Cycling for success

Children and parents at Costessey Primary School came together with local organisations this week for the launch of a project designed to encourage more pupils to cycle to school.

The event included demonstrations of the school’s new PE programme to teach children to ride a bike, information about routes to cycle to school safely, and the launch of the school’s innovative bike library. Children will be able to loan bikes from the school for free for a set period of time, enabling them to practice the skills they have learned in lessons even if they do not own a bike themselves.

This event was the culmination of months of effort put into the cycle project by the school, Norfolk County Council’s AtoBetter Programme and Active Norfolk. AtoBetter gifted the school the bikes for in-school cycle training and the bike library, and Active Norfolk from the Opening Schools Facilities fund provided funding to purchase extra cycles for the library and for the children's learn to ride training in school. Representatives from both organisations will be in attendance on the day.

At the event the team from Costessey Primary were also presented with their Modeshift STARS Good travel plan award, for the development and delivery of an effective Travel Plan designed to reduce traffic on the roads around the school and encourage cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel instead. They are one of only five schools in Norfolk to receive this prestigious award.

Melvin Hill, part of the PE team at Costessey Primary School, said: “The project is already having positive changes within school life and the wider community.  We are seeing more children starting to cycle to school and then home again, and they are really starting to find out how cycling can be enjoyable and fun for them and their whole family.

“As a PE team, the joy we have by seeing the happiness on children's faces when they are finally able to ride a bike is priceless. There are also the benefits to health and the environment, which will give a positive effect on the school in general and of course the wider community.”

Esme Holtom, AtoBetter Travel Plan Coordinator said “Our AtoBetter School Programme supports schools to promote active and sustainable travel choices for the school journey.  Working with staff at Costessey Primary School has been an absolute pleasure and they’ve jumped on our funding and advice and really ran with it.  I think they are an inspiration, and we look forward to seeing more of their pupils cycling confidently and safely to school and elsewhere in the future.”