Led by: South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
Location: Yorkshire and Humber
Contact: John Ansari
Tel. +44 (0)114 221 1296
email johna@sypte.co.uk

Introduction 
The SAFEMark project for 11-16 year olds was pioneered during Target 1 by SYPTE.  Due to its success, it will be rolled-out across the Yorkshire and Humber region and to Target partners.  The SAFEMark award scheme will also be adapted for Junior SAFEMark, the 6-11age group, with an emphasis on providing pupils and schools with a community-based project that focuses on behaviour, sustainability and citizenship. 

SAFE stands for: Supporting A Friendly Environment

A web resource and CD-ROM will also be developed to support both initiatives.

ACTIVITY UPDATES:- 

Junior SAFEMark Poster Competition, July 2005

 A competition was set up for Junior SAFEMark to design a poster, the competition was aimed at year 6 ( 10 to 11 year olds). 10 schools took part.The winners were all rewarded with a WHSmith voucher, certificate and crayons

 A selection of the winning posters were chosen by  The First Bus Company to appear on the back panel of the bus behind the drivers seat ( on of the posters selected was created by Ben popple from Totley Primary school as shown in  the photo) on buses throughout the South Yorkshire region.

 

 

 

 

 

 Metro’s Easing the Transition, June 2005 

Metro has been hosting Junior SAFEMark training workshops to provide year 6 pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to use public transport safely and confidently when they make the transition from primary to secondary school.  During the workshops the kids  take part in hands-on, interactive activities led by Metro, bus and rail companies and Council Road Safety departments.

Using Maps, time tables and Metros on line journey planner they are  shown how to find public transport in their area With practical training on how to use the bus safely. The workshops also provide children with the opportunity to get their Young Person's PhotoCard,.

 

 

 

Help make the ‘Step up’ to secondary school easy for pupils, June 2005 

 

'Step Up' is a FREE practical teaching resource for transition pupils. The resource prepares transition pupils for the journey to their new school - where many will experience public transport for the first time.

 The resource is produced by Metro in conjunction with 'Innovate Educate' (-curriculum experts with in depth knowledge of the transition process). The key messages in the ‘Step Up’ resource are:

• Planning and preparing for journeys - Equips young people with the skills to make their own choices and gain independence
• Staying safe on the journey - Encourages positive citizenship skills enabling pupils to travel with confidence on public transport.
• Transport choices - Explores the impacts of transport in health and the environment enabling pupils to make informed transport choices 

The resource comprises different types of activities such as: 

• computer based activities including those which involve web access
• worksheets
• map work
• stimulus for creative work including drama and writing

The activities are designed to appeal to different learning styles, and abilities and are intended to be used during the summer term either in a single day of activities or during a series of shorter sessions over a six week period. 

If you would like your school to receive a ‘Step Up’ pack please call the SAFEMark team on 0113 348 1122. 

 

SAFEMark Keeping Mark SAFE, April 2005 

                                               We now have a new character to represent Junior  SAFEMark his name is Mark and we  are keeping Mark SAFE.
see Related Links...Mark leaflet for Junior SAFE.

Lucy Wright the new Safe Project Officer, has been busy promoting JuniorSAFE in the South Yorkshire region using Mark to encourage young people to...get going!

The scheme aimed at year six pupils, teaches youngsters about good practice on all public transport. The first school to sign up to the award system was ST Peter's Catholic Primary school.  Junior SAFE in South Yorkshire recently purchased a bus to use as a mobile classroom to be able to carry out realistic travel training for year 6 pupils.

To date there are 64 schools signed up for SeniorSAFE. Its successful reputation in promoting good behaviour on public transport is paying dividend, as many junior schools  are calling the SAFE team for information to get going!                                                  

Junior SAFEMark Public Transport Day Out, April 2005
A great time was had by all if somewhat tiring, when Junior SAFE organised a public transport day for a group of 25 children children aged between nine and eleven. The purpose of the day  was to generate awareness of the public transport network and to educate the children on how to get the most out of public transport and more importantly how to use it safely!

Armed with a timetable and a quiz for the day's adventure, the kids were taken on three differant modes of transport in the South Yorkshire region -Train, Bus and Tram.  JuniorSAFE project officer Lucy, explained about the advantages of each travel option. Throughout the day the children were guided on how to behave safely when travelling on public transport and the reasons for doing so.

 

Junior SAFEMark, April 2005
26 schools are now signed up to the junior safe project, Sacred Hearts Primary school in Hillsborough,Sheffield was the first school to sign up to junior SAFEMArk back in December 2004.

Junior SAFE has not followed through with its developments with The Sheffield Bus Museum as the project has just purchased its own First South Yorkshire bus. Junior SAFE will be taking the bus into schools to carry out realistic travel training with the year 6 pupils. This exercise is hoped to educate and encourage pupils to use puplic transport confidently and safely so they feel prepared for their new journey to secondary school in September.

Junior SAFEMark is also developing a teacher and pupil education resource pack to give to schools after public transport travel and training lessons and issued the children with Mega Travel Cards. This is hoped to encourage schools to look at public transport issues after we have visited them. Topics covered in the pack include how public transport has a positive impact on the environment,public transport safety and how to read bus and tram timetables and information about the Mega Travel Pass.

Guidance on Development and New Schools,November 2004
The report soon to be published is the results of the school walking component of Target 1. These guidances note outline the design principles that should be included in all propposals for new schools, see related links - Guidance on development and new schools.

Workshop evaluation Report, August 2004
Evaluation of the training sessions have been collated and the full report is available in the related links section. The sessions were aimed at 10 and 11 year olds to enable them to make informed transport choices, and learn the skills and knowledge to use public transport safely and sensibly.

Feedback from teachers, bus operators and workshop leaders were very encouraging, with useful suggestions for improved sessions next year, including the use of curriculum based material for preparation and follow-up class work, plus more quizzes or competitions. the report also identifies a lessons learnt section for the organisation of such events.

Training for Year 6 pupils in West Yorkshire, July 2004
Junior SafeMark workshops have proved to be a great success as they have been rolled-out across West yorkshire throughout the month. Attended by 1150 by public transport for the first time. these SAFEMark workshops provide young people with the skills and knowledge to use buses and trains safely and confidently, prior to their transition to secondary school.

Sessions included :- How to catch a bus - Be sensible and be safe; How to get around, using paper timetables and the electronic journey planner to plan school and leisure journeys, and How to save the world, a session relating to the environment impacts of their transport choices.

SAFEMark 'Get On' Teaching resource pack, November 2003
An easy to use teaching resource for key stage 3 pupils has been jointly developed by SAFEMark and curriculum experts. The 'Get On' pack is a cross- curricular resourse with link to PSHE, Citzenship, English, Maths and ICT; with important messeges about public transport.

The pack includes a CD_ROM with interactive exercises for pupils and resources for teachers9e.g lesson plans and worksheets) plus 4 large classroom posters highlighting Key issues.

School Bus Monitering Training, September 2003
School bus moniters are pupils selected by the school who agree to be the eyes and ears on school buses. Their role being to serve as a deterrent to unruly and dangerous travel behaviour, and therefore helping to improve the journey to school.

SAFEMark has developed special training sessions for the monitors, who developed valuable skills and gain experience in holding a position of responsibility. They are rewarded for their position by gaining free travel for their own bus journey.

South Yorkshire SAFEMark
Junior SAFEMark in south yorkshire is building on new partnerships. A new partnership has been developed with Sheffield Bus Museum to  provide historical modules within an educational pack. Plus free tours of the museum for all schools signed up to the junior SAFEMark awards scheme.

Senior SAFe has also expanded. The Project Officer has been working with North Yorkshire county Council to assist them trailing SAFEMark from September 2004.

 

Junior SAFEMark launched in West Yorkshire, June 2003
Junior SAFEMark aims to prepare year 6 dhildren ( 10 -11 year olds) for thier bus journey to school, which for many children is thier first experience of independent bus travel.Three officers from Metro Education Transport spent the day with year six and their teachers from St. Johns Primary School, Golcar.

Children started the day by completing a questionaire to start them thinking about their new school journeys. This identified ant worries about the journey, which were then discussed as a group.

The class was then introduced to using bus timetables to plan journeys. Followed bt bus safety skills training, with the children sat in the bus drivers seat, how to behave on the bus, role play skills and games, creating posters and ended the day with a quiz. A great day was had by all.

 

SAFEJourney Newsletter, March 2003
Following the success and adoption of SAFEMark in many South Yorkshire Schools, South Yorkshire PTE are working with partners BOSSY, British transport police and public transport operators are working together to address anti social behaviour on public transport. SAFEMark help to produce a newsletter for drivers in support of their front line roles. See related link - SAFEJourney news letter.

One of the many reasons for bad behaviour on publi transport is the increase of drug use by young people. The SAFE- inspired anti drugs campaign intends to cut the use of drugs on the home to school run. The full campaign includes: information about the harm of drugs, a competition to encourage knowledge of the drugs and random bus searches with sniffer dogs. See related link 'A nose for trouble'.