Cyclopark goes back to school

Cyclopark, Europe's largest cycle centre located in Gravesend, Kent, is pleased to launch their new school programme of cycling activities developed to ensure that children in primary and secondary schools in Kent and south east London are given the opportunity, support and guidance they need to make cycling a part of their lives.

Cycling is now one of the worlds leading sports, it is exciting and exhilarating and can be enjoyed at both competitive and recreations levels.  The park's new educational programmes have created a pathway from teaching children to learn to ride and then equipping them with a skillset to become safe and confident cyclists – through to showcasing and encouraging young people to participate in a range of exciting cycle sports.

The school programme initiative is run by British Cycling qualified coaches, all the sessions focus on fun and as an activity, cycling can encourage children to make friends, keep fit and healthy, learn new skills and increase their self-esteem.  Our aim is for the riders to learn and reach their fullest potential whilst enjoying themselves.

Laurence Tricker, CEO for Cyclopark said: "At Cyclopark we think it's important to encourage everyone into cycling and provide opportunities that may otherwise had not been there.  Over the last couple of years we have been building a programme of events to help children get into cycling and develop their skills.  CycloTutor and CycloAcademy is a natural development of the work we have done so far, taking everything that has worked well and rolling it into an integrated programme, which is supported and facilitated by British Cycling Coaches.  What is exciting to see is the introduction of the GCSE component, which widens the appeal to a new set of participants and provides schools with an opportunity to add something new to their curriculum choices and interest."

Primary School Programme - CycloTutor: 

CycloTutor has been developed specifically for primary schools with the aim to get more children active and enjoying the freedom of cycling.

CycloTutor operates two programmes:

• Programme 1 Learn to Cycle: Classes for five years plus, great for children not quite ready to ride on two wheels.
• Programme 2 CycloSkills: Classes for new riders, teaching key skills and knowledge to help them become confident and safe cyclists.

Secondary School Programme - CycloAcademy

The objective of 'CycloAcademy' is to inspire and encourage young people to participate in a range of cycle sports, which includes BMX, Mountain Biking and Road.  The programme provides a practical introduction where students have fun, safe, stage appropriate experience focusing on developing basic cycling skills, which are transferable across all the cycling disciplines.  It is also possible for students to undertake the CycloAcademy Race Challenge, where pupils get to try out their newly acquired bike handling skills and experience the thrill of racing.

There are so many choices in cycling that it can sometimes be difficult to navigate your way through the options and skill levels.  Our education offering has been designed to provide a natural pathway for riders to develop at their own pace and across all disciplines.  It's important at an early age that riders experience a range of cycling activities and it remains fun.  Through the structure of the sessions riders can develop a cycling interest from primary school and continue into secondary school when sporting options normally open up and choices become more difficult.  The range of courses means that children not only become confident at riding but also gain an understanding of the sport and can maintain their equipment, plus develop an appreciation of how cycling can help then through life, whether it is independence, personal challenge, family activity or a sporting challenge and fitness.

Find Out More

Whatever your requirements a tailored programme can be developed, both programmes CycloTutor and CycloAcademy are flexible and can be adapted to suit your school needs.  

Contact Details

Paul Panton
Tel: 01474 831400
Email: paul.panton@cyclopark.com