Secondary school swimming provision

secondary school swimming

Secondary school swimming should be inspiring for pupils and taught to a high standard, just the same as other sporting activities.

PE in secondary schools should encourage all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically demanding activities.  So there should be lots of opportunities to experience a wide variety of different sports at secondary school. Swimming is vital because it is not only a great activity which helps to work all of the body’s muscles, but it is also a life saving skill.

How can secondary school swimming help pupils?

Swimming and water safety aren’t included as specific subjects in Key Stages 3 and 4. However, pupils need to be provided with the chance to carry on building on all the skills and physical development they have achieved during their time at primary school. The ASA has a vision that every child should leave primary school able to swim at least 25 metres. Secondary school should provide them with chances to develop their knowledge and hone their skills.

Having great quality physical education at secondary school allows pupils to become physically confident to support their improved health and fitness.  If they are given opportunities to compete in a variety of different sports, this will help them to build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect. It also provides them with some healthy competitive spirit.

During Key Stage 3 pupils should understand what makes a performance effective and how to apply this knowledge to their own and others’ work. They should develop the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise and sports in order to enjoy long term health benefits of physical activity.

And later in Key Stage 4, pupils should be given more complex and demanding physical activities. These should develop personal fitness and continue to promote an active healthy lifestyle, and be offered during school study time.

How can the ASA help with secondary school swimming?

We understand that in order to make sure that secondary schools are able to provide top quality swimming lessons, teachers need to be fully trained to deliver the subject. We have developed CPD courses and seminars as well as online learning, which help to equip teachers who deliver swimming with the most up to date knowledge in the industry.

As well as CPD seminars and e-learning courses, the ASA provide a range of resources to help schools in the delivery of high quality secondary school swimming lessons.  Explore more here.


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