Go North East transports Norham High School youngsters on ‘Journey Through Tyne’

Youngsters from Norham High School in North Shields will embark on a journey of discovery with Go North East this Autumn, delving into the history of transport in Tyne and Wear and learning from those who experienced the changes first-hand.

Aiming to provide students with meaningful experiences to best prepare them for life after school and the world of work, teachers at the school are bringing the curriculum to life through employer engagement – starting with an intergenerational project for their Year 7 students.

Entitled ‘Journey Through Tyne’, the project will concentrate on changes in transport systems and the local community over the past 50 years. Working with local charity Age UK North Tyneside, students will engage with older residents in the area, who will be invited to share their memories and personal experiences of how public transport has transformed since their youth.

The project will see the students working with Open Lab at Newcastle University to create an interactive journey app, adding in the data they have collected. Go North East buses will then take the students, and their mature companions, on a tour from the Percy Main depot to Gateshead Riverside. During the trip, the students will use the app to highlight the experiences they’ve uncovered at different locations and landmarks along the route.

The excursion will culminate in a guided tour for the older passengers and a careers’ meeting for the youngsters at Go North East.

Co-ordinated through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, Lucy Johnson, Industry Alignment Manager at Norham High School comments: “We’re really grateful to Go North East for supporting this project. Input from local employers is essential, to enhance the learning and understanding of our students, while developing the skills they will require for future careers.”

In support of the Government’s Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, the project will also look at the barriers to public transport, and how to provide accessible and sustainable transport for vulnerable groups – a cause close to Go North East’s heart.

Go North East recruitment and training manager, Keith Robertson, adds: “This is such an interesting and worthy initiative which we’re so pleased to be part of alongside Newcastle University, Age UK North Tyneside, the North East LEP and Norham High School. Educating youngsters on the importance of accessibility, particularly for elderly groups and those living with disabilities, while providing an insight into how our company and transport infrastructure in the region has evolved, will be invaluable for everyone involved.”