A SCHOOL in Northwich has installed a 40ft long swimming pool on its grounds in a bid to help plug the community’s swimming and water safety skills gap.

Rudheath Primary Academy installed the pool in June, which it hopes will help provide children with the all-important life skill.

Swimming and water safety has been part of the national curriculum since 1994, meaning every child leaving primary school should be able to swim at least 25 metres and have skills to stay safe in the water.

However, further to the closure of nearest pool in John Deane’s Sixth Form College’s sports facility last year – the school was faced with the limited supply of school swimming places at the Brio-run leisure centres.

Rudheath Primary Academy and Nursery, which forms part of the Focus-Trust, took the matter into its own hands, installing the 40ft outdoor swimming pool in the school playground on June 13, which can be used by all of the children.

So far, everyone in Year 3-6 has had multiple lessons in the pool with Reception, Year 1 & 2 having also taken part in taster sessions.

The school is providing tailored lessons from Sports Coaching Group to fit any skill level, from non-confident swimmers to the most confident swimmers. It is also teaching a water safety award promoting what to do should you ever fall into a body of water.

Parent feedback on the pool has been excellent with one parent outlining that their child was very anxious about their lesson but had come home and said that they loved it and couldn't wait for their next session. 

Andrew Ross, Headteacher at Rudheath Primary Academy, said: "The community response to the pool has been amazing, we feel incredibly privileged at Rudheath to be able to offer our pupils the opportunity to develop these much-needed skills.

"I would like to extend a special thank you to our PE lead David McKenzie-Owens who organised the pool."