Swimming - Key Stages 1 and 2

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 usually take place at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre - a 10 minute walk from the school. The centre has an 8m training pool (up to 0.8m depth) and a 25m pool for the more able swimmers. However, due to the closure of the Kingfisher Centre, swimming lessons for Year 5 took place instead at the Malden Centre, New Malden in the Spring term 2022. 

The children are taught the following:

• To swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.
• To be able to use a range of strokes effectively - front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.
• To perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

We adhere to strict ratios in line with health and safety and lifeguards are on duty during all lessons.

 Swimming Data 

The information below relates to our Year 6 pupils in 2021-22, who participated in swimming lessons in 2019.

This Year 6 cohort were due to attend swimming lessons in Spring 2020, however, the Kingfisher closed due to structural problems.    It was initially closed for routine maintenance; however, concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the roof which meant it was closed permanently.

2019-20

In March 2020 schools closed as part of a national lockdown, so unfortunately there was no swimming for Y6 this academic year.

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.

2021-22

Year 5 are attending swimming lessons at the Malden Centre, New Malden in the Spring term 2022.