Children to be banned from walking and cycling to North Downs Primary School
CHILDREN will be banned from cycling and walking to two primary school sites over fears it would be too dangerous.
Following a parent-governor meeting at North Downs Primary School last Thursday, headteacher Angela Ewing said its Betchworth and Leigh bases would be "driving only" from September.
Outraged father James Harvey and his five-year-old daughter treasure their daily cycle to the Betchworth site.
But the girl and her classmates will now be shifted to Leigh, for which the route is too treacherous.
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The Brockham resident said: "We wouldn't have chosen the Betchworth school if we knew this was going to happen – there'd be no way. It's just too dangerous cycling to Leigh, they would be at risk."
The money-saving move by the school will see classes across the three sites cut from seven to six while also axing a teacher post.
The Betchworth school will see pupil numbers cut from 44 to 30, while the Leigh site will increase from 43 to 60.
All children starting at the school in September will be moved around all three sites before they reach their eighth birthday.
Mr Harvey, 45, added he may be forced to put his daughter in a taxi for the school-run instead of their beloved country cycle.
Surrey County Council has said it would pay for this taxi service for Year One students travelling to Leigh.
However, Mr Harvey continued: "It would be a national scandal if a school situated within view of the 2012 Box Hill Olympic Cycling Race introduced a policy that forces pupils into cars."
Mr Harvey is now negotiating with governors for them to examine a compromise which would inject cycling and walking into the curriculum.
The news of the school's plan has outraged many other parents, including Paul Potter, of The Street, Betchworth, who must now make a school-run with his three grandchildren which will take nearly one hour.
"I don't agree that it's going to be any better for the children and putting a five-year-old in a taxi is not a good idea," said the 48-year-old.
He later added: "If Surrey County Council is offering the lifts for Year One pupils, surely they can keep funding the teachers?"
In an interview with the Advertiser last week, headteacher Angela Ewing said there was "no alternative".
14 Comments
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by cyclingphil
Monday, February 25 2013, 10:45PM
“The latest newsletter from the school shows that bikeability lessons are been held for year 5 in March. And in another newsletter which talks about parking problems parents are urged to park sensibly and WALK into school. So is there a maximum distance one must park? or must you park in school grounds only. What a load of nonsense.”
by Rhwob
Saturday, February 23 2013, 11:00PM
“Because they have the power to dictate what parents do outside of school time!!! Good Lord what a bunch of amateurs!”
by Andora
Friday, February 22 2013, 9:37AM
“This is totally ridiculous, what a stupid, stupid idea. And I wonder what they teach the children at this school, when most schools and the government encourage walking, with stickers given out at most schools for walking to school. And what about parents that don't drive, surely they can't force them to trust an unknown taxi driver with their young child.”
by spragger
Friday, February 22 2013, 8:20AM
“No wonder we have a plague of obesity . .
- Schools should be mandated to provide safe cycling & walking routes.
- This is where the public sector lets us down very badly
- A licence for a load of Chelsea Tractors to bool down the road, crushing kids heads with their ridiculous 'bull bars' & stupid parents parking on your feet.
Come on, get to grips with why it is not safe & deal with it ..
- Is this for the paying customers & pupils, or to give the staff an easy life?”
by TheGillespies
Thursday, February 21 2013, 8:53PM
“This does seem to be madness.
The one question it raises for me is how can a school force parents to travel in a certain way to school when they are not on school property or within "school time".
My children's school could attempt to dictate whatever they liked but off of school property & in my "own" time my children will travel, however I choose for them to travel as where do they have the authority to dictate what I do out of school time and off of their property”
by davyd10
Thursday, February 21 2013, 8:00PM
“This absurd idea must surely be opposed by parents. Where to begin? As already commented by others, the idea of kids not being allowed to walk or cycle to school is outrageous. The image of kids journeying to school on foot or bicycles is almost stamped on our cultural hertitage. We are bombarded with info telling us children are obese, unhealthy and sedantry and here is a headteacher attempting to dissallow it. Adding more vehicles to the roads she is saying are already too dangerous. What about those without cars? Local authority will pay cab fares. Come on, teaching posts are being cut on the back of economic difficulties at the same time as pupil teacher ratios increasing. How can this be imposed? Heads have no authority to dictate how people choose to use as a mode of transport. This is quite simply scandalous!!”
by SolihllCyclst
Thursday, February 21 2013, 6:04PM
“A classic example of ignoring the origins of the problem. If a swimming pool was too cold would you just ban everyone from using it? or would you treat the root of the problem and install heaters?
What the school should be looking to do is work with the local council to provide safer access to their school.”
by VCyclist
Thursday, February 21 2013, 5:44PM
“This is madness. These roads could only be considered dangerous due to the school run traffic. I cycle these same roads on weekend cycle rides and they are fantastic and fairly empty. Some of them are even part of the Surrey Cycle Way. One of the schools is even on "Wheeler's Lane". How more cycle friendly could they be? If there is danger for children cycling, then its caused by irresponsible people driving with due care. Why should our children suffer because of them?”
by WilyMouse
Thursday, February 21 2013, 4:31PM
“This is sick. And so will the children be if they're not "allowed" the most basic form of everyday exercise. If the traffic is so bad that they can't walk/cycle to school, then the traffic is far too dangerous and needs more control. If the route is so unsuitable that it's putting children at risk, that means the school is in the wrong place and better provision is crucial nearer to where the kids actually live. The only unacceptable solution is the one proposed. And, as far as I can see, it isn't a solution in any case: it's not up to the school to dictate how people travel to and from the school gates.
One day a whole tranche of kids are going to grow up and start suing for damages over the atrocious early health problems caused by their caged upbringing. Any short-term savings from closing schools, building on playing fields, demolishing bike sheds or banning walking to school will submerge into insignificance under a tidal wave of ill-health, reduced earnings and medical expenses.”
by Paul_M
Thursday, February 21 2013, 4:17PM
“I'm afraid this is the kind of idiocy you exopect from school heads and governing bodies these days.
With 20% of children classed as obese and many more as overweight, and such habits made in early years being very difficult to overcome in later life, the school is condemning its children to an early death from heart conditions or diabetes.
That is tantamount to criminal behaviour. The education authority needs to get a grip and deal with the true problem at source - the roads.”