School Swimming; Changing the Conversation

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE CHILD IN PYJAMAS IN THE WATER AT MIDNIGHT (A 3-minute Read)Everyone knew what this was – it was “PERSONAL SURVIVAL” [1] and everyone who was ready for it usually had a lot of Fun. Not like those kickers and splashers down at the other end of...

Swimming Against the Current Making WavesA few years ago I found a faded clipping my dad sent me at the time. It was a letter to The Times Newspaper (11.06.1991). His generation would often do things like that. Referring to the then debate about swimming in the...

I found myself re- reading this report at the start of putting together a timeline of swimming in the national curriculum. With effect from 1st August 1994 legislation required Primary Schools to deliver a Programme of Study (POS) for Swimming. Children could...

Damp Hair and ChlorineThe air was heavy and heady with the scent of damp hair, post pool chlorine and the scattered excited chatter of some thirty plus year 3 pupils… I was sitting on school bus with five or six of their teachers and support staff. We were on our way...

Nobody DrownedI found this online on a Primary Teacher’s Blog many years ago (2008?) and saved it. Mr Read, I think it was – Thank You Mr Read and Best Wishes, wherever you are. You seem to have stopped blogging in December 2010. I share this slightly edited version...

Primary school teachers, I have known a few.Well, more than just a few…. I know that day in and day out, they manage and deliver the high standards of teaching and learning set out in the National Teaching Standards.[1] When you get to know them, you realise that they...

Swimming and Water Safety has its’ own section in the National Primary PE Curriculum; just 5 lines of text.    How’s that for an ‘essential life skill’ that ‘saves lives’?The fuss that is often made about School Swimming  hides the fact that if the National Curriculum...

“I’m playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order” (Comedian Eric Morecombe to then International Conductor Andre Previn. (Morecombe and Wise Christmas Show 1971) It is 30 years since swimming and water safety became compulsory in Key Stages One...