Teachers join chain gang to get to school meetings
SCHOOL staff are embracing pedal power as they learn how to cycle safely between meetings.
Teachers, support staff and management at Dunkirk Primary School are being taught how to ride the one-mile distance between their school's two campuses for meetings.
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On their bikes: Primary school teachers developing their cycling skills, from left, Mandy Bishton, Russ Gough, Lindsey Clarkstone, Asima Qureshi and Heidi Hollis.
The school expanded to a second campus at the former Lenton Primary School buildings in Lenton Abbey due to an increasing demand for school places.
Jane Alford is the headteacher at Dunkirk Primary School.
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She said: "For us this is one school – even though it is some distance apart.
"We're keen to find more ways of creating that feeling and this is one of those ways.
"The cycling scheme gives us brilliant opportunity.
"As the school grows we will have a lot of staff who work on both sites.
"It's been brilliantly received – we're really pleased."
There are three buildings on the schools' second site, which is currently still being developed.
Mrs Alford said: "Work is progressing well – we've got two full classes working in there now. The second will be ready in mid April and the third by the end of the academic year. The school is gradually expanding."
Staff at the school have already had one session and are due to have another next week.
Gary Smerdon-White, chief executive of Ridewise, which provides the training, said: "Many of them have cycled before so they don't all require complete training.
"It's a lovely little scheme – there are about 12 staff who regularly travel between the sites."
Ridewise also provides training to companies who have to pay the workplace parking levy.
Mr Smerdon-White added: "The people who went on the first group of sessions really enjoyed it.
"The two sites are split by the ring road so it is very busy. People were very pleased with the training we gave them."
Asima Qureshi is one of the staff at the school who has taken part in the scheme.
Mrs Qureshi, who covers classes and works on projects, said: "It's brilliant. I already like cycling and it's great to see colleagues getting excited and having another activity together. We want it to feel like one school, one community.
"For the children to see the teachers riding bikes safely is a good example.
"We're really promoting the kind of working we're doing in classrooms, with the environment and healthy eating."
On the web: Join the debate at thisisnottingham.co.uk
3 Comments
by soraya
Saturday, March 23 2013, 7:27PM
“The teachers appear most infantile putting this out as news/PR.”
by GarySW
Saturday, March 23 2013, 11:07AM
“not everyone has been taught to ride safely on roads and the school has a duty of care if they are encouraging staff to cycle during work. The City Council is one of a growing number of organisations who see training as part of that duty of care. Happy to provide a free assessment session to see if you have any dangerous cycling habits - I did and only found out when I was 55 years old.”
by digbypatch
Saturday, March 23 2013, 6:46AM
“I have never read such rubbish in all my life! These teachers must be thick if they cannot cycle a mile to the other school safely by using the Cycle tracks and crossings that are in place along the route.
I suppose they will be having some more training in a couple of years time on how to ride safely to avoid being knocked down by a tram.”