Given a recent dearth of non-troll, topical arguments, here is one to
consider.
For the last year I have been running National Standard cycle training
courses for pupils, parents and staff at the 500 pupil and staff Inner
London primary school where I am a teacher. Last week I counted the
number of bikes in the cycle storage area during a visit by a
represenative from the Cycle London Promotional Partnership (CLPP),
who partially fund cycle training, there were 35, suggesting that 7%
of staff and pupils cycle to school, up from 1% (5) a year ago. I
fully expect that percentage to double to 15% by the end of the Summer
Term.
So far, only Year 6 children (11 year olds) have had cycle training,
next term it will be Year 5 (10 year olds) and in the Summer Term,
Year 4 (9 year olds). Cycle training is optional, and about 50% of
children choose to take part in the training.
Training is split into four categories:
Level 1A - absolute beginner
Level 1B - control skills
Level 2 - on-road cycling
Level 3 - "advanced" on-road cycling
It is school policy that all children, Year 2 (age 7) and over, be
entitled to Level 1 training; all children, year 4 and over, be
entitled to Level 2 training; and some children in Year 6 be offered
Level 3 training.
Implementing this policy is hard work: Year 6 children need Level 1,
2 & 3 training; Year 4 & 5 children need Level 1 & 2 training; Year 2
& 3 children need Level 1 training before the policy is fully
implemented. Thereafter, it will be easier to sustain the policy.
The school policy is not due for review until June 2007, and by then
the current policy should be fully implemented. I am already thinking
of ways to increase the uptake rate from 50%. One change I'm
considering putting to the governors is making Level 1 training opt
out, rather than opt in. Thus, instead of asking parents if they want
their child to have Level 1 training, they are asked if they don't
want their child to have Level 1 training. This would put cycle
training on a par with swimming lessons and sex education, and just
below that of religious education, where parents aren't specifically
offered a choice, but can withdraw their child from RE lessons.
Putting Level 1 cycle training on a par with swimming lessons will
probably be uncontroversial here, but, playing Devil's Advocate, what
objections am I likely to come up against?