Offroad Motorcycles

We are very lucky at Breckenbrough to have an off road motorcycle track in the school grounds. This area is fenced off from the rest of the grounds. The selection of bikes available runs from machines for learning on, a Honda XR100 with a low seat height and a four stroke engine in a soft state of tune, RM80 small wheel machine then progressing to a Kawasaki KX85 big wheel machine. The older boys have the opportunity to ride the school’s RM125 and RX125.

The boys have the pleasure of riding the bikes during the week. The Year Ten and Eleven groups have the motorcycles as a games option on Tuesday afternoons. They are also available on a Thursday evening as an activity.

Positive Reward: The opportunity to ride bikes is seen by those who are interested as a major privilege. The boys are offered to chance to ride the motorbikes when they come to the school after they have been here for a period of two weeks. Riding bikes is used as a short term positive reward for success and progress in the classroom and where appropriate around school. Pupils who are interested are encouraged to fill in a ‘motorbike book’, which records their progress during the school day. It is pointed out that the staff team look for improvement. If a lesson starts badly, then an effort to improve upon the poor start is noted as a positive.

Education: Apart from the riding, the boys are taught how to maintain the machine that they ride to a high standard and are encouraged to take on more responsibility as they become more conversant with the mechanics involved. The workshop is fitted out with workbenches that can be set to the correct height as the boys come in all sizes.

Self esteem: We have found that the motorbikes are an excellent tool for increasing the boys self-esteem. Many introverted and nervous boys have a go, and do develop it into a genuine interest. For others it is an activity and skill where for perhaps the first time in their lives they have found their first real success. This success and confidence can then bring dividends into the classroom. Some gain so much confidence that they can help other boys which are new to the opportunity of riding off road, in a mature and caring fashion.

When the boys reach an agreed standard they are given the opportunity to race with two local motor cross clubs if they wish. Other boys will go to work as mechanics for the day with supervision.

The boys get a lot of fun from the motorcycle facility and it teaches them far more than just how to ride a motorbike. They appreciate that to access the machines they have to work in class and concentrate on improving their social skills in line with the schools ethos of conflict resolution.

As you can well imagine the bikes do get used a great deal with large amounts of time being put into the maintenance of the machines. Breckenbrough School is very grateful to DC Butlers and Shirlaws for their invaluable support in supplying parts.