Swimming and the National Curriculum

 

Since 1994, swimming and water safety has been a statutory element of the National Curriculum for Physical Education in England.

 

This means that every 11-year old child should leave primary school with the skills to keep themselves safe while enjoying swimming with friends and family. Swimming is a compulsory subject and we expect all pupils to take part in these valuable lessons.

 

The three National Curriculum outcomes

Swimming is the only sport to be included within the national curriculum physical education programme of study.

 

All primary schools must provide swimming and water safety lessons in either Key Stage 1 or 2.

Each pupil is required to be able to do the following:

• Perform safe self-rescue in different water based situations
• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively, for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.

We take our pupils in Year 5 to Highgrove Swimming Pool where children take part in swimming lessons. Children are grouped by ability. Highgrove pool is a short coach ride (approximately 5 minutes) from Whiteheath.