STUDENTS at a Bournemouth school are the first in the country to take part in a new virtual cycling training session.

Year seven pupils at The Bourne Academy trialled a programme created by Dr Dan Bishop from Brunel University, along with The Bikeability Trust.

The training uses tablets to teach students the necessary skills for road cycling.

The Group-Based VR Immersive Cycle Training Project provides unique perspectives of various road-based cycling scenarios.

Students gain a 360-degree view of these scenarios, instructing them about key cycling skills such as observation, communication, position and priorities.

This system is under the supervision of BCP Council Bikeability instructors.

Dr Bishop, the director of research at The Bikeability Trust, said: "This exciting project is the culmination of years of trialling and refinement, with significant input from the Trust’s development team, Bikeability instructors, children and their parents.

"This unique blend of academic and real-world riding expertise has led to the development of a rigorous and practical training protocol that has the potential to change lives."

Bourne Academy student, Eleanor Critchlow, said: "It made me feel like I was actually riding a bike down certain roads.

"I learnt a lot about which way to look, as well as things like major and minor roads."

Assessments were made of students' attitudes, confidence, and understanding of road cycling skills, through anonymous surveys taken before and after the training session.

Graham Hurst, BCP Council Bikeability instructor, said: "Going forward, we want to deliver the immersive training to as many schools as possible to help embed the skills needed by students to make them more confident, experienced cyclists.

"This will help the school encourage more children to travel more safely and actively to school."

With the target of training 1,000 students before the end of March 2025, the BCP Council Bikeability team's ambition aligns with the council's objective to have 50 per cent of journeys walked, wheeled or taken by public transport within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area by 2030.

Other BCP Council schools interested in signing up for the training sessions are to email bikeability@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.