Why School Swimming Needs Urgent Support

School swimming and water safety lessons are a vital part of every child's education. But according to Swim England, nearly one in three children leave primary school unable to swim the minimum required 25 metres. Their new Support School Swimming campaign is calling for urgent action to address this growing concern.

The Challenge Schools Face

Despite swimming being a national curriculum requirement in England, many schools are struggling to deliver effective swimming lessons. Factors include:

• • Lack of pool access
  • Rising transport and staffing costs
  • Limited lesson time
  • A shortage of qualified swimming teachers

These barriers have only worsened post-pandemic, leaving many children behind on this essential life skill.

What the Campaign Is Asking For

Swim England's campaign is calling on the government to:

• • Provide ring-fenced funding to support swimming and water safety lessons
  • Ensure greater accountability on how PE and Sport Premium funding is spent
  • Encourage schools to make swimming a priority within the PE curriculum

You can explore the full campaign here: Support School Swimming - Swim England

Why This Matters

Swimming is not just a sport, it’s a life-saving skill. The earlier children are introduced to water confidence, the safer they are in and around water throughout their lives.

With the number of children unable to swim rising, schools play a critical role in ensuring that swimming and water safety are not left behind.

How Schools Can Act

While the campaign urges government support, schools can also:

• • Audit their current swimming provision
  • Use part of their PE and Sport Premium to support swimming lessons
  • Partner with local leisure centres or swimming providers
  • Raise awareness with parents and the wider community

Supporting Swimming in Schools

At Bishop Sports & Leisure, we support school swimming by providing:

• • Swimming equipment and resources for lessons
  • Water safety aids and teaching tools
  • Beginner-friendly products designed to support early swimming development

You can browse our swimming range here: Swimming

We’ll continue to support initiatives that aim to give every child the chance to be safe and confident in the water.

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