Critchill School's Build a Bike

Critchill School's new cycle workshop provides vulnerable and disengaged students with the opportunity to learn new skills, develop self-confidence and gain a sense of achievement, as well as begin to build work-related skills such as team-working and problem solving.

Four students from Oakfield Academy in Frome were the first group to undertake this new and exciting project.  

The project is led collaboratively by a qualified teaching assistant from Critchill School and an experienced cycle mechanic from Julian House Bike Workshop.

The project is specifically aimed at young people (vulnerable and disengaged students) from Year 6 to Year 11. Schools can register their interest in a pupil joining a course by completing a ‘Referral form’.  

Bicycle maintenance is the primary focus of the provision but students can also learn about healthy living, nutrition for exercise, planning cycle routes and preparing for different weather conditions, cycling proficiency and health and safety in the workplace.

As part of the initiative students are able to keep their fully refurbished and safety checked bike that they have worked on, at the end of the project if the agreed contract has been fulfilled.

Emma Thomas AHT at Oakfield Academy said “Pupils from Oakfield Academy had a fantastic opportunity and have noticeably grown in confidence whilst learning lots of new skills. It has been a hugely successful project.”

More information is available on our website http://www.critchill.somerset.sch.uk/

We are openly welcoming referrals for 2017-2018.  

Each pupil receives a written weekly evaulation of their progress agaisnt their individual learning intentions and bike based learning objectives as well as a final end of course report.