Our Active Travel Ambassadors programme in York has gone from strength to strength this year, with an award win at Applefields SEND School and a new recruit joining from Huntington School.
Here Active Travel Ambassadors Coordinator for the North Yorkshire, East Riding and York Region, Jason McAleese tells us more:
‘Both schools have embraced different approaches to the ATA programme, making the most of its flexibility. At Applefields, the adaptable timetable allows for longer, in-depth sessions, while Huntington is breaking new ground by delivering the programme to all 131 Year 12 students as part of their summer term Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) lessons.’
Applefields School
Jason explains: ‘Now in their third year with the ATA programme, Applefields have been busy running their ‘Satellite – Be Bright’ reflective shop. They took their shop to some local feeder primary schools and sold their products at a school fair. By early 2025 they had pretty much sold out of stock!
In March at the Modeshift STARS Summit, they were crowned Modeshift STARS National SEND school of the Year. A fantastic accolade for them, with staff and pupils attending the event in London to collect the award.
They’ve been busy ticking off STARS initiatives and are now able to submit for an Excellent Accreditation.
Early June saw the ATAs deliver an inspiring pitch to a panel of experts from Modeshift, City of York Council and Bikeability instructors. They pitched their 2025 campaign idea of a new ‘Travel Buddy’ passport programme that would see accomplished students share skills with students a little less confident.’
Lynne Thomas, Road Safety Training Coordinator, City of York Council said:
‘The campaign idea to be Travel Buddies is inspirational and it would be fantastic to see this replicated at other schools in York.’
The ATAs are now busy designing their ‘Travel Buddy’ passport and selecting the first students to take on the roles.
Huntington School
Huntington School joined the ATA programme in 2025, through their involvement with Healthy Schools and a clear ambition to develop their travel plan.
Jason said: ‘We worked together to create an ambitious plan to run the programme through PSHE lessons with all 131 Year 12 students. Each tutor group developed its own campaign idea over four sessions. After exploring the benefits and barriers to active travel and reviewing school travel data, they used the COM-B behaviour change model to come up with practical solutions.’
In session four we had the difficult task of selecting just four tutor groups to pitch their campaign idea to a panel of experts from City of York council and their Senior Leadership Team.
Each pitch was delivered with charisma and confidence, giving the panel a very difficult decision. After deliberation, form 12TDS were awarded £200 funding to run their Bus Behaviour campaign. Titled ‘No Fuss on the Bus’, secret inspectors (Pupils) will be on the school buses marking each journey for behaviour issues such as noise, tidiness and manners. There will be three weeks of judging and each week the best bus will be awarded a whole bus prize.’
Angela Blackwood, Road Safety Instructor/Travel Planner, City of York Council said:
‘It was wonderful to see staff inspired as well, and for them to be so open about their personal decisions about travel. I personally thought this was infectious. I now also know where to come when in need of a nifty slogan.’
Angela summarised: ‘The two York schools couldn’t have been more different, yet you (ATA) have brought out what must be the very best in both.’
Some final thoughts from Jason
‘It’s been brilliant to see how both Applefields and Huntington have made the ATA programme their own. Their creativity, commitment, and willingness to try something new shows just how powerful student-led change can be. I’m proud of everything they’ve achieved this year, and can’t wait to see where they take it next.’
If you want to be part of the ATA programme next year get in touch with Team Modeshift.
