ASA West Midland Region : National Curriculum and School swimming

PE is a compulsory component of the national curriculum at all Key Stages for all pupils. Swimming is not only a fun activity but also an important life skill and its value is reflected in its status as a requirement at Key Stage 2.

Key Stage 1
Pupils should be taught to:

move in water (for example, jump, walk, hop and spin, using swimming aids and support)
float and move with and without swimming aids
feel the buoyancy and support of water and swimming aids
propel themselves in water using different swimming aids, arm and leg actions and basic strokes.

Key Stage 2
Pupils should be taught to:

pace themselves in floating and swimming challenges related to speed, distance and personal survival
swim unaided for a sustained period of time and distance of at least 25m
use recognised arm and leg actions, lying on their front and back
use a range of recognised strokes and personal survival skills (for example, front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, sculling, floating and surface diving).

Key Stage 3
Pupils should be taught to:

set and meet personal and group targets in swimming events, waterbased activities, personal survival challenges and competitions
use a range of recognised strokes, techniques and personal survival skills with technical proficiency.

Key Stage 4
Pupils should be taught to:

meet challenges in specific swimming events and waterbased activities
use advanced techniques and skills with control, power or stamina and technical proficiency.

EXTRACTS FROM TEACHERNET - PE AND SCHOOL SPORT

The Government wants Physical Education (PE) and school sport to be fun and attractive to all children whatever their level of skill. PE and sport play an important role in school life, help to raise standards, improve behaviour and health, increase attendance and develop social skills.

Swimming

Targeted support will ensure many more children are able to swim 25 metres safely by the end of Key Stage 2. The support includes: the development of water safety website launched in October 2002, two pilot top-up schemes to test out what can be done to support those in danger of reaching the end of key stage two without being able to swim 25 metres and the development and publication of a swimming charter in December 2003 which offers practical guidance and examples of best practice.

As part of the overall PE, School Sport and Club Links strategy we are providing targeted sport to enhance swimming opportunities. In response to the Swimming Advisory Group's recommendations (an executive summary of their report and the Government's response was published 17 October) we:

have set up a new swimming and water safety website providing guidance and ideas for teachers and others which includes a 'splash' area for children;
published in 2003 a Swimming Charter that will offer practical guidance and help spread best practice; and
run 2 pilot schemes (one urban and one rural) for children who get to the final year of primary school and can't swim at least 25 metres.

CLICK HERE to view the news item released by the ASA on 29th March 2005 about a £5.5m scheme to aid school swimming.