School's playground pool aims to boost swim skills

A South Yorkshire primary school has set up a swimming pool in its playground to boost pupil water safety skills.

Brookfield Junior Academy, in Swinton, Rotherham, said the temporary pool in a marquee was cheaper than paying for transport to a local pool and would remain in place until October half term.

School principal Daisy Dunning said she hoped it could help more local children to achieve the national water safety expectations of swimming at least 25m (82 ft) unaided by the age of 11.

Recent BBC research revealed 72% of Year 6 pupils across England left school able to swim 25m in 2024-25, but this drops to 55% for schools with a higher proportion of disadvantaged children.

Although the installation of the pool has been planned by the school for several months, the principal said the recent drowning of 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift "brought the importance to the forefront".

Mackenzie, a pupil at the nearby Highwoods Academy, went missing in the River Don in Mexborough on 30 May and his body was recovered on 2 June.

"It's really important that they're safe within our community and when they go on holiday," she said.

"Traditionally we take our Year 4 classes swimming for a 12-week programme at the local swimming centre, but over the last few years we've had quite low pass rates.

"Given the community tragedy we had in the summer term we felt we needed to do more to give our children the skills to be able to swim and self rescue."

Owen Wedgwood, Activ8's director of education, said the pool was secured in partnership with Swim:ED and took about a week to install.

"We know schools struggle to access high-quality swimming provision," he said.

"But swimming is a life skill. It's the only lesson that's going to save your life."

Costs are being shared with Kilnhurst St Thomas' Church of England Primary, with its pupils also using the pool.

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