Platform: The Year That Was

All aboard for a glorious round-up of the year that was as the Platform team reflect on all they have achieved since September 2023

WORKSHOPS & OTHER IN-SCHOOL DELIVERY

This year, Platform has delivered over 200 workshops on rail safety, journey planning and sustainable and healthy travel. We’ve also launched our new RailWAY careers programme this summer and participated in a number of careers fairs.

“We were impressed with the format of the workshop (a mixture of facts, videos, role play and quizzes) as well as the relevance of the content. Would highly recommend to other schools.” (Sophie Murray, Southill Primary School)

“The whole process was brilliantly arranged throughout. Ellie, who visited our school, was fantastic. The work was pitched perfectly, everything was engaging throughout and the children learned a great deal about the railway and potential future careers in this industry.” (Marie Stone, Sticklands Primary School)

TRIPS

Young people from primary, secondary and specialist settings across Platform’s five CRPs have enjoyed a range of fun and educational trips out by train.

Reach me by Rail

Platform has continued to support schools, who already have a trip planned, to travel to their destination by train. This year, these have included STEAM in Swindon, The Egg Theatre in Bath, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Visitor Centre, Gloucester’s National Waterways Museum, the Swan Theatre in Worcester, seaside trips to Weymouth and Weston, Bath Pavilion and Bristol Museum.

“Fantastic service! Very helpful, educational and professional. We have worked with Platform for a few years now and they never fail to disappoint. The children all left the experience more knowledgeable about the trains and and the safety that is needed around them. For some children it was their first experience travelling on a train and they came away thoroughly engaged and wanted to travel more. We can’t recommend them enough.” (Andrew Olsen, Wilden All Saints Primary)

Free to Train; Free to Learn

Platform has been equally happy to support schools wishing to travel somewhere by train to participate in a free Platform-led activity. This year, highlights include a Viking voyage in Gloucester, habitat-hunting in Stroud,  following in Brunel’s footsteps in Bristol, comparing the waterways of Worcester and map making in Bath.

“From start to finish, the team were organised, helpful and efficient. They planned a great day out for us using objectives from our science curriculum. We travelled to Stroud Canal and had an amazing day learning all about animals, plants, waterways and habitats. The team planned seven jam-packed activities and had thought through everything from toilet breaks to weather changes. We couldn’t fault how brilliant our day out was and will definitely be recommending the team. Thank you!” (Jenni Shirra, Stratton Primary School)

This Mighty Traveller 

This year, Platform has worked with over 20 specialist settings (including primary age, secondary age and post-16) to provide over 650 young people with additional needs with the knowledge and skills to access the railway safely and confidently.

“Ellie from Platform was fantastic throughout the day. She was very accommodating and patient with our pupils who all have complex learning needs. The resources and interaction she provided on both train journeys was brilliant and our pupils thoroughly enjoyed interacting with this. We had a fantastic stress free trip and both pupils and staff had a great day!” (Katie Switzer, Fiveways Special School)

RailWAY

With the launch of their new careers programme, they have also been highlighting rail industry careers on their trips, particularly through their ongoing partnership with the South Bristol Youth programme.

RESOURCES

Since the start of the academic year, the Platform team has produced 25 new resources, including:

UNIQUE PROJECTS

As well as delivering their established programme of workshops and trips, Platform has been able to collaborate and take the lead on some exciting standalone projects this year…

  • Dreaming of a Whiting Christmas‘,  a Christmas pantomime spectacular with Great Malvern Primary School in honour of the life and legacy of one of Platform’s founding steering group members, William Whiting.
  • From a Railway Carriage‘, a history and art project with Avonmouth Primary School in collaboration with Local Learning.
  • The launch of ‘Transport Takeover’, our new sustainable transport card game, funded by the Community Rail Network.
  • ‘Women in Art’, showcasing the artwork of Wiltshire artists with Colebrook Junior School, in collaboration with TransWilts CRP. “The Platform Team put together some fabulous Women in Rail artwork trips along the TransWilts line in the autumn. It was a huge success and we received some wonderful feedback.” (Sophie Martin, Community Rail Officer, TransWilts Community Rail Partnership)
  • Sustainable Stations project with Norton Juxta Kempsey Primary School at Worcestershire Parkway Station. “It was so lovely to work with Platform Rail, the Bee Friendly Trust and Norton Juxta Primary School eco club at Worcestershire Parkway. The children were super excited to release worms into the planters and were enthusiastic to learn about insect, plant and animal life at the station. Platform have also created a brilliant new resource – How to be a Habitat Hero – for KS2 students which is available on their website.” (Fiona Saxon, Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership Officer)
  • Launching our new ‘Railway Reality Check‘ myth-busting films at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Yate.
  • It’s a Newtiful Day‘ art project at Portway Park & Ride Station in partnership with Severnside CRP. “Severnside’s standout collaboration with Platform this year has to be ‘It’s a Newtiful Day’ where we pooled our resources to deliver a unique project for students from Oasis Academy Temple Quarter. Students not only learned how to be safe and confident rail passengers, but also about the environmental impact of building a new station.  After hearing about the measures taken to protect a habitat of great crested newts at the recently constructed Portway Park and Ride station, students exercised their creative talents by making colourful collages of newts.  The collages have been re-produced to form an impressive display at the station, which was celebrated during a special launch event in July.” (Heather Cullimore, Manager, Severnside Community Rail Partnership)
  • Joining Sustainable Hive’s ‘Fishing for Change‘ project this summer.

AWARDS

Platform’s ‘This Mighty Traveller’ initiative scooped 1st prize in the ‘Empowering Diverse Groups’ category at the Community Rail Awards 2024 in Swansea. They were also awarded 2nd place in the ‘Involving Children and Young People’ category for ‘Interchange’, a joint project with Worcestershire CRP, Worcester Cathedral and several other organisations around the issue of county lines.

THANK YOUS

All of the above would not have been possible without the generosity of their funders, and the whole Platform team would like to take this opportunity to extend their thanks to GWR, CrossCountry and the Community Rail Network for continuing to enable them to carry out their mission: to inform and empower the next generation of rail users, and, through their exciting new careers programme, potentially be the first step on a journey into a career in the rail industry.

They would also like to thank all five of their CRPs, West Midlands Railway, WECA, the DfT and all the station and train staff who have helped make their trips out even more fun, inclusive and memorable. Long may these partnerships continue! 

 

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For more information and support, you can contact the Platform team here.