Load of nonsense

[HF2300]

Just watched a South Today news report about a 10 year old who's been told he can only cycle to school if his parents follow in the car and take the bike home as there is no storage for the bike - although the boy points out that there's a shed which was specifically built for bikes.

Challenged by the reporter, the head and one of the governors then said that the school gate and road were too congested and dangerous to allow cycling, which may be true but hardly consistent with their initial stance.

In other news, the same town (Portsmouth) has just been given a big grant to promote healthy lifestyles and cycling...

 

[downfader]

Saw that too and it really irritated me. Kids are getting all kinds of health issues and this moronic Head started going on about Health and Safety legislation didnt she?

 

[spandex]

WTF are we coming to HOW can the school get away with it!

 

[BentMikey]

Stupid school!

 

[mickle]

Mrs Mickle, a head teacher, has confirmed my suspicion that they don't actually have the right to do this since it is outside of school property.

 

[purplepolly]

the head and one of the governors then said that the school gate and road were too congested and dangerous to allow cycling, ...

won't it be even more congested if his parents have to follow in the car?

 

[jimboalee]

Move to Solihull.

Schools here encourage the kids to ride.

www.solihull.gov.uk/transport/cyclingandwalkingtoschool.htm

www.solihull.gov.uk/transport/cycleskillstraining.htm

 

[Archie]

Found this which gives some more background for those who can't see the South Today report.

Fran Chapman, the headteacher of St Paul's Primary School in Bourne Road, Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, has defended the stance as promoting child safety.

Mrs Chapman added: 'Bourne Road is a very dangerous place. At the beginning and the end of the day it gets extremely congested.

Wonder why that is?

 

[PBancroft]

One lad tries to make a difference by doing something positive for himself and his community, and the school stops him.

I think that they are doing their job at preparing him for the wider world admirably.

 

[Moose]

Found this which gives some more background for those who can't see the South Today report.


Wonder why that is?

I'd hazard a guess at not enough cycling to school going on

 

[HF2300]

BBC website's got the programme up now. Here's the link (should open a streaming video).

The relevant item starts about 09:20 minutes, you can slide the progress bar.

 

[Willow]

My sons school issue cycle permits (for what purpose who knows) providing the parents agree the child can cycle and the child has passed their cycling proficiency. Up until last year CP was done in school time towards the end of year 6 (ie last year before leaving) which basically meant they could only cycle for the last half term. This is changing so that it will now be done in year 5 which I think is about right. As it happens I sent my 10 year old to do CP in the summer holidays so he could cycle for the school year (activities etc permitting!). In fact I arranged the cycling proficiency courses at the school I work in specifically so he could take advantage of it! The school openly say that they can't enforce the permit (so I ask why bother) but presumably they could prevent children from leaving cycles on the school premises.

Why I work we have a nice new shelter for the children's bikes and we consider it to be a parental decision after all off the premises we are not responsible for their safety (and I don't mean that to be as callous as it sounds). What I didn't expect however was the stupid parent who chained her childs bike to mine and went home with the key!

It has to be said some heads are not prepared to take any risk others are prepared to live in the real world. For instance my sons school aren't allowed to play in the snow on the rare occasion we have it, where I work we cancel lessons and let them enjoy themselves for as long as the snow lasts on the field.

 

[mickle]

Not allowed to play in the snow!? That's tragic.

 

[spandex]

What is this world coming to this is just all so mad!

 

[thomas]

I don't think the 10 year old kid should be cycling to school by himself, but with cycling parents not driving ones. When I was that age I walked home from school with my Mum. I walked a bit by myself but I think cycling is a bit different and there should be parents there encase anything goes wrong.

I do think the school should encourage safe cycling but I can see that they don't want to be blamed should anything go wrong.