Follow britishcycling.org.uk on

Bikeability Training Takes New Direction

Posted: 4th November 2010

The attendees were the first in England to take the Bikeability Assistant Instructors course!

England’s first ever Bikeability Assistant Instructors course to be organised by the School Sport Partnerships in conjunction with British Cycling and funded by the Youth Sport Trust, has been declared a resounding success.

Burnwood Community Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent provided the venue for attendees who were guided through the two day cycling proficiency course by experienced British Cycling Instructors, Ernie Buck and Will Newton.

In all, 12 keen students attended, with day jobs varying widely with teaching assistants, cover supervisors, private training/coaching providers, a Port Vale Football Club coach, a street games worker, a young ambassador, a Primary Link teacher and a school sport coordinator all taking part.

The participants were able to train at the school’s 100 metre banked cinder track, on the tarmac road markings and along local roads. Plans are afoot to move the successful trainees on to the four day course and to be leading after school cycling clubs across the North of Stoke-on-Trent.

North Stoke SSP Partnership Development Manager Nigel Edwards planned the event and was delighted with the end result.

“North Stoke Partnership was absolutely delighted to stage the first ever Assistant Instructors Bikeability course in the UK recently in a Stoke Primary school,” he told British Cycling.

“Burnwood Community School, with its 100 metre banked circular track, BMX and mountain bike course is well placed to stage such events. The participating delegates thoroughly enjoyed the course which was well delivered by experienced staff and will empower them to develop cycling in their various roles via much needed school clubs.

“North Stoke SSP can proudly announce the positive links that are established through the local authority Cycle Training and participation schemes, within the umbrella of Cycle Town status and will be seeking to run a Full Instructors course as soon as possible to upskill deliverers further.”

Similarly, it was an important development for British Cycling, who through their partnership with the Youth Sport Trust hope to see another 40 Bikeability Assistant Instructor courses in the coming months.

“It was great to see British Cycling’s first ever Bikeability Assistant Instructor’s course take place and be described as such a success,” said Sarah Cleall-Harding, British Cycling’s Senior Coaching and Education Officer.

“We have been working hard to support the SSP network throughout England in recent months and Nigel and his team have done a great job within Stoke on Trent. We are really looking forward to working with other partnerships over the coming months as we look to deliver many more courses throughout the country.

“The Assistant Instructors courses provide a valuable stepping stone for Bikeability training and will hopefully help to ensure young people are better equipped to ride their bikes with better tutelage and instruction than ever before.”

The UK's Youngest Bikeability Cycle Trainer? - Posted 4th October 2010

Local cyclist and Chase High School 6th form pupil George Pearl has become the youngest qualified Cycle Instructor, after earning his qualification last week.

At 18 years and 12 days old, George is now the youngest instructor person to complete the course, which was arranged by the Southend West School Sports Partnership at the Eastwood School and run by British Cycling - the governing body for the sport of cycling.

In qualifying, George has continued a family tradition as his father Graham, Southend's Bike It Officer, was one of the first wave of 100 instructors to be trained, when Bikeability was first launched.

It's another string top George's bow, as his achievements in cycling are regularly featured in the sports sections, as is usually associated with road racing. This year, he has competed in the UK and on the continent as a member of the British Cycling Eastern Region Junior Development Team and his club the Southend Wheelers CC, where he is also a committee member and retained his titles as club Road Race Champion in both the Junior and Senior Categories.

Deb Slack, assistant Partnership Development Manager commented "The Southend West School Sports Partnership were delighted to be given the opportunity to host the Bikeability course at Eastwood School. The Youth Sport Trust has provided funding for Belfairs,Eastwood,Chase, St Bernard's St Thomas More, Westcliff Boys and Girls to receive Bikeability training which will encourage young people to become fitter and healthier whilst protecting the environment"