Coast to Coast Cycle Ride

Twenty-one students, aged 11 to 18, and six members of Newent Community School staff will be taking part in the Coast to Coast ride from Whitehaven on the east coast to Tynemouth in the west.

The 16 boys’ and five girls’ ambitious trek, combining arduous climbs with stunning scenery, will see them cover no less than 150 miles after they set off on July 8th.

Organiser and science teacher Jason Shirley said: “It’s a great confidence-booster and as well as improving the students’ fitness and bike maintenance and road-safety skills gives them determination to succeed and a sense of community. All students, however well they do in the classroom or not, have a real chance to shine on this trip”.

Maths teacher Jennifer Wells is delighted her 12-year-old son Christian, a Year Seven student at the school, is taking part. She said: “It’s been a marvellous opportunity for him, just the training sessions have really improved his resilience and sticking power and made him push himself so he just gets his head down and does it, all valuable attributes for later life”.

Other challenging cycle rides successfully completed by Newent Community School students and staff are the Camels and Otters, from Padstow to Ilfracombe; the Land’s End to Newent 24-hour relay; the Tour de Yorkshire; The Beast of the Moors, taking in Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor, and a Snowdon to Newent ride.

Principal Alan Johnson said: “It was simply amazing being there at the finish line when our students completed one of their many training rides in preparation for the gruelling C2C challenge. Watching as they beat that final hill gave me such an immense sense of pride and, for me, epitomised what it is to be a student at Newent Community School. Visitors to our school are always struck by our warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere, an environment where students broaden their horizons, raise their aspirations and become valued members of our community.”