Riverside Routes Project

Year 5 have had the privilege of working on a project called Riverside Routes. This project is part of a larger programme of work by a consortium of partners. The children have been working with two community musicians (Ken Masters and Adam Cogdon) on a rap about the Staiths in Dunston.

Firstly, the children walked along the Staiths in Dunston looking for inspiration for their raps and then came back to the classroom to share ideas for lyrics. After writing the lyrics and music, the children were given the opportunity to record their rap as a class.

The children have thoroughly enjoyed working together with Ken and Adam and are very proud of what they have achieved.

Here is a quote from Elizabeth Kane the organizer of the project:

“We are delighted St Aidan’s have once again signed up to be a Riverside Routes partner school and have had a warm welcome by all the team. Riverside Routes aims to connect children and communities with cultural and natural heritage along the Rivers Tyne and Derwent.

Year 5 are becoming experts about Dunston Staiths and River Tyne. When I joined them on their walk last Thursday, they made detailed research notes about their observations. One pair had an impressive 114 natural and man-made objects recorded. It was a fantastic way to explore our nearby cultural and natural heritage and links beautifully to their bridges topic work.


Today the classroom became a music studio. Working with Adam Cogdon and Ken Masters in the space of just two hours they co-wrote a class rap. Everyone demonstrated fantastic listening skills and made thoughtful decisions about what the music composition should sound like. I look forward to hearing the final rap next week and being able to share the piece with the public.”