Cycling on the National Curriculum? Not on your nelly

Cycling Weekly has been running an interesting series of articles about getting cycling on the National Curriculum, the learning plan for UK school children.

Cycling teachers have responded by saying there’s simply no room for cycling on a packed programme of must-do topics.

And the UK Government is in no hurry to put cycling in front of kids although a Parliamentary answer given yesterday sounds promising.

Stephen Hesford, PPS to Vera Baird QC, the Solicitor General, asked:

“What steps have been taken to make the teaching of climate change and its implications for the future part of the curriculum; and if his Department will consider combining physical education with green activities, such as planting trees.”

Kevin Brennan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, replied:

“Under both the current national curriculum in England for science and the new science curriculum to be taught in schools from September 2008, pupils aged 11-14 are taught about renewable energy and the possible impact of human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, on the environment. The current geography curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds requires pupils to be taught about resource planning and management issues, for example developing alternative energy sources. From September 2008, “environmental interaction and sustainable development” will be one of the key concepts in the new geography curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds with a requirement to study climate change.

Getting young people involved in activities such as cycling is also of great value in promoting habits that are both environmentally friendly promoting personal health and wellbeing.”

That’s sort of good, but it’s still a long way from actually placing cycling on the curriculum.

Source: Hansard