Cycle Friendly School launches today
29/04/2008
This April, Cycling Scotland launch the new Cycle Friendly School Award. The scheme has been developed in partnership with a number of key stakeholders in order to encourage cycling as part of the whole school culture and contribute to increasing the number of children cycling to and at school. The award is aimed at Primary schools initially with the hope that it can be adapted and rolled out to Secondary schools in the future.
There are a number of barriers preventing children from cycling to school, the Cycle Friendly School Award can focus efforts to remove some of these barriers. Along with other cycling measures the award aims to engage with parents, teaching staff and pupils in an effort to enable cycling and promote it within schools as a safe, fun and healthy activity.
The added value for schools is that the Award contributes to both Eco and health promoting schools awards. It also links to partners cycling initiatives such as Safe Routes to Schools, School Travel Plans, Scottish Cycle Training Scheme and after school cycling clubs.
The award assesses how cycle friendly primary schools are in relation to set criteria such as Infrastructure, Incentives and Promotion. The process also enables schools to develop an action plan in order to make further improvements which will mean more pupils can make an active and safe journey to school.
The Award pack will be sent to all Primary schools in Scotland via the School Travel Co-ordinator, Active School Co-ordinator and Road Safety Officer networks. Extra packs can be obtained directly from Cycling Scotland.
The pack contains lots of information on how the school can achieve Cycle Friendly status. The Cycling Champion handbook guides the school through the award process and has a frequently asked questions section that will be of use to both teachers and parents. The core elements of the award are the self assessment form and guidance notes which help schools identify areas for improvement. Lesson plans are also included in the pack so that teachers can incorporate cycling within the curriculum and posters highlighting the benefits of cycling are included which can be displayed to increase awareness within the school.
If you would like more information about the Cycle Friendly School Award you can contact Lindsay Brunton on 0141 229 5350 or at lindsaybrunton@cyclingscotland.org or simply go to our website at www.cyclingscotland.org/cyclingtoschoool.aspx
