National Standard Cycle Training

At the end of March ten girls in years 7 and 8 completed National Standard for Cycle Training with a company called Cycle Experience.

The first stage of training (Level 1) took place off-road on the school playground. This was designed to develop the basic control skills and understanding fundamental to being able to ride on the road.These skills include getting on and off the bike, starting, stopping, pedalling, riding in a straight line, looking behind and signalling without wobbling. The second stage (Level 2) took place on-road in groups of 5, starting off with quiet junctions and roads but progressively moving to busier junctions and roads as the girls' skills, understanding and confidence developed.The list of manoeuvres and skills that the girls learned to carry out is quite long and included turning right and left from a minor road to a major road and vice versa, passing parked vehicles, passing side roads, understanding where to position themselves on the road and being able to explain decisions made whilst riding and thereby demonstrating an understanding of safe riding strategy. The girls achieved the following levels:

There will be 20 more places available for National Standard Cycle Training in September 2008. Please see Mr Cross if interested.

More details on the National Standard for Cycle Training and the three levels can be found at:

• www.ctc.org.uk or
• www.bikeability.org.uk.