A SCHOOL has started a year-long initiative to improve pupils' health, with inspiration from Bradford's upcoming cycle superhighway.

Thornbury Primary wants children and their parents and carers to lead healthier lifestyles and has set up a variety of activities and schemes.

As part of the project, City Connect held two cycling events with the aim of making Thornbury Primary a bike-friendly school. City Connect is behind the £29million superhighway that will link Bradford and Leeds and is due to be completed next spring, as well as a multi-million pound programme to make it easier and safer to get around on foot and by bike.

Plans have also been approved to create a cycle lane on Dick Lane which will pass the school.

This week's first event saw Dr Bike - otherwise known as Mick Collins - help fix problems on pupils' bikes. Also, yesterday, pupils, parents and staff who cycled to school were rewarded with a free breakfast.

Thornbury Primary headteacher Clare Daddy said: "We were all looking forward to the two bike events as well as future cycling safety activities along with the whole of our health and wellbeing year. We hope the activities we have planned will make a real difference."

Mrs Daddy set up a team to organise the year-long health and wellbeing programme, which will see school staff and people with relevant expertise work with pupils and families to exercise more, improve fitness levels, make better lunchbox and meal choices, and cook healthier food.

"The health and wellbeing of the children at Thornbury Primary is as important as their education," said Mrs Daddy. "We felt that the best way to help improve their health and wellbeing was to involve families – not just the children.

"Our school is in BD3 – a very deprived area with high rates of obesity, diabetes, stroke and heart disease. We are hoping that by helping families make healthier lifestyle choices, the school’s health and wellbeing programme will have a positive impact on the local people."

The programme includes: making healthy lunchbox choices and thinking about meal size portions; healthy cooking clubs for pupils and parents; promoting healthy lifestyles through classroom projects; encouraging cycling to school; making the right choices about drugs and alcohol; encouraging the take-up of exercise and sports sessions at after-school clubs for pupils and parents; and providing specialist sports and PE coaches and training for school staff to improve pupils' skill and fitness levels.