82 per cent of respondents said they would support the national curriculum requiring all children to be taught to cycle competently, confidently and proficiently on the roads

Children should be taught to cycle safely and confidently on the roads as a core part of the national curriculum, according to a survey that shows overwhelming support for cycling to be given the same priority as swimming in schools.

The national curriculum currently requires all children to be taught to swim “competently, confidently and proficiently” over a distance of at least 25 metres.

In a poll by YouGov of more than 4,600 people, 82 per cent said they would support a similar requirement on the national curriculum requiring all children to be taught to cycle competently, confidently and proficiently on the roads. Only 7 per cent said they would oppose the measure.

The survey, commissioned by Halfords in consultation with The Times, showed