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Cycling lessons

Suitable for years 5, 6, 7 and 8. Supports the PE National Curriculum.

Overview

Education phase

Key stage 2 Key stage 3 Key stage 4 Key stage 5

Category of activity

Travel

Types of activity

Cycling

How it helps

  • Supports the PE National Curriculum
  • Gateway to other cycling initiatives

About the activity

Offer cycling lessons during PE time as an inclusive way to allow pupils who do not normally have the chance to use a bike to get active and gain confidence. Lessons also allow those who are more experienced cyclists to improve their skills. Teachers can run the cycle lessons themselves. Cycle training for teachers courses are available, for example from British Cycling. You may be able to request funding to cover training costs from your local authority or TfL.

Cycling lessons in a curriculum setting could lead to pupils opting to take part in Bikeability training, if your school is able to offer it.

How to run the activity

Teachers can run the cycle lessons themselves. Cycle training for teachers courses are available, for example, from British Cycling. 

Alternatively, depending on your school’s borough, you may be able to receive support to deliver the lessons from the borough or a local cycling provider. You may also be able to apply for funding for bicycles if your school doesn’t have any for pupils to use. Contact your borough officer to discuss available options. 

Cycling lessons can include:

Fun, playground-based sessions focused on bike handling, control and speed, as well as learning about how brakes and gears work

Introduce on-road scenarios such as traffic (other bikes), pedestrians and road signs and markings

Road safety and awareness

What to be aware of when cycling on quiet roads and shared paths

Cycling on local, quiet roads to practice using the local cycling infrastructure. In this case there should be a maximum of 12 pupils in a group which requires at least two teachers or instructors

Adapting cycling lessons for SEND school pupils. You may wish to:

Introduce the idea and purpose of bikes and cycling into the classroom. You can do this through producing bike art or videos. Talk about when and where your pupil(s) would like to cycle

Introduce the different parts of a bike and what they do. You could also pass around separate materials such as the foam from a seat or rubber from a tyre to allow pupils to feel the textures

Introduce adapted bikes and trikes to the playground. This could involve 1-2-1 training to work on balance and get the pupil cycling  

If advancing on to roads you will need at least one teacher or instructor to supervise each pupil. You may need to advise parents that even though their child has practised cycling on the road, they may not be able to do so independently, depending on their needs

 

Activity steps

Step 1

Choose your trainer. With your PE department and senior management, discuss whether there is someone who can deliver cycling lessons, or if you need external support

Step 2

Further support. If you require training, resources or external delivery support, contact your borough officer to discuss your options

Step 3

Get cycling. Make sure you have a big enough space and, if leaving the school site, an adequate staff/instructor to pupil ratio

Step 4

Check for success. Did your pupils enjoy the lessons? Have more of them started cycling to school as a result?

Step 5

Tell your story! Upload your evidence to "my activities"