What do you think of the new Bikeability materials?

I prefer the metal badges though seems the young people like the new rubber ones (so they can flick things with them according to an SDG insider ;)

The booklet content is much better apart from there being too many helmets

What do you think?

I like the new booklet content. It is a good reference for after the course and something to share with parents. I prefer the shiny metal badges too!

Hi,
I guess everyone has received the same email as i had yesterday, telling us how to give out the new badges and certs?
In keeping with the National consistant approach that SDG want us all to follow, can some one please put together a National statement that explains to a child they have not actually completed all the outcomes listed on the front, even though it says they can. Can it also explain to parents the actual level of ability of their child, explain to secondary schools who insist that students have L2 before they ride to school that the badge is for acheivement and not the cert.
Word all this in a statement that does not upset, offend or give false information. I am a Bikeability instructor not an expert in writing statements like this.
Are council road safety depts (who fund Bikeability across the country) aware that we should be giving L2 certs to children describing they CAN do all the listed outcomes, when actually they cannot. If a child is killed or seriously injured after being given a L2 cert, when they could not acheive the outcomes, who is taking responsibility for this?
This new approach is barking mad. Why can we not give L1 badges and certs to riders who acheive L1 outcomes and give L2 badges and certs to those who acheive L2 outcomes? This way there is no grey area of ability, parents should know what their child can acheive and schools can know for sure that they are letting suitably competent riders bring their bikes to school.
What about L3, is this an attendance course as well??
If you disagree with this rather long post, then please suggest a better way.
Thanks,

+1 user6719
The policy does seem odd to me when all other aspects of Bikeability are strongly outcome based?

Are council road safety depts (who fund Bikeability across the
country) aware that we should be giving L2 certs to children
describing they CAN do all the listed outcomes, when actually they
cannot.

(Local authorities do not fund Bikeability but claim funding from t he DfT)
The certificates state 'have taken part in' not completed, and the level reached can be ticked on the front of the certificate so parents know where their child has reached and can continue from where they left off should the young person get further training.

The advantage of this system is that at least the person will receive something for taking part and should be able to learn what the need to do next to get a badge

The policy does seem odd to me when all other aspects of Bikeability
are strongly outcome based?

Giving a certificate for taking part doesn't contradict outcomes in any way

I thought that would work too David - ticking the bit on the certificate that was where they got to, but if you look at it, it is too general to do that meaningfully - it doesn't spell it out enough to make it easy to state where the trainee has got to. The certificates aren't as clear as the previous idea of writing the number of the outcome reached and a list of the numbers and outcome descriptions on the reverse of the certificate in my view. Important to try to find a way forward with the certs and badges that seems to give out the right message and sits well with progressive, positive, trainee led etc. I wonder what we can do for the best?

Thank you for raising this subject. Perhaps this would be worthy of a more formal consultation? Our view is that badge and certificate are good but perhaps not used to their potential.

As David says it's good that "the person will receive something for taking part". This should be the badge not the certificate. As the OP said, the certificate could be a useful measure of progress against each outcome. This would make the most of the excellent strength of Bikeability in moving away from the woeful days of "pass/fail". For example, the parent/carer of a child trainee might see they need to focus further help on the right turn out (or whatever). The Bikeability certificate could really contribute more to the idea of progression and continuous self-improvement and thereby cycling regularly.

A few years ago we had an adapted version of the certificate that detailed how the trainee did against each outcome . As part of this, we asked some parents/carers what they thought and they preferred that detail. Whilst the new certificate does state, 'has taken part in' it also says, 'At Bikeability Level X you can:'. I would guess most people would interpret the latter as a pass.