Drove Primary School is currently running a programme of swimming lessons in collaboration with Fortius PE from its playground.
The initiative has been organised to provide a vital life skill to pupils and parents and to help meet National Curriculum requirements.
The Primary National Curriculum states that all schools must provide swimming instruction in either Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2.
Pupils should be taught to:
- swim competently, confidently, and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
- use a range of strokes effectively (for example, front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke)
- perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations
Due to a shortage of swimming facilities in the local area the school, part of the White Horse Federation, has taken the initiative to install a temporary swimming pool, giving pupils and their mums’ the chance to learn this essential life skill.
The pool, installed by Fortius PE, is 1.2m deep, 10 long, six wide and holds over 500 gallons of water. Fortius PE began delivering the programme in April of last year and has so far been to more than15 schools across Swindon, teaching more than 2,000 children to swim using one of the two mobile pools provided.
Juliet Rayden from Fortius PE said: “The programme is filling a gap in the community, as there’s a shortage of available swimming places for schools across the town.
"The challenge for schools is that even if they find a pool, logistically, it can be difficult to get pupils there. Ideally, the pool should be within walking distance. If not, transport must be arranged at an additional cost.”
“The temporary pool is a more convenient option for school communities and since we launched the programme, demand continues to grow.”
Swimming instructor Sarah Hyde said: “It’s a great initiative, the closure of swimming pools across the town – meant there wasn’t the available hours to get the children the swimming lessons they needed to meet the National Curriculum requirements.
"Thanks to the temporary pool we can teach over 600 children, over a six-week period.
“Previously, the number of pupils meeting the targets was below 30%. With this approach, every child has the chance to learn, and we can dramatically improve that figure.
“We share the pool between Drove Primary School and Gorse Hill Primary School and offer swimming lessons through the day to students from Year 2 through to Year 5. Afterschool swimming clubs are offered to all year groups, including Reception and Year 1. We're only two weeks in, and already some of our Year 2 pupils are swimming confidently.”
“In the first week, some of the children were terrified. For some, it was the first time they had been in a swimming pool and now they are quickly building their confidence in the water. For the younger pupils it’s all about water play and feeling comfortable in the water”.
Kelly Reynolds, PE teacher at Drove Primary School is eager to extend the offer to the wider community. She already has a school mums’ group who participate in regular fitness classes at the school. She offers running sessions, yoga and Drumba (a mix of Drumming and Zumba) and wanted to ensure that the mums were given the opportunity to use the pool and for some, even learn to swim.
She said: “Opportunities for families to swim are becoming very limited and if they can find somewhere local, it can be too expensive to go.
"We wanted to find a way to offer the “mums’ only” classes, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find a female only location or somewhere with female lifeguards. With support from Emma Rant, our Family Support Worker we were about to make this a reality.”
“Culturally and traditionally, swimming for our school mums isn’t accessible. With the help of Fortius PE and with public funding, we were excited to be able to offer free swimming lessons for mums who often feel they are unable to go swimming or even learn to swim – this is due to cultural and religious restrictions that public swimming pools can't cater for.”
At an early morning swim session, Repi Begum—councillor for Lydiard & Freshbrook and parent at Drove Primary School—said: “It’s an amazing opportunity, especially for people (like me) who need to stay covered for religious reasons. Other places don’t offer female lifeguards or women-only sessions like this.
“It’s also well timed, as we can drop the children at school, join the session, get a bit of exercise, get fit, make new friends and gain confidence in the water.”
“I’m really grateful to the school for organising this for us and our children”.
Bryony Bardwell, headteacher at Drove Primary School, said: "This initiative isn’t just about meeting targets—it's about equipping our children (and mums) with a vital life skill that could one day save their life.
"I’m incredibly proud of our staff and students and extremely grateful to Fortius PE for helping make it happen.”
Dan Nicholls, CEO at The White Horse Federation, added: “This is a fantastic initiative that brings together our school and local communities. It provides opportunities for those who might not otherwise have access to such experiences and highlights the dedication of our staff and Trust partners, who continue to inspire lives.”
The Primary National Curriculum states that all schools must provide swimming instruction in either Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2.
Pupils should be taught to:
- swim competently, confidently, and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
- use a range of strokes effectively (for example, front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke)
- perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations
Due to a shortage of swimming facilities in the local area the school, part of the White Horse Federation, has taken the initiative to install a temporary swimming pool, giving pupils and their mums’ the chance to learn this essential life skill.
The pool, installed by Fortius PE, is 1.2m deep, 10 long, six wide and holds over 500 gallons of water. Fortius PE began delivering the programme in April of last year and has so far been to more than15 schools across Swindon, teaching more than 2,000 children to swim using one of the two mobile pools provided.
Juliet Rayden from Fortius PE said: “The programme is filling a gap in the community, as there’s a shortage of available swimming places for schools across the town.
"The challenge for schools is that even if they find a pool, logistically, it can be difficult to get pupils there. Ideally, the pool should be within walking distance. If not, transport must be arranged at an additional cost.”
“The temporary pool is a more convenient option for school communities and since we launched the programme, demand continues to grow.”
Swimming instructor Sarah Hyde said: “It’s a great initiative, the closure of swimming pools across the town – meant there wasn’t the available hours to get the children the swimming lessons they needed to meet the National Curriculum requirements.
"Thanks to the temporary pool we can teach over 600 children, over a six-week period.
“Previously, the number of pupils meeting the targets was below 30%. With this approach, every child has the chance to learn, and we can dramatically improve that figure.
“We share the pool between Drove Primary School and Gorse Hill Primary School and offer swimming lessons through the day to students from Year 2 through to Year 5. Afterschool swimming clubs are offered to all year groups, including Reception and Year 1. We're only two weeks in, and already some of our Year 2 pupils are swimming confidently.”
“In the first week, some of the children were terrified. For some, it was the first time they had been in a swimming pool and now they are quickly building their confidence in the water. For the younger pupils it’s all about water play and feeling comfortable in the water”.
Kelly Reynolds, PE teacher at Drove Primary School is eager to extend the offer to the wider community. She already has a school mums’ group who participate in regular fitness classes at the school. She offers running sessions, yoga and Drumba (a mix of Drumming and Zumba) and wanted to ensure that the mums were given the opportunity to use the pool and for some, even learn to swim.
She said: “Opportunities for families to swim are becoming very limited and if they can find somewhere local, it can be too expensive to go.
"We wanted to find a way to offer the “mums’ only” classes, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find a female only location or somewhere with female lifeguards. With support from Emma Rant, our Family Support Worker we were about to make this a reality.”
“Culturally and traditionally, swimming for our school mums isn’t accessible. With the help of Fortius PE and with public funding, we were excited to be able to offer free swimming lessons for mums who often feel they are unable to go swimming or even learn to swim – this is due to cultural and religious restrictions that public swimming pools can't cater for.”
At an early morning swim session, Repi Begum—councillor for Lydiard & Freshbrook and parent at Drove Primary School—said: “It’s an amazing opportunity, especially for people (like me) who need to stay covered for religious reasons. Other places don’t offer female lifeguards or women-only sessions like this.
“It’s also well timed, as we can drop the children at school, join the session, get a bit of exercise, get fit, make new friends and gain confidence in the water.”
“I’m really grateful to the school for organising this for us and our children”.
Bryony Bardwell, headteacher at Drove Primary School, said: "This initiative isn’t just about meeting targets—it's about equipping our children (and mums) with a vital life skill that could one day save their life.
"I’m incredibly proud of our staff and students and extremely grateful to Fortius PE for helping make it happen.”
Dan Nicholls, CEO at The White Horse Federation, added: “This is a fantastic initiative that brings together our school and local communities. It provides opportunities for those who might not otherwise have access to such experiences and highlights the dedication of our staff and Trust partners, who continue to inspire lives.”
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