Nursery/School

Bikeability Scotland Awards 2022

23 November 2022    

The Bikeability Scotland Awards have been presented, recognising outstanding achievement in the delivery of Bikeability Scotland, the national cycle training programme for school children, managed by Cycling Scotland. 

Since Bikeability Scotland began in 2010, more than 400,000 pupils have received cycle training in Scotland. In the 2021/22 school year, a record 52,000 pupils received training.

Instructor of the Year – Elaine Hill (West Lothian)

Elaine Hill of Livingston Village Primary School was presented with the Bikeability Scotland ‘Instructor of the Year’ award in recognition of her work to deliver training through the pandemic, adapting teaching as necessary and ensuring fellow instructors received continual encouragement and support.

Judges were particularly impressed by Elaine’s level of enthusiasm for cycle training over many years, and for her personal efforts in going above and beyond to source bikes and equipment for children and ensuring inclusion for all through her training sessions.

Elaine Hill said: “This is an amazing surprise. The recognition is a testament to the ongoing work of our longstanding Bikeability Scotland team at Livingston Village Primary School. It is a privilege to deliver the Bikeability Scotland training programme in our school and great to support the development of so many young cyclists over the years.”

Eliza Armstrong, teacher at Maisondieu Primary School in Angus was Highly Commended in the ‘Instructor of the Year’ category.

Eliza Armstrong said: “I am delighted to have been Highly Commended in the category of Instructor of the Year. Bikeability Scotland is an excellent training programme, and the children really enjoy the chance to learn to ride their bikes safely around the streets. The whole school was behind the training, and it has been great to see so many children continuing to cycle to school this year too. On behalf of all our instructors, parents and children who have made the training happen at Maisondieu, thank you.”

Annual Achievement Award – Philippa Barber (East Lothian)

The Annual Achievement Award is presented to Bikeability Scotland coordinator Philippa Barber (East Lothian) in recognition of her commitment and dedication to the programme throughout the year, which saw over 90% of primary schools in the local authority area offer Level 2 on-road cycling training to their pupils. Judges commended Philippa for her long-term support for the national Bikeability Scotland programme, which has seen her share valuable knowledge and experience through delivery of instructor CPD and coordinating and delivering activity in the Western Isles.

Philippa Barber commented: “It’s a great surprise to say the least! The success last year couldn’t have been achieved without the fantastic commitment of school staff, parents, outdoor learning instructors, Connected Communities teams and many others. Everyone played their part in delivering cycle training to over 2,000 pupils this year. We greatly look forward to continuing this training year-on-year and providing many more children across East Lothian with these essential skills to be able to cycle safely and confidently.”

Active Travel Dundee was Highly Commended in the ‘Annual Achievement Award’ category.

Norbert Boros, Active Travel Co-ordinator, Leisure & Culture Dundee, said: “We are thrilled to be Highly Commended in the Annual Achievement category. We are both privileged and passionate about coaching all P6 and P7 children in all 33 primary schools here in Dundee, to ensure they learn these fantastic life stills. We aim to continue to help deliver a cultural change towards more active travel to and from schools and during non-school time.”

School of the Year – Langcraigs Primary School (Renfrewshire)

As one of hundreds of schools delivering Bikeability Scotland training to primary school pupils, Langcraigs Primary School in Glenburn, Paisley, has been named as ‘School of the Year’.

In awarding the prize, judges commented on the school’s commitment and dedication in overcoming barriers to cycling for local children and introducing the programme on the back of challenges faced during the pandemic. Judges also commended the proactive and resourceful approach of the school, which borrowed around half the fleet of bikes belonging to the OneRen Bikeability team to deliver an intense block of training every day over a two-week period to P6 and P7 pupils.

Alison Hill, Depute Headteacher at Langcraigs Primary School comments: “Langcraigs pupils have loved participating in Bikeability and are safer, more confident cyclists as a result. Almost all P6 and P7 pupils have taken part, including some pupils with disabilities, giving them a life skill which they thought was beyond their capabilities. Staff have found delivering the training to be extremely rewarding and we look forward to continuing our Bikeability Scotland journey and helping more children benefit from these important life skills.”

Hardgate Primary School (Dumfries and Galloway) was Highly Commended in the ‘School of the Year’ category.

Ms Brogan Murphy, Principal Teacher of Hardgate Primary School said: “On behalf of all of us at Hardgate, we are both very grateful and humbled to be Highly Commended in the School of the Year category. I have thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Bikeability Scotland and of becoming a cycle tutor. I was happy to open our school as a base for training of other tutors, and it was great to work alongside other cycling enthusiasts to pass on valuable life skills to children, who just loved taking part in the training.”

David Collins, Bikeability Scotland Manager said: “We are so pleased to recognise the winners of the Bikeability Scotland Awards.

“It has been so rewarding to see a record of over 52,000 pupils receive Bikeability Scotland cycle training this year, which is a testament to all the dedicated and passionate instructors trained to deliver cycle training across Scotland.

“Since Bikeability Scotland began in 2010, over 400,000 pupils have received cycle training, giving the next generation the skills and confidence to travel by bike, feel healthier and help tackle the climate emergency.”

Find out more about Bikeability Scotland