Climate conscious pupils collaborate to create a mobile app called ‘Train 2 Sustain’

Before the end of the summer term, year 5 pupils from Ynysowen and Troedyrhiw primary schools worked together to create an apple store app with interactive advice on sustainable practices to tackle climate change.

The idea came from pupils at Troedyrhiw who had been inspired by the national climate conference and wanted to raise awareness of the need for changes in behaviour to support this agenda. The pupils worked with an external company Value-Added Education to create the app to share their message. Within the app they used augmented reality features for a more interactive approach which can be seen particularly in their artwork. The app also has blogs on living a more sustainable life and songs on climate change. Pupils also used ‘Minecraft’ to create net-zero infrastructure and included maps showing potential locations across Wales for the buildings to be placed.

As part of the Councils RARS strategy, Merthyr Tydfil has set out its ambition to ensure all learners are supported to achieve the highest possible literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. Throughout the project, pupils have developed significant skills within these key areas whilst focusing on the importance of sustainability and climate change.

Troedyrhiw Headteacher, Mrs J Roome, said “We must develop a renewed focus on ensuring all our learners are supported to achieve the highest possible skills of literacy, numeracy and digital competency. These skills need to be developed through early years into maintained schooling and beyond, there should be clear and deliverable expectations for a successful transition between different phases of education, and with this innovative approach, we are able to achieve this."

Ynysowen Community Primary Headteacher, Simone Roden, said “What the children have learned and achieved during the Summer Term has been both inspiring and amazing. For the first time, we were able to bring two schools together to collaborate and develop one app."

Learning Cabinet Member, Cllr Michelle Jones, said “The creation of this app has allowed pupils from both schools to develop essential skills and supports the 4 purposes of the Welsh curriculum, ensuring our young people are ambitious, enterprising, ethically informed and healthy individuals.”

The app is available to download for free on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/train2sustain/id1625103646