Since launching On My Way, the initiative has grown significantly! What began as a TWGGS pupil voice project about behaviour, safety and wellbeing on journeys to and from school has now developed into a wider local safeguarding campaign.
We are pleased to share that 15 local schools are now formally involved in the initiative! We are so pleased to have them on board and their collaboration is not just useful but imperative to the cause.
We have also continued to receive support from local representatives. Mike Martin MP has supported the project from its early stages, and Laura Trott MP has now also met with us to express her support as the initiative continues to grow. We are so grateful for this cross-community backing.
A key part of the work has been strengthening systems beyond school. Kent County Council has been involved and has already agreed to make changes to its Travel Saver Code of Conduct from September. This is an important step forward, although we continue to work with KCC and local schools on further improvements, particularly around how harassment is reported, recorded and addressed.
We continue to work with PC Amelia Brooker and Kent Police, who have supported the safeguarding aims of the project. We are also looking forward to upcoming meetings with transport operators, hosted in Parliament with Mike Martin MP, to discuss how schools, transport companies and wider partners can work together more effectively.
We are also pleased to have the backing and support of the NHS, who are following the development of the initiative and offering support where they can. Their involvement is important because issues such as harassment, fear, confidence, personal safety and peer behaviour are not only safeguarding concerns, but also wellbeing and public health concerns. NHS colleagues can help schools by sharing expertise around emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, trauma-informed practice, pupil voice, preventative education and signposting to further support where needed.
Pupil voice remains central to On My Way. Pupils continue to share their experiences, report concerns and help shape the campaign. They are currently working on campaign posters and poetry to support and explore the aims of the initiative. We have also delivered a further whole-school assembly to update pupils and reinforce the importance of recognising, responding to and reporting unacceptable behaviour.
We are also proud that TWGGS has recently achieved a Gold UK Feminista Award, recognising the school’s commitment to tackling sexism and promoting gender equality. This is a significant achievement and reflects the sustained work of pupils and staff to challenge harmful behaviour and create a culture of respect.
In addition, we are selecting our pupil ambassadors for the White Ribbon Campaign, supported by funding from local police. Staff ambassadors, including Mrs Miller and Ms Neave, have already completed their training.
Next steps include further meetings in Parliament, continued collaboration with pupils and local schools, the election of White Ribbon pupil representatives, and further work towards meaningful system change. We are also looking ahead to our new Year 7 intake and considering how we can help pupils feel safer, more confident and better supported as they begin travelling to and from TWGGS.
There is much more to come, and we will continue to keep pupils, parents and carers updated as the initiative develops.
On My Way remains rooted in a simple principle: pupils have the right to feel safe, calm and respected on their journeys to and from school. Their voices continue to guide this work, and we are grateful to pupils, parents, carers, schools and partners for their ongoing support.
At TWGGS, we are launching a new initiative called On My Way, which focuses on pupil behaviour, safety, and wellbeing when travelling to and from school. Over recent weeks, we have been listening carefully to pupil voice about experiences on buses, at bus stops, and on walking routes to and from school. While many pupils travel without difficulty, it has become clear that there are behaviours in these shared public spaces that can make some of our pupils feel uncomfortable or unsafe. We believe it is necessary to address this openly and constructively. As part of the On My Way campaign, we are taking a clear, proactive approach. Your child may have mentioned the assemblies which took place last week. Our aim here was to clearly explain what unacceptable behaviour looks like on journeys to and from school and to give them practical advice on what to do it they experience or witness it. We also spoke about reporting concerns, and launched a new safeguarding email address specifically for concerns regarding travel to and from school: omw@twggs.kent.sch.uk. You can find the slides used in those assemblies below. We are planning to liaise with other local schools, the police and travel companies going forward in an effort to establish clear reporting systems, sanctions and escalations for unwanted behaviour. We are hoping to have a positive impact and we will keep you informed with any developments. You’ll see more information on the assembly slides, should you wish to look. We are so grateful for the support of our parents and carers, and we know many of you will be invested in this initiative and want to help. Something simple you can do is speak to your children about their journeys to and from school. How do they feel about it? Do they understand what unacceptable behaviour looks like in that context? Are they clear on how to report any concerning behaviour they experience or witness going forward? Please reinforce the message that they have the right to feel comfortable and calm whilst travelling to and from school and we absolutely consider their journey part of our school safeguarding boundary. They are not expected to manage any difficult situations alone. The rationale is not to assign blame or create fear but, as a community, we can have accountability alongside understanding. We hope to have a positive impact. Thank you for your continued support.