A growing number of students cycling to school has prompted a successful Bikeability course to take place.
Students at Harwich and Dovercourt High School have benefitted from the bike safety course, run by Essex County Council.
Chris Herron, assistant headteacher, said the decision to hold the sessions was a direct result of an increase in the number of young cyclists at the school in Hall Lane.
He explained: “We are delighted to have around 100 students biking to school every day.
“We wanted to make sure they had the necessary road awareness so we were very pleased to run the Bikeability course in school.
“It was a great success and our students really enjoyed it. We now hope to run more courses going forward.”
Around 40 students, from Year 7 to Year 9, took part in the course, which taught them about riding on more complex roads, riding alongside other cyclists and how to respond confidently when a situation changes.
Hilary Wicks, senior road safety officer for SERP, who deliver the training on behalf of Essex County Council, said: “We’d like to thank the school for the opportunity and for the support they’ve given us. The children were so well behaved and the instructors had a great time training them.
“Our Bikeabiliy sessions are valued really highly across the county. Pupils not only learn to cycle – they gain independence, social skills and a sense of wellbeing. After Bikeability, children are better at responding to risk and report increased confidence.”
