The Importance of Swimming in our Schools
More than a third of children left Primary School in 2006 without
the basic swimming skills needed that could one day save their lives - FACT
Drowning is a serious issue, indeed RoSPA states that drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death in under 16’s, and yet the number of children who leave school without mastering even the basics of water safety is rising. At the 2006 National Water Safety Congress (organised by RoSPA) it was highlighted that 200,000 children in the UK currently leave Primary School each year without the basic skills needed to survive in the water.
As the only swimming organisation that currently includes a comprehensive water safety programme in its teaching and learn to swim qualifications, the STA firmly believes that providing children with life saving skills is crucial – just being taught how to swim across a pool is not enough, children also need to know how to behave safely in and around water, how to spot potential dangers and what to do in an emergency situation.
Equally, the STA believes that swimming should not just be thought of as a sport. It is a key life skill, and it should be the entitlement of all children to be taught to swim in the same way as they are taught to read or write. If a child is not introduced to football or netball at school they miss an experience. If they don’t learn to swim, and are not taught about water safety they can lose their lives.
If only we are able to save one young life by teaching him/her these basic life saving skills, then this is surely better than none?
Just as concerning is the fact that many school PE Teachers are being asked to take swimming lessons when they are not qualified, and may not even be able to swim themselves. For someone to take a swimming class when they are not qualified, may not be a trained lifesaver, and in some instances are not even a strong swimmer themselves, is like playing with a loaded gun.
The Government has made no secret of the importance it places on youngsters being able to swim, and has stated that it wants every primary school pupil to be able to swim 25 metres by the end of key stage 2; last June it announced a £5.5 million ‘top up’ scheme to achieve this, however this is likely to be used to meet transport costs and the hiring of facilities, for example, rather than on improving teaching standards or qualifications. Ministers say teachers are trained to teach the full requirements of the national curriculum, including teaching swimming, but recent surveys and reports in TES indicate that this is just not the case.
Guidelines drawn up by the British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education are regarded as ‘the bible’ and are endorsed by the Government. These guidelines recommend that swimming teachers and staff responsible for classes hold teaching and life-saving qualifications like the Pool Safety Award offered by STA, which is specifically designed for PE teachers and support staff.
Please use the menu on the left to find out more the STA and its:
- Range of Qualifications and courses
- Learn to Swim Scheme
- Teenage and Young Adult Awards
- Pool Safety Award for School Teachers
