Bikeability
Struthers has a long tradition of delivering Cycle Training. We were the first school in South Ayrshire to deliver “on road” cycle training then known as “Cycling Proficiency” over 20 years ago in the mid-1990s and we have delivered this to our P6 children every year since.
Our current Cycle Trainers are Craig Dalziel and Lucy Mullan. Craig has been delivering our Bikeability since 2009 and is qualified as a national Bikeability Mentor. Lucy has been with us since 2015 and is qualified as a Cycle Training Assistant (CTA).
In June 2016, Struthers was one of the first schools in the country to be “Quality Assured” by Cycling Scotland who manage Bikeability across Scotland. We received an excellent report and the assessors were very impressed with the high standard of training and level of achievement shown by the pupils, together with the safety and organisational skills of everyone involved.
Cycle Training prepares and equips pupils not only for competent and safe cycling but encourages and develops skills for independent journeys and a wider knowledge of road safety issues and independent thinking. Understanding and implementing the Highway Code at primary school age provides a good basis to take forward into later years.
Prior to the commencement of any training courses taking place our staff always check the pupils’ cycles to ensure they are safe and roadworthy and allow them time to make repairs at home or take to the local bike shop.
The 3 most important parts of the bicycle to check on a regular basis are:
Pupils must always wear a helmet to take part in any training.
Bikeability Level 1
Level 1 is delivered to P6 in the Autumn term between August and October and all training takes place in the school playground. It is an introductory course that aims to prepare pupils for on-road training. Topics in the Level 1 course include: Braking, Cornering, Balance and Control and using Gears. At the conclusion of the course every pupil receives a Level 1 certificate and badge.
Photos of Level 1 Training September 2017
Our current Cycle Trainers are Craig Dalziel and Lucy Mullan. Craig has been delivering our Bikeability since 2009 and is qualified as a national Bikeability Mentor. Lucy has been with us since 2015 and is qualified as a Cycle Training Assistant (CTA).
In June 2016, Struthers was one of the first schools in the country to be “Quality Assured” by Cycling Scotland who manage Bikeability across Scotland. We received an excellent report and the assessors were very impressed with the high standard of training and level of achievement shown by the pupils, together with the safety and organisational skills of everyone involved.
Cycle Training prepares and equips pupils not only for competent and safe cycling but encourages and develops skills for independent journeys and a wider knowledge of road safety issues and independent thinking. Understanding and implementing the Highway Code at primary school age provides a good basis to take forward into later years.
Prior to the commencement of any training courses taking place our staff always check the pupils’ cycles to ensure they are safe and roadworthy and allow them time to make repairs at home or take to the local bike shop.
The 3 most important parts of the bicycle to check on a regular basis are:
- The Brakes
- The Tyres
- The Chain
Pupils must always wear a helmet to take part in any training.
Bikeability Level 1
Level 1 is delivered to P6 in the Autumn term between August and October and all training takes place in the school playground. It is an introductory course that aims to prepare pupils for on-road training. Topics in the Level 1 course include: Braking, Cornering, Balance and Control and using Gears. At the conclusion of the course every pupil receives a Level 1 certificate and badge.
Photos of Level 1 Training September 2017
Bikeability Level 2
Level 2 training commences for P6 in the second half of the year after Christmas. There is some revision of Level 1 in the playground before the training moves on-road to our risk assessed T-Junction at Garry Place/Sark Drive.
Topics in the Level 2 course include:
Safe starting and stopping procedure.
Photos of Level 2 training 2017.
Level 2 training commences for P6 in the second half of the year after Christmas. There is some revision of Level 1 in the playground before the training moves on-road to our risk assessed T-Junction at Garry Place/Sark Drive.
Topics in the Level 2 course include:
Safe starting and stopping procedure.
- Uncontrolled Right and Left Turns.
- Controlled Right and Left Turns.
- Overtaking a parked vehicle.
- Primary and Secondary road position.
- Emergency Stops.
- U-Turns.
- The Highway Code and Roadsigns.
Photos of Level 2 training 2017.
Bikeability Level 3
In early 2015, Struthers became the first primary school in Ayrshire to deliver Bikeability Level 3 to P7 pupils. Level 3 is a more challenging course and deals with more complicated situations such as roundabouts and traffic lights.
During the course pupils tackled the mini-roundabout at Central Avenue, traffic lights at Dundonald Road/Central Avenue and learned how to use off-road and on-road cycle paths around Troon and Barassie. This gave confidence and encouraged pupils to consider cycling to secondary school and undertaking more independent safe journeys around the local area.
Bikeability Level 3 – March 2015
In early 2015, Struthers became the first primary school in Ayrshire to deliver Bikeability Level 3 to P7 pupils. Level 3 is a more challenging course and deals with more complicated situations such as roundabouts and traffic lights.
During the course pupils tackled the mini-roundabout at Central Avenue, traffic lights at Dundonald Road/Central Avenue and learned how to use off-road and on-road cycle paths around Troon and Barassie. This gave confidence and encouraged pupils to consider cycling to secondary school and undertaking more independent safe journeys around the local area.
Bikeability Level 3 – March 2015
We always stress the importance of wearing a cycle helmet.
Further information on Bikeability can be found on the websites www.bikeabilityscotland.org and www.cyclingscotland.org
