A Yorkshire school is spending pound;15,000 to put tutors and laptops on a train in an effort to transform the behaviour of commuting pupils. Mike Prestage reports
A train used by schoolchildren known to locals as the Hooligan Express is being transformed into a “Learning Shuttle” with the help of laptop computers and two homework tutors.
The service from Whitby to the outlying villages in the Esk Valley of north Yorkshire had become notorious for its unruly schoolchildren. Other commuters learned to avoid the school run when the train’s three carriages were taken over by children.
Now one school, Eskdale, is trying to put the 50-minute journey to good use and to cut boisterous behaviour. It has secured a pound;15,000 grant to buy four laptops and employ two homework tutors.
The school is hoping to see the train service acquire a new reputation as a “Learning Shuttle” and when The TES travelled on it this week the computers had certainly caught the attention of pupils as four got down to some valuable studying.
One of the few adults using the service, Laurence Lynch, said: “I can see why locals tend to avoid it. The kids are certainly loud and boisterous and that’s with teachers present.”
Arriva Trains Northern is providing free travel for the tutors and Ray Price, managing director, said: “We are focused on building strong local relationships.”
Head Dave Bradley said teething problems included ensuring the train always had three carriages, otherwise overcrowding becomes a problem, and deciding which pupils should benefit - initially it will be Year 11 children at the 350-pupil 11-14 school. He is also monitoring how the children cope with carrying laptops and with balancing them on their knees.
“Contrary to local folklore they are not bad kids, but the idea of the pilot scheme is to give the journey a different culture. The ultimate aim will be a separate, designated carriage fully fitted with desks and powerpoints that can be used for study,” he said.
As one of the guinea-pigs on the the scheme, pupil Alex Mussett reported that her early experience was positive. “The train is quite crowded so it is hard to concentrate, but it is useful to be able to use the computers and get some homework done. We will be able to use the laptops at home as well.”
Tutor Kath Dowson, whose son attends the school, praised the “commuter-computer” scheme: “It’s good they have something useful to do on the long journey.”
