PUPILS donned their helmets and mounted their bicycles to learn how to ride safely.

A group of 12 students from Winton Community Academy have been involved in the Bikeability scheme which ensures they are able to navigate safely on the roads and gives them a understanding in bike maintenance.

The youngsters have been the first group to go through the scheme at the school which will be compulsory for those students who wish to ride their bikes in.

Year 10 student Josh Silcock who took part said: “Bikeability has been really enjoyable. It has helped us to recognise the correct precautions to take when riding and to stay safe on our journey to and from school.”

The programme was set up in response to work from the school’s parent voice group who wanted students to be safe when travelling to and from the academy on their bikes.

Headteacher Nathan Thomas said: “I am delighted to have got the scheme running, anything that supports safety on the busy roads around the academy has got to be a good thing.

“The scheme has been offered completely free to our students and is a really positive outcome for our parent voice who have worked hard to get this initiative off the ground.”