Alex Clark from Orkney Islands Council has been Highly Commended in the ‘Instructor of the Year’ category from Bikeability Scotland, the national cycle training programme for school children, managed by Cycling Scotland.  

Paul Weatherburn from East Calder Primary School in West Lothian shared the category award with him

Since Bikeability Scotland began in 2010, more than 350,000 pupils have received cycle training in Scotland. In the 2020/21 school year, more than 40,000 pupils received training, which is very encouraging, given the disruption to schools and their teaching caused by the pandemic.

Anneline Ingram, a teacher at Bernera Primary School on Lewis was presented with the ‘Instructor of the Year’ award in recognition of her efforts to place cycling and outdoor activities at the heart of the school year, against the challenges of the pandemic and the impending school closure at the end of the academic year.

During the last school year, she went above and beyond to deliver training, including lending her children’s bikes to pupils without access to one. By incorporating cycling into PE and other extra-curricular activities around the school, Anneline delivered Bikeability Scotland training level 1 and 2. Every primary school in the Western Isles delivers Bikeability Scotland training, thanks to the passion and dedication of instructors like Anneline.

Two other awards were presented as part of the Bikeability Scotland Awards.

• Annual Achievement Award – presented to North Lanarkshire Active Schools in recognition of their work to double the delivery rate of Bikeability Scotland training to school children in the area. This has created a model that can support more schools in future.
• School of the Year – Canal View Primary School in Edinburgh has been named as the ‘School of the Year’. The school went above and beyond to ensure that all 180 pupils in P5, 6 & 7 could cycle by the end of training. Before training began, around 30 pupils couldn’t cycle or had never been on a bike. The positivity of completing training has resulted in improved behaviour and pride among pupils.

David Collins, Bikeability Scotland Manager said:

“Since Bikeability Scotland began in 2010, over 350,000 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.”