Swimming forms a vital part of PE in the National Curriculum. The school has a legal requirement to teach all children water safety and to swim 25m by the time they reach the age of 11.
The lessons are taught by the PE Coordinator and a team of instructors and used to take place at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre - a 10 minute walk from the school. However, due to the closure of the Kingfisher Centre due to structural problems, swimming lessons for Year 5 took place once again at the Malden Centre, New Malden in the spring term 2026. We will also us the Malden Centre again in spring 2027.
The children are taught the following:
We adhere to strict ratios in line with health and safety and lifeguards are on duty during all lessons.
2025-2026
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Pupils should be taught to: |
Number of children / % |
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Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
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13/54 = 24% |
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Use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke]
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13/54 = 24% |
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Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations
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13/54 = 24% |
Since 2021
Year 5 have attended swimming lessons at the Malden Centre, New Malden, in the spring term of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027.
2020-21
In 2020-21 the planned swimming lessons did not take place due to the national lockdown in January 2021. In line with the King Athelstan’s risk assessment and national guidance, no lessons took place this academic year.
2019-20
In March 2020 schools closed as part of a national lockdown, so unfortunately there was no swimming for Y6 this academic year.
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