Two Mile Ash School – Putting cycling at the centre in Milton Keynes
Discover how Two Mile Ash School made cycling a central part of their community in Milton Keynes.
May 28, 2026
In Milton Keynes, one primary school has taken a bold step towards transforming how its community travels.
In 2021, Two Mile Ash School was facing persistent issues experienced by many schools across Milton Keynes:
- Congestion and safety concerns at the school gates
- Low levels of physical activity among pupils and families,
- Limited engagement with active travel
For staff, the situation was concerning – both from a safety and wellbeing perspective.
“When I joined Two Mile Ash School in 2021 I was shocked by the high levels of congestion directly outside the school caused by parents dropping off and picking up their children.”
Jake Saville, Head of PE, Two Mile Ash School
The school recognised that tackling these issues would require a wider cultural shift towards active travel. They teamed up with key partners, including Milton Keynes City Council and Living Streets, to ensure interventions were co-designed, sustainable and rooted in local needs.
From programme to culture
Instead of running one-off initiatives, Two Mile Ash focused on embedding cycling into everyday school life.
Cycling was added to the PE curriculum, with school-owned bikes and helmets removing barriers to participation. This ensured every child had the chance to learn and build confidence. Bikeability and Learn to Ride delivery was also expanded, enabling more pupils to progress through training. The impact was significant, with Bikeability Level 2 achievement increasing from 48% to 86%!
Bike bus: A safe and social way to travel to school
The weekly bike bus became a highlight of the school calendar, bringing together 20 to 30 children and their parents for a shared journey to school. The school also played a key role in bringing cycling events to the wider community, including partnerships with women’s cycling sessions and hosting and competing in cycling events.
The wider impact
The incentive at Two Mile Ash School highlights how place-based partnership can generate sustained community impact, far beyond the school gates. As a result of their hard work, the community saw:
- Improved safety and reduced congestion
- Stronger community connections
- Increased independence for pupils
- Higher levels of physical activity
- Improved confidence and cycling skills
- Reduced car use and environmental impact
- Alignment with local health and climate priorities
The school’s efforts have also been recognised nationally, including being named Modeshift STARS Primary School of the Year 2025.
Two Mile Ash School’s dedication and hard work shows what’s possible when schools move beyond individual initiatives and focus on long-term change.
By combining leadership, partnership and practical action, they have created a culture where active travel is a central part of everyday life. Well done Two Mile Ash!
If you’ve been inspired by Two Mile Ash School and would like to start your own bike bus, you can find a range of useful resources and information here. We’ve put together everything you need to get started, including a leader guide, example route plan, rider consent forms, and much more!
