St Leonards Primary Schools Swimming Initiative

Throughout the school year, St Leonards offers swimming lessons free of charge to over 120 pupils from six local state primaries, including transport for those based in rural areas and professional coaching in the school’s 25m swimming pool. 

Now in its third year, the St Leonards Primary School Swimming Initiative continues to grow annually, with the creation of an additional lesson block for a rural state primary from August 2019.

Swimming lessons are in high demand in the St Andrews and wider North-East Fife area, with long waiting lists and limited availability for many clubs and programmes. As such, this initiative has proved incredibly valuable as a free and accessible resource for many local children.

Each school is offered a six-week block of one-hour lessons in the pool, organised and delivered by a fully qualified swimming coach and member of the PE team at St Leonards.

Aims

Swimming is an important life skill, best learned during childhood years. It provides huge benefits for health and wellbeing. This initiative is aimed at opening up sporting opportunities to primary-aged children, who might otherwise not be able to access swimming lessons in the community.

Background

St Leonards School introduced the primary schools swimming initiative in 2016, after recognising demand from children in the St Andrews community, including at small, rural primary schools. Six state primaries now benefit from blocks of lessons each academic year.

Resources

The School provides all staff, transport, resources and facilities required in order to successfully deliver this initiative free of charge.

Impact

Pupils attending the lessons benefit from learning a new and important skill, as well as thoroughly enjoying their swimming blocks at St Leonards. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and interest from additional schools continues to grow.

Pupil Involvement

The St Leonards Primary Swimming Initiative is offered to boys and girls aged 8-10.

Frequency

Annual project, running in allocated six-week blocks from August to June during term time.