Swimming isn’t optional, It’s a statutory requirement. By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are expected to:
Swim at least 25 metres
Understand water safety
Demonstrate basic self-rescue skills
Yet across the country, many schools quietly struggle to meet and evidence these expectations.
Most PE Leads know this already. The issue isn’t a lack of effort or commitment. The structure of traditional swimming delivery is present.
The Challenge With Traditional School Swimming
Across England schools work incredibly hard to make swimming happen. PE Leads juggle:
- Transport and travel time
- Staffing ratios and safeguarding
- Risk assessments and timetables
- Budget pressures and funding justification
All that effort often leads to a familiar model: weekly off-site swimming lessons. It looks compliant. It feels like what schools have “always done”. But familiarity doesn’t always equal effectiveness.
When pupils a large part of the morning travelling to and from a pool, the actual time swimming is limited. Progress then relies on perfect conditions confident pupils, consistent attendance, and no gaps in learning between sessions. In reality, those conditions rarely exist. So while swimming is technically happening, measurable progress is difficult to prove.
What Changes When Swimming Is Delivered On Site?
Some schools have stopped trying to optimise an inefficient model and instead changed it completely.
Rather than travelling off site, they bring a temporary, on-site swimming pool onto the school playground and deliver swimming as a short, intensive programme during the school day.
The results are immediate and measurable.
- At Chilwell Croft Academy, 25-metre swimming attainment rose from 0% to 49% in one half term.
- At Charville Academy, attainment increased from 6% to 51% in just seven weeks, alongside clear improvements in water safety knowledge.
These outcomes weren’t achieved by longer school days or additional pressure on pupils. They happened because structural barriers were removed.
Why On-Site Swimming Accelerates Progress
When swimming takes place at school, three key things change straight away:
1. More time in the water
No travel time. Sessions start promptly. Learning time is protected and maximised.
2. Continuous learning
Regular sessions over a defined period reduce skill loss and build confidence quickly.
3. Clear, visible progress
Smaller groups and consistent assessment make progress easy to track and evidence.
For PE Leads, this matters. Progress is no longer anecdotal, it’s measurable, time-bound, and defensible.
Inclusion Is Built In, Not Bolted On
For pupils with SEND, anxiety, or limited prior experience, the learning environment makes a huge difference.
Schools delivering swimming on site consistently report:
- Higher engagement
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved attendance
- Greater confidence in the water
At Mill Lodge Primary School, ARC pupils accessed curriculum swimming for the first time. Staff noted improved regulation, increased confidence, and the highest attendance of the academic year while the pool was on site.
In this model, inclusion isn’t an added intervention, it’s the result of better design. We use the same approach at Fiesta Sports Coaching in our Swim:Ed, after-school clubs and holiday camps. Creating a safe and supportive environment is key to participation and enjoyment.
The Question Every PE Lead Needs To Ask
If you’re responsible for school swimming provision, the key question is no longer:
“Are we delivering swimming?”
It is:
“Is our current model capable of delivering rapid, measurable progress, and can I evidence it with confidence?”
Schools that have changed where swimming happens are answering that question remarkably differently.
See How On-Site Swimming Works In Practice
If you’d like to explore whether on-site swimming could work for your school, you can:
- Join a Discovery Webinar (5 March or 22 April), covering safeguarding, staffing, timetabling, and assessment.
- Download the Swim:ED Impact Report, featuring national data and real school case studies
Both options are designed to support informed decision-making, with no obligation. read more from our case study here.