Pedal-powered students at a Derbyshire secondary school are being helped stay safe on their daily commute after a teacher secured free helmets from a generous local bike shop.
The Long Eaton School in Thoresby Road, part of Archway Learning Trust, has high numbers of students who get to class every day through the old-fashioned power of the pedal.
Now a group of 50 students are being made safer on the roads after locally based Leisure Lakes Bikes provided 25 helmets free of charge, and the rest at cost price.
Paul Johnson, a history teacher at the school, who cycles there every day by bike from Aston-on-Trent – six and a half miles away – arranged the donation after noticing how many pupils were using a bike to get to school.
After giving an assembly on bike safety he asked students if they would like a free helmet, and was overwhelmed at the response.
He said: “I cycle a lot myself and I was pleased to see lots of students doing the same. Cycling is brilliant for mental and physical health and for the environment too. For every student who cycles to school that’s a parent’s car off the road.
“But it’s important to stay safe. I showed students a video which included details of how I fell off my bike quite badly, and my helmet saved my life. I was going quite fast down a hill and misjudged the bend. My helmet was destroyed – but I was fine.
“It’s brilliant that Leisure Lakes Bikes has been so generous in providing these helmets and I hope it encourages even more of our pupils to cycle to school – but do so safely.”
Leaders at The Long Eaton School have previously surveyed pupils on how they travel to school and found that 11 per cent were cycling in – way above the national average of three per cent.
The environmentally conscious school also has a huge 65 per cent of students arriving by foot.
The Long Eaton School has so many numbers of students cycling in in that it has installed additional bike racks to cope with demand. The school has an interesting link with globally revered environmental hero Lord David Attenborough, having been founded by his grandfather Samuel Clegg. Lord Attenborough was recently present at an unveiling of a plaque in memory of his forbear.
Many students are able to cycle to school down the Erewash Canal, making things safer for them in not having to negotiate too many busy roads.
Only one school bus ferries pupils to the school, bringing around 20 students there and back from Shardlow.
Andy Ramsdale, manager of Leisure Lakes Bikes in Wilsthorpe Road, said: “This seemed to be a good project for us to be involved in, to help the local community and boost awareness of safe cycling. We see a high volume of school children cycling from our position in the shop, which is great to see. From a global perspective, it’s great to see young people growing up with a different perspective on transport.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Archway Learning Trust by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
