Northumberland Schools Bike week 2019

From the 10^th – 14th June 2019, we took part in Northumberland Schools Bike week.

This was another initiative to encourage our pupils to take part in more daily activity and to promote active travel to school.  Our aim is that walking, scooting or cycling to school will become the daily choice for every pupil for at least part of their journey to school.

Why is this important?

HAPPIER CHILDREN

It’s been proven that children who do some form of exercise, especially a walk before school, do better in class because they arrive refreshed, fit and ready to learn.

LESS CONGESTION

During morning peak traffic times, one in five cars on the road are taking children school, contributing to congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.

CLEANER AIR

The school run alone is responsible for generating two million tonnes of CO2 per year. Imagine what we could achieve if we began converting some of these rides to strides?

During the week, we held two ‘Bikers Breakfasts’ on Tuesday and Thursday, free of charge, and children who cycled or scooted could come into school from 8:20 a.m. until 8:40 a.m. and enjoy breakfast with their friends. We served toast, pancakes, juice and milkshakes.  

During break times on these days, staff set up a cycle route for children who had come to school on their bikes or scooters and children were able to take part if they were wearing a helmet.

Despite the wettest week, with torrential rain and flooding around Northumberland, we had some keen cyclists who undertook the Bike Week challenge. Our school were the overall winners, with the highest proportion of pupils taking part over the whole week. How amazing!

Two pupils were also given special awards for cycling from home, in the rain. The journey took so long, they missed Biker's Breakfast! Fortunately, when they arrived, the staff made them some pancakes and drinks while they dried off!