The Harrison Foundation kick starts the STEM train carriage transformation

9th February 2023Lee Wilkinson

We have received some amazing news this week. Funding from The Harrison Foundation has made it possible to turn our second train carriage into a STEM hub. The Stem hub will be part of the Harrison Foundations Social mobility centres.

The Harrison Foundation partnership will have a major impact helping to target various issues including giving disadvantaged children life skills and opportunities aiming to break the cycle of poverty, using the train as an inspirational setting to learn.

The Dales School in Blyth recently appealed for additional support to transform the second train carriage into a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) room to target early career aspirations with local businesses in ICT, mechanics, architecture and science.

After hearing about the project from Blyth MP Ian Levy, the North-East based Harrison Foundation has stepped in to provide additional funding for the STEM room, which will also be used to teach practical railway safety and independent travel skills for children with special educational needs.

Dr Sue Fisher, headteacher at The Dales School, commented: ā€œThe Dales School is extremely proud to be working with the Harrison Foundation, particularly as they have helped so many individuals to gain life experiences, this is something we are passionate about at The Dales School. Their community work aligns within our vision for the STEM carriage. With the Harrison Foundation as our partner, we will be able to achieve our vision and aspirations to benefit and inspire the next generation.ā€

Harrison Foundation trustee, Daniel Harrison, added: ā€œIā€™m delighted that the Harrison Foundation is supporting The Dales School and the next phase of this great idea. Our projects come in all shapes and sizes and which school children would not be excited to have a real train in their playground, where they can read and learn? Itā€™s a great idea and one that weā€™re delighted to support.ā€

ā€œIā€™d like to also thank local MP Ian Levy who played a vital role in connecting us with the Dales school and paving the way for the support weā€™re able to offer this amazing project.ā€

Blyth Valley MP, Ian Levy, said: “I’ve been really impressed with the ambition of this project and am happy to have been able to help in some small way. The school, and James Groundwater in particular, deserve huge credit for their persistence in making it happen and I’d like to thank all of the organisations and companies who contributed including the Harrison Foundation. It’s great to have such a wonderful facility in Blyth Valley and to see it on the television.ā€

Train Community Project

30th January 2023Lee Wilkinson

The Dales School has been featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces. The show followed the conversion of our class 144 Pacer Train.

 

It took an incredible effort from school staff, particularly our amazing site manager Tom McKinnon, working through the summer holidays to get the train ready for Georgeā€™s visit.

 

We were amazed when the community came together to help support the project, with the intention of helping children gain reading skills. Reading skills are so vital and are linked to developing skills to help children out of poverty.

The school received funding from the Laurel Trust and Hargreaves Foundation as well as contributions from Arnold Clark, Barbour, The Port of Blyth, RW Mann Trust and Northern Rail as well as Blyth Council contributing to the haulage cost to deliver the train to school. The project even caught the attention of Henkal, based in Hertfordshire, who donated weatherproofing products. Noel Forte and his team were regular visitors to The Dales School and carried out work on our pacer train, even a faulty compressor couldn’t stop them in their tracks.

Barry Lewis from Henkal

 

The amazing conversion of the train even comes with its own track donated by Network Rail.

Network Rail volunteers building the track.

 

Itā€™s own train station, donated and built by the local branch of TEXO, with a lot of support from the amazing Alan Conway.

Alan Conway designing the station.

 

Wickes volunteers.

 

A ticket office built by local Blyth-based charity Blyth Man Shed and donated by Mercia as part of the Wickes Community Programme.

Blyth Man Shed.

 

The train is fitted with a fully working driving simulator to help encourage early career aspirations and to help children with sensory needs to experience the sounds and sights of the railway.Ā  The software was kindly donated by Dovetail Games and the simulator was built by our STEM lead John Jennings.

 

Thank you to Morgan Sindall and Rachel Bateman from NCC and the police cadets for volunteering work that made it possible to move forward with the project. Thanks also to Network rail volunteers lead by Dawn Sweeting who volunteered over the summer holidays.

We can all agree the work paid off and we are very proud of our train. Next stop, funding for our STEM carriage. This will be a place to support pupils with early career aspirations linked with local businesses and also to practically learn railway safety in a joint initiative with Network Rail.

 

Queen Elizabeth II

9th September 2022Lee Wilkinson
The Dales School is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.
The children at Ashdale were so excited yesterday having received a letter and card from Balmoral Castle in response to letters they sent celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Along with the rest of the nation we offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this time. The Queen will be forever remembered for her devotion to this country.

Train Update

22nd July 2022Neil Simpson
We were invited by Northern Rail to take a ride on the new Northumberland Line. Some childrenĀ were able to see their houses, we also passed the school. It was very exciting. Northern Rail handed out goody bags to all the children, with a special book included.
We had a ride on three trains in one day. It was a very busy day. We learned a lot about how to travel by train. We waited for the train at Newcastle Central station. It was very busy and we saw loads of differentĀ trains. The children are becoming very good train travelers.
The weatherproofing for the train was completedĀ this term. Noel Forte and Barry Lewis from Henkel kindly helped to demonstrateĀ how to apply the WeatherproofingĀ products. We would like to thank Henkel for donating Ā£50,000 of products to help waterproof the train. Noel and Barry have gone above and beyond to help the Dales train project, we could not thank them enough.
Noel is running the great North run in memory of his Son Luke for the charity YoungMinds. Please see the link to his just giving page
We had a visit from Neil from the Aln valley Railway. Neil helped to take out the train controls for the new driving simulator installation. Thanks for all the help Neil.
Thank you to all the help from Northern Rail, Network Rail, Henkel, Northumberland CC, The police Cadets, British volt and Morgan Sindall AECOM,Neil from the Aln Valley railway and TEXO

Queen’s Jubilee Medals

28th June 2022Neil Simpson

Thank you to Cllrs Grant and Susan Davey for coming into school to hand out special medals for the Queen’s jubilee. The medals were donated by Blyth county council. The children were very excited to receive them. We even had a special guest driving the train. We would also like to thank Blyth council for funding our Jubilee party at school. We all had a great time.

Train Update & Justgiving

7th February 2022Lee Wilkinson

We had some great news this week, RW Mann Trust have kindly donated to the train project. Thank you so much, this will go towards developing out STEM carriage.

Also a big thank you to Mr Holmes who kindly made a donation to help. On this note we have created a ā€˜Just Givingā€™ campaign to help raise Ā£10,000 to aid in the carriage development. If you would like to donate please go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thedales-school.

Thank you to Ian Levy and the chronicle for appealing to the public to help the train projectĀ Ā https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/dales-school-blyth-pacer-train-22947145

We had a trip toĀ KirkmerringtonĀ School in County Durham. They showed us around their Class 142 Pacer train. We wish you all the best for your project. We are looking forward to Lesley visiting BlythdaleĀ to see our Train.

More exciting news to come next week.

Welcome to the Train Blog

28th January 2022realsmart admin

You may know that The Dales School acquired a train which we are currently refurbishing to be used a a learning space. This blog will provide updates as we go through the project.

Children in Need JustGiving Page

12th November 2021Neil Simpson

This year were fundraising for BBC Children in Need! We’re holding a BBC Children in Need Day on Friday the 19th of November to raise vital funds for children across the UK.

If you would like to donate on behalf of The Dales School, please click the following link.

The Dales JustGiving Page