Air Quality News
Safe Air Schools' open letter calling for urgent action on improving air quality in schools features in Air Quality News, a leading UK publication covering air pollution, environmental health, and clean air policy.
Hampshire Press Article
'Hampshire schools deserve clean air in classrooms'. A local press article sharing how Safe Air Schools began.
87%
of Britain's schools are in toxic neighbourhoods, with 12 million children at risk
86%
of new school sites are planned in areas in breach of all three World Health Organisation air pollution targets
