Instructor training courses

Whether you’re interested in starting as a cycle trainer or want to add to your existing skills, there are training courses available for you.

The courses outlined below are a selection to give you an idea of the different routes into cycle training and the skills required.

Cycle Trainer

This 4-day course is for individuals who would like to be able to deliver National Standards cycle training to both children and adults. The course is SCQF accredited at Level 7 with 3 credit points.

Before starting this training course, you must have the following skills:

  • Be able to cycle confidently on complex, busy, and fast roads
  • Have an understanding and awareness of road and traffic conditions
  • Communicate effectively with other people
  • Have a reasonable level of cycling fitness
  • Be decisive, maintain good discipline, inspire confidence, and give encouragement
  • Understand basic bike maintenance.
Cycle Trainer course - more info

Bikeability Scotland Instructor

This course, which is delivered over a minimum of two sessions and includes three hours of self-supported learning, is for individuals who would like to deliver Bikeability Scotland Levels 1 and 2 training to children. This course is SCQF-accredited at Level 5 with 1 credit point.

Before starting this training course, you must be able to cycle confidently on minor roads with moderate traffic.

Bikeability Scotland is the national cycle training programme for school children.

It is delivered by our local authority partners, almost exclusively through schools. In some authorities, this is supplemented by the involvement of Walk Wheel and Cycle Trust IBike Officers.

Bikeability Scotland Instructor course - more info

Play on Pedals Instructor

Play on Pedals Training is a cycling programme aimed at supporting the cycling skills of nursery-aged children with the use of balance and pedal bikes. With colourful and interactive resources, Play on Pedals has strong links to the Curriculum for Excellence.

This is a one-day course with practical in-nursery training. Participants must have prior experience of working with early-years, for example, as a nursery teacher or through delivering other activities to nursery-aged children.

Play on Pedals Instructor - more info

Go Mountain Bike Orientation (Go MTB)

This is a one-day practical-based course that includes the skills and information you need to plan and deliver Go Mountain Bike sessions.

The course familiarises you with the 5 levels of Go MTB, the resources and valuable teaching techniques covering the four Go MTB themes of: riding skills, sharing the outdoors, first aid, being independent and self-supporting.

Before starting this orientation, you will need to have already gained one of the following awards: Trail Cycle Leader, Mountain Bike Leader, the Cycling UK Trail Mountain Bike Leader Award, or the British Cycling Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader Award.

Go MTB Orientation - more info

Doing the [Cycle Trainer] course gave me a lot more skills and confidence and it allowed me to apply for a job with the Active Travel Team at Dumfries and Galloway Council, which I did. Since then I've been a paid instructor for a year now. It's brilliant. I really enjoy it.

Mike Blakeman

Dumfries and Galloway Active Schools

Mike's story

I think Bikeability Scotland now is much more practical than it has been in the past. It's really developed. So now you're training children on the road, but you're also taking them out on rides when they're doing their training. So they're applying it to a real situation.

Kelly Fry

Cycling instructor

Kelly's story

I can remember years ago when I was going into the town one night. There was one of the pupils cycling on the road and she was doing everything perfectly and I was just so proud to see that. She was so confident, happily cycling in amongst the traffic. That's why I like doing what I do.

Elaine Skinley

Road Safety Officer

Elaine's story