Network Rail has relaunched its Switched On rail safety website as rail safety education becomes a mandatory element of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) curriculum in England from September 2026. The updated platform provides free, curriculum-linked teaching materials designed to equip all schoolchildren with essential safety knowledge when travelling on or near the railway.
The move supports the government’s decision to embed rail safety within the national curriculum and forms part of wider efforts to reduce incidents involving young people. Ahead of the compulsory requirement, schools can already begin delivering age-appropriate content through the refreshed Switched On resources.
Updated resources for pupils aged 3 to 16
The enhanced website provides content across all three key educational stages, with materials tailored to the needs of early years, primary and secondary pupils.
Early years (ages 3–6)
Young children are introduced to fundamental safety concepts through Switched On Travels with Suzi, a series that uses animations, quizzes and interactive resources. The content follows Suzi and her mother on a train journey to a nature reserve, highlighting simple ways to stay safe around the railway.
Primary school (ages 7–11)
Content for Key Stage 2 pupils focuses on developing judgement and decision-making skills, helping children identify hazards and understand unsafe behaviour in rail settings. New additions include materials based on the Arlo’s Adventures book series, in which Arlo takes his first independent train trip. Teachers can also access design-your-own-poster activities and hazard-spotting card games covering stations, tracks and level crossings.
Secondary school (ages 12–16)
For older students, new resources have been developed in partnership with social media science creator Big Manny, TikTok sensation and Science Creator of the Year (2024). His videos explain the science behind electrical and physical dangers found on the railway, illustrating the consequences of unsafe decisions. The secondary programme also includes debate-led materials challenging pupils to consider peer pressure, social media trends and the risks associated with filming content near railways.
Preparing teachers ahead of the curriculum change
Priti Patel, Network Rail’s Chief Health, Safety & Wellbeing Officer, welcomed the integration of rail safety into the national curriculum and highlighted the value of the relaunched platform. She said:
“We have always believed that it is essential to educate children about rail safety, which is why we, alongside our rail industry partners, have an extensive schools’ engagement programme in place. I’m delighted to know that when rail safety becomes a mandatory part of the English national curriculum next year, we are one step closer to our desire to ensure that every child is taught how to keep themselves safe when in a rail setting.
“The Switched On website is a great one-stop shop that provides useful tools for schoolchildren – from videos and interactive games to classroom activities and teacher guidance – all free of charge. I am sure that it is a welcome resource for teachers that will enable them to deliver effective rail safety education to children of all ages.”
The website’s updated structure ensures schools can integrate materials into lessons immediately, supporting early adoption ahead of the 2026 deadline. The content has been designed to align closely with National Curriculum requirements, helping teachers deliver lessons that meet statutory guidance.
Building on an established platform
The new platform builds on the original Switched On website launched in 2021, which has already delivered rail safety education to hundreds of thousands of pupils nationwide. Developed by Hopscotch Consulting — now part of We Communications — the enhanced site expands the scope of teaching materials with new video content, interactive tools and on-demand resources.
All materials are freely accessible through the online portal and can be used flexibly to suit school timetables. The programme is also available to parents and carers, enabling families to reinforce safety messages at home.
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