We are excited to announce that St Christopher’s has been awarded the ‘School of the Year Award 2023’ by the Bikeability Trust.
Accrington, Lancashire, November 23, 2023
Earlier this month we were surprised to learn that we had been nominated for the Bikeability Trust ‘School of the Year Award’. Every year the Bikeability Trust runs their awards to recognise the people and organisations that are actively encouraging children, young people and families to start cycling and switch to more sustainable transport methods.
They invite people to vote on the nominees across their social media channels and on November the 17th we were excited to learn, by Alok Sharma, that we had been chosen as the winner in the school’s category and would receive a certificate and a prize of three brand new Wild bikes courtesy of Go Outdoors for the pupils to use.
Since 2018 we have enabled all of our pupils to achieve the Bikeability Level 3 certificate during Year 8, whilst showing them safe routes to and from school and enjoying the lovely areas of Accrington they wouldn’t normally see. Over 1,000 pupils in five years, including many of our sixth formers, have completed the certificate.
Staff have also completed training and use one of the five pedal or five electric bikes to model good behaviour. Learning to ride and the use of adapted bikes, have provided an all-inclusive approach.
Associate Assistant Headteacher, Mrs Litherland, who leads on the Bikeability scheme at school remarked:
“The adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is absolutely still true, but we see ourselves as a connection between home and adventure. Our school ‘village’ works hard to facilitate this experience professionally delivered by Go Velo each year. As a school we pride ourselves on all skills, from traditional to innovative, the small pieces that develop the children into responsible young adults. Seeing them cycling off to enjoy the beauty of our local area, with friends is a moment forever engrained in their memory.”
It was also fantastic to learn that our partner ‘Go Velo’ had also won the ‘Large Organisation of the Year Award.’ Without them and their dedication, it wouldn’t have been possible for us to achieve all we have over the years. Kirsti Grayson, Company Director of Go Velo said:
The whole Go Velo team is delighted to learn about St Christopher’s winning Bikeability school of the year. It’s so well deserved, following the huge numbers of year 8s participating in Level 3 Bikeability year on year. We love working with the school and particularly applaud Mrs Litherland for her commitment to encouraging cycling across the school! Well done St Christopher’s!”
We are now looking forward to inviting Bikeability CEO Emily Cherry to visit the school and see us in action in the Spring of 2024 as the next group of Year 8s undertake the Level 3 training.
