Bikeability Scotland School of the Year 2026: Corstorphine Primary School

"Children having this life skill… this is a quintessential part of childhood, that’s what we’re dealing with here"

Headteacher, Jude Moir, shared the importance of the involvement of the wider community and why it’s so important to help children in gaining cycling confidence at an early age. 

How do you feel about Corstorphine Primary being named Bikeability Scotland School of the Year? 

"We're delighted. It’s one of these things where we see lots of great work taking place across the school and we've got lots of people involved and it just becomes so normal."

"We’ve got people coming in from the church, people coming in from the community, we've got all these community stakeholders coming in who've got that vested interest in keeping children active, getting children safe and getting children engaged in coming to school and for a reason to come to school."

"And we've got so many children, at all levels, children who are so confident on their bikes that come in and are biking all the time. Two children just last week that had never ever ridden a bike before that now can ride a bike. And I think it's that all-encompassing part that makes me most proud, I would say, as a headteacher, because it's just so exciting to see."

What makes Corstorphine Primary a special place for Bikeability and cycling? 

"We talk about our vision as being part of ‘Corstorphine Village’, you know? It’s that thought that “it takes a village to raise children”. And we really do try to understand that children cycling to and from school, children cycling at the park involves everybody."

"So, a big part what sets us apart, I would say, is the way that we work across with all stakeholders. We get lots of people involved. I do also think that the team that we have, we're very passionate, we're dedicated, we're enthusiastic. It takes a lot of effort and organisation to get all of that to happen and it's built into the ethos of the school. So, I think a big part of it is just that drive to take as many children through cycling as we possibly can."

What would you say to a school that are just starting out with Bikeability or haven’t started yet? 

"I think one of the big things is understanding the purpose of it and understanding what it can give."

"If we think about the experience of school, we can think about it in narrow parameters of the kind around curriculum or the kind around children learning to read or children learning to write. Actually, children having this life skill, that ability to be able to engage in something that they will be able to take into the weekends and the summer holidays, that's sort of a quintessential part of childhood. That's what we're dealing with there."

"I would say the advice is to really see the value in it. I think it's about being flexible and resilient because there are lots of issues that come up, because it's a logistical problem to solve sometimes. But I think knowing that it doesn't all need to be done in one week, it's not about a 'let's get that box ticked': it's about how can we overcome this so that as many children can engage in the wonderful thing that is riding a bike."

Pupils at Corstorphine Primary pictured with their bikes

"I’m so proud of our children"

Elizabeth Gillies, Deputy Headteacher, cycles to school every day. She shared her pride at the school’s award and the visible impact that Bikeability Scotland training has had on the children. 

Elizabeth, how does it feel to win this award? 

"Oh, we’re beyond proud. I’m just so delighted for the whole team. It's really very much a group responsibility to help make Bikeability work. I'm so proud of our children, of our staff that take part and also all the community volunteers and partnerships that as well, so really proud."

What’s behind Corstorphine PS’s success with Bikeability? 

"I think we've just tried. What we've been really conscious of is that we live in a really busy part of the city. There are lots of big, busy roads around us. And it's really tricky for the children to know how to get to school safely unless they know how to ride a bike safely."

"So, we're really conscious that when it was coming to the stage of our primary sixes doing Level 1 Bikeability, that a number of our children had never learned to cycle. I think the biggest impact has been working with the Bike Station to try and pick up those children that don't know how to cycle for them to work in small groups to become more confident and to help parents who don't necessarily feel confident in how to teach their children how to."

"They work with primary fives to help them to be more confident and also work with some of our children with additional support needs. We've got children whose parents never thought they would be able to ride a bike… and working with their partnership and using adapted bikes and helping them, these children are now able to cycle independently, which has just been remarkable and just so exciting to see." 

Why is it important that the children are given a chance to learn to cycle on the roads? 

"I think as someone who cycles to school every day myself, I know what the roads are like. I've also got boys of my own that when they were younger we learned how to cycle and I know it's really critical to me that our children learn how to be safe. That they can get to school by travelling in and travelling actively. But also that they can arrive here safely as well."

"And I think just supporting the wider family… as I mentioned earlier, some of our parents don't have bikes and they don't know how to bike, how to cycle. So we've worked with the Bike Station, they've had a bike library, we've done Dr Bike repair sessions over in the park to help parents to get their bikes cycle ready and to help them. That's something that we're hoping to do in the future with our partnership with the Bike Station is perhaps some parent biking sessions as well. To try and help parents become more confident and then feel that they're able to then take their children out too."

"It's a totally holistic thing. Bikeability brings in everything around the work that we're doing around sustainability and sustainability goals. You know, we’re just beside St. John's Road, which is I think one of the most polluted streets in Edinburgh. And so, the more that we can do to encourage active travel, I think the better for the environment too."

Any final thoughts and reflections? 

"I think it's probably all been said already, but just like a huge thanks to every single member of the team that is either in the delivery and behind the scenes and making it successful. I really want to celebrate that and celebrate the success with our local community."

"Personally, I cycle to school every day come rain or shine and we've got bike sheds and we also got some funding a few years ago to increase the number of bike sheds that we've got too. So, I model that with the children and I talk about that to the children all the time, the fact that I cycle to school, so they know that they can do it too."

“I cycle to school because I want to” 

P7 pupils Alexander, Holly, Eva and Emma, talked us through the impact of Bikeability training and the important place that cycling has at their school. 

Emma started by sharing her excitement at the school winning the national award: "I feel very proud, it’s amazing!"

Asked what they enjoyed most about Bikeability, the children quickly turned to the practical sessions on streets close to the school. "I loved it. I remember turning in on the roads and indicating, and it was so fun", said Alexander.

"We practised our turnings and then we were on the roads and some cars actually came by,” said Holly. “It was a good opportunity to practice when we were actually cycling."

"I thought it was really fun", said Eva. "I loved all the games like follow-the-leader that we did in Level 1 in P6. It was good to concentrate on what’s in front of you and behind you, like what you have to do on the road."

It didn’t take long for the group to share amongst themselves what they love most about cycling, and what they like do with their bikes. 

Emma shared: "I go to places. Like I’ve cycled to school, not just during summertime. I cycle to school just because I want to."

"Sometimes I cycle to school with my friends", said Eva, "and if not I sometimes cycle by myself. I like cycling places. And my mum loves it when I do it because she sends me for shopping. Just to go and get stuff that she needs for dinner."

Two pupils from Corstorphine Primary in Edinburgh with their Bikeability Scotland School of the Year 2026 award trophy