News

Carleton Primary School Roadstars Road Safety Prize Update

At Carleton, we are so proud of our pupils who took part in the recent Roadstars Road Safety video campaign. The Junior Road Safety Officer’s and Primary 5 children worked hard to create an innovative video and were delighted to be awarded with the first-place prize . The JRSO’s collaborated on what they would use their prize money for and decided to design road markings in our playground. This will have an extremely positive impact on our school and community as it will open up more opportunities for outdoor learning, play and Bikeability within our school grounds. The children have found working alongside a variety of members in our local community extremely valuable and are excited to continue their hard work.

‘Roadstars’ is a free online road safety resource, specifically for primary school children, designed to get them thinking about road safety in an active and immersive way. The competition was a team effort between Fife Council's Safer Communities and Roads & Transportation staff.

Carleton Primary school children with Marta Ramage, Shealagh Crabb and Kieron Clark Burns measuring up

The children have been hard at work helping Roads and Transportation staff to make their concept drawing a reality. Here they are helping School Travel Plan Co-ordinator, Marta Ramage, and Bikeability Co-ordinator, Shealagh Crabb, marking and measuring the planned lining in the playground. Watch this space to see the playground transformed!

For further information on road safety education please contact: safercommunities.projectofficers@fife.gov.uk

Transport Minister Applauds Fife Council’s Road Safety Competition

Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth MSP, recently (20 February 2023) visited Carleton Primary School, Glenrothes, which scooped first prize in a road safety competition run by Fife Council for all primary schools.

Fife schools were challenged to produce and film their own version of Road Safety Scotland's Roadstars Code song where pupils sing and dance along.

Transport Minister at Carleton Primary School

Schools from across the region sent in fantastic films, and the overall results were:
1st Carleton Primary School, Glenrothes  
2nd Ladybank Primary School, Ladybank  
3rd Torbain Primary School, Kirkcaldy.

Cllr Cara Hilton, Spokesperson – Education Spokesperson. Fife Council, said: “I am pleased that Road Safety initiatives in Fife are getting the recognition that they deserve. We are always seeking to innovate and be creative to keep our young people interested in keeping safe.  All the entries into our competition were excellent and we’re proud that so many of our pupils have learnt more about staying safe around roads and traffic.

Cllr Judy Hamilton, Spokesperson - Housing & Building Services, Spokesperson. Fife Council, said: “We want to keep the people of Fife safe on the roads, and we have a range of initiatives and programmes to help us keep everyone as safe as possible. Fife has a long history of reducing road casualties and lowering casualty numbers. The aim of road safety interventions is to prevent crashes and casualties, working towards an ultimate vision of zero.”

Pupils from Carleton Primary School with Jenny Gilruth, Cllr Cara Hilton and Cllr Judy Hamilton

Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said: “It’s been a pleasure to visit Carleton Primary School today to see ‘Roadstars’ being used in a class setting. I was pleased to be able to congratulate pupils for winning the local road safety competition designed by Fife Council.

“The Scottish Government is committed to improving the safety of young people on our roads, and supports and encourages educators to deliver effective road safety learning from an early age.

“Delivered through Road Safety Scotland, ‘Roadstars’ is a free online road safety resource, specifically for primary school children, designed to get them thinking about road safety in an active and immersive way. This is part of a wider package of resources offered by Road Safety Scotland for educators and parents. To find out more visit www.roadsafety.scot "

For further information on road safety education please contact safercommunities.projectofficers@fife.gov.uk

Find out more about Roadstars https://roadsafety.scot/children-and-educators/early/roadstars

CLEAR Buckhaven and Methil Bike Workshop

The CLEAR Buckhaven and Methil Bike Workshop has been busy these past few months supporting the growth in local demand to get on wheels.  We've been participating in Scottish Government schemes including Key Worker Bike Loan (now ended) and Bike Repair Scheme  (£50 of free repairs).   Meanwhile, a good range of roadworthy used bikes and parts as well as repairs are available at 47 Sandwell St, Buckhaven.

Donations of unused or old bikes and parts much appreciated.

NCN1 Coastal Path through Tentsmuir will be closed in January

Felling Operations Winter 2022/23

Update from  Forestry & Land Scotland

Tree felling operations to clear up windblown trees along the northern edge of the forest have now started. At the moment we are able to work in areas of the forest that do not require any closures of the Sustrans NCN Route 1 or the Fife Coastal Path. For safety reasons there will be some local closures of smaller tracks and paths near to where machinery is operating.

On Tuesday 3 January the felling operation will be expanded to cover a wider area with multiple harvesting machines operating, requiring the whole north east corner of the forest to be closed to visitors. We will also close and divert part of the Sustrans NCN Route 1 and Fife Coastal Path to avoid this area. Diversions will remain in place for 3- 4 months. We will also close all paths that run along the coastal strip (Tayport Heath) towards the National Nature Reserve at Tentsmuir Point. This is to maintain safety zones from machinery which will be working in the adjacent forest.

Visitors arriving from Tayport will still be able to access the wider forest including popular tracks and trails directly south of the Forestry and Land Scotland picnic area. All visitors transiting through the forest from the south to north should avoid the dunes north of the Ice House and Educational Pavilion Tentsmuir, instead using the forest roads along the western boundary to access Tayport.

Tree felling operations - path closures on map below.

Map showing area of Tentsmuir Forest closed due to tree felling. This is the north of Tentsmuir with access from Tayport. The lower part of the foesrt,a ccessed from the main car park is still open with access to the beach

Bikeability at Donibristle Primary School

Bikeability is a real fixture on the Donibristle Primary school calendar. We have been most lucky to have a team of adult volunteers who have become trainers. They are assisted by parents for Level 2 training to ensure safety as children cycle around our local streets.

With up to 75 children in a year group, organisation is key! All children are expected to participate and 1:1 tuition is given to those yet to master riding a bike. Bikes are found or borrowed, and instruction can then begin. For Level 1 our playground provides the perfect surface.  For Level 2 our local streets, being quiet, allow children to develop their road sense.

Donibristle Primary School pupils outside in fancy dress after a cycle to Aberdour and back

Traditionally Level 1 was completed by Primary 6 in May and Level 2 by Primary 7 in September. However, COVID allowed us to consider our approaches as we aimed to catch children up. The trainers felt that doing Level 1 followed quickly by Level 2 allowed the children to maintain momentum and so only our Primary 7 pupils complete the programmes now. Not all children will be ready for this though and those children are encouraged to keep practising.
The highlight however is a bike ride along the coastal path from Dalgety Bay to Aberdour, lunch and a play in the park and then cycle back. For our pupils who are not confident the train ride proves a nice alternative.  Recently we have used this cycle ride as an opportunity to raise money for the Primary 7 end of year events by asking for sponsorship as we add items of fancy dress as we ride.
Bikeability is now part of our PE lessons, offering all children the opportunity to develop a skill that will see them benefit throughout their lives. We are so fortunate to have had forward thinking staff originally to allow us to build on this year on year.

vide a safe and enjoyable community space.