Sport, parks and leisure - ASA calls on schools and politicians to support school swimming...
05 May 2024 Sport, parks, & leisure: daily news and jobs
 
 
HOME
JOBS
NEWS
FEATURES
PRODUCTS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
PRINT SUBSCRIPTION
ADVERTISE
CONTACT US
Sign up for FREE ezine
Latest news

13 Nov 2014

ASA calls on schools and politicians to support school swimming
BY Jak Phillips

The ASA has set up a School Swimming Charter to ensure all schools have the skills and knowledge to deliver high quality school swimming programmes

The ASA has set up a School Swimming Charter to ensure all schools have the skills and knowledge to deliver high quality school swimming programmes
photo: ASA

The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has urged primary schools and politicians to get behind school swimming as new figures reveal 45 per cent of primary school children are unable to swim 25m (82ft) despite it being a national curriculum requirement.

The ASA’s recent report – the third annual School Swimming Census – found that nearly 1,300 (6.6 per cent) primary schools do not teach swimming in Key Stage 2, despite despite drowning being the third highest cause of accidental death in children in the UK.

The ASA also found that while the average number of school swimming lessons made available in a school year has increased from 16 to 18 since 2013, the amount of time spent in the water by pupils was just under 10 hours. This is less than the 25 hours of study time that the ASA recommends to ensure a child has sufficient opportunity to learn to swim.

“Swimming isn’t just a leisure activity or a way for young people to keep healthy, it’s a life saving skill that every child has the right to learn,” said ASA acting CEO Ashley Beaveridge.

“Our research shows that school swimming is often the only opportunity many children have to learn to swim, so it is vital that we look at the barriers preventing primary schools from allocating the required time.”

The ASA believes more needs to be done to ensure all children leave primary school with the ability to swim and the knowledge of how to keep themselves safe in and around water. It is also asking politicians to support calls for Ofsted to be more rigorous in their assessment and reporting process of school swimming. Currently the standard and regularity of swimming is overlooked in school assessments, resulting in schools sometimes prioritising other curriculum subjects over this important area.

“The Department for Education has shown its commitment to school swimming by keeping it within the revised national curriculum and providing funding through the Primary PE and Sports Premium,” added Beaveridge.

“We are asking those in central and local government to continue to show their support for the only sport that saves lives by supporting calls for Ofsted to be more robust in their assessments and encourage their local primary schools to sign up to the School Swimming Charter.”
Connect with
Sport Parks Leisure
Magazine:
View issue contents
Sign up:
Instant Alerts/zines

Print edition
 

News headlines
Active Oxfordshire secures £1.3 million to tackle shocking levels of inequality
Active Oxfordshire secures £1.3 million to tackle shocking levels of inequality   02 May 2024

Active Oxfordshire has received £1.3 million to tackle inactivity and inequality and launch a new programme for children. The funding has come from .... more>>
Mark Tweedie joins Miova to lead on pivot to active wellbeing
Mark Tweedie joins Miova to lead on pivot to active wellbeing   02 May 2024

Consultancy and change architects, Miova, have welcomed industry veteran Mark Tweedie on board. Tweedie had most recently headed up Brimham’s .... more>>
Sport England’s Active Lives insight finds record activity levels, but enduring health inequalities
Sport England’s Active Lives insight finds record activity levels, but enduring health inequalities   26 Apr 2024

While British adults are the most active they’ve been in a decade, health inequalities remain with the same groups missing out, according to Sport .... more>>
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research   24 Apr 2024

Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new .... more>>
Mytime Active calls a halt to dumping 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes into landfill each year
Mytime Active calls a halt to dumping 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes into landfill each year   21 Apr 2024

Charitable trust, Mytime Active, has removed all single-use plastic overshoes from its swimming pools and leisure centres, as part of ongoing .... more>>
Company profile


InBody UK

InBody is dedicated to inspiring and leading people to live a healthier life, providing medically graded commercial and home use products.

View full profile>>

Catalogue gallery


Featured Supplier

W3Fit EMEA’s innovative programme sets sail for Sardinia, Italy

W3Fit EMEA’s innovative programme sets sail for Sardinia, Italy

Following a hugely successful event last year in Split, Croatia, W3Fit EMEA, is heading to the Chia Laguna resort in Sardinia from 8-11 October. More>>




in this issue

• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources


Latest jobs

Jobs Search



Duty Manager
 Salary: Competitive
Location: Middlesbrough
Company: Everyone Active
Duty Manager Golf and Athletics
 Salary: £30,027pa + non-contrib pension + benefits
Location: Stockwood Park Golf Club, London Road, Luton, UK
Company: Active Luton
Leisure Centre Duty Manager
 Salary: £24,687.57pa + pension + health care + benefits
Location: Uppingham, Oakham, UK
Company: Uppingham School
Diary dates
Powered by leisurediary.com

08-08 May 2024

Hospitality Design Conference

Hotel Melià , Milano , Italy







Published by Leisure Media Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385 | Contact us | About us | © Cybertrek Ltd