Case study: Balfron High School Bike Shop
By Scott, Senior Active Travel Officer
The Balfron Bike Shop began two years ago at Balfron High School as a small bike maintenance class, Led by Scott, the school’s Active Travel Officer from FEL Scotland. The project was supported by the PE and Pupil Support departments, and four pupils initially took part. In their first year, the group earned their SCQF Level 3 in Cycle Skills, learning the basics of bike maintenance and building their confidence.
The turning point came when a member of the kitchen staff asked if the group could fix her bike. Darryn, an S2 pupil, repaired a rear puncture and returned the bike to the staff member after a full safety check. This then allowed the staff member to start cycling to and from work again. After a conversation between Scott and the pupils, they agreed that they would be able to offer bike servicing to the wider school community.
Under Scott’s guidance, the pupils began running the shop during their timetabled bike maintenance classes every Wednesday. Pupils took part in every step involved in the bike shop, from checking the bikes for faults, fitting new parts, and returning the bikes to parents and staff. No labour fees were charged – only minimal costs for selected parts. Between February and April, they serviced 28 bikes belonging to staff, parents, and local community members.
Through this hands-on work, the pupils built on their skills and by the end of the second year, earned their SCQF Level 4 certificates. They didn’t just learn mechanical skills – they gained experience in customer service, health and safety, and entrepreneurship. The school provided a classroom space that was free on the day that the bike servicing was taking place, which was soon adapted to store bikes, tools and spare parts ready for sessions to take place.
In March 2025, FEL Scotland secured grant funding to expand the project. This enabled the shop to purchase a wider variety of tools and an inventory of spare parts.
Many happy bike shop customers shared stories on their newly serviced bikes. One parent said:
“Scott and the pupils were so helpful and flexible. I am so glad this service is available for people involved with Balfron High. My bike has been broken for a while, so it seems really convenient to drop it at my son’s school to be fixed. I’ll now be able to cycle to the train station, which is roughly 7 miles away. I mostly intend to use the bike to get away from my desk whilst working from home, I live in rural Stirlingshire so there’s lots to ride around here!”
The project wasn’t without challenges and roadblocks. These included limited tools early on, scheduling conflicts, and a high lead time on parts being delivered due to low stock inventory. These were managed by careful planning, flexible timetables, and risk assessments overseen by Scott. All pupils wore PPE, and every bike underwent a final check before being returned.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 school year, the plan is to increase the number of pupil volunteers and promote the service to wider areas, building on the 28 bikes that the shop has serviced so far.
The Balfron Bike Shop has grown from a small class into a thriving school and community project. Thanks to the dedication of pupils, school staff, and FEL Scotland, it continues to deliver many educational, social, and environmental benefits.
