Why school swimming matters
Drowning is the third biggest cause of accidental death in children. At Active Hartlepool, we believe every child should learn to swim and understand basic water safety. While many children learn outside school, for some, primary school is their only chance to gain these life‑saving skills.
Lesson information
- Available: Monday to Friday, 9:15am to 2:45pm
- Pools used: Learner pool and main pool
- Lesson plans tailored to each school
- Mainly for Key Stage 1 and 2, with flexibility for other groups
Costs
Annual fee: £4,320 – includes:
- 36 × 45‑minute lessons delivered by Level 2 Swimming Teachers
- Up to 60 pupils per session
- Access to the Swimphony progress‑tracking system
- Pool hire, lifeguards and changing facilities
- Free entry to school swimming events, including:
- Hartlepool Primary School Swimming Gala
- Aquasplash festivals
- Other events throughout the year
- Priority booking for Swim Safe summer sessions
Book school and group swimming lessons
We’ll work with you to create a programme that meets your needs.
Government expectations
Swimming and water safety are part of the national curriculum. By the end of Year 6, pupils should be able to:
- Swim competently and confidently
- Use a range of strokes effectively
- Perform safe self‑rescue in different water situations
Support for primary schools
We provide a range of resources to help schools deliver high‑quality swimming lessons, including:
- Curriculum swimming and water safety resource pack
- Swim England school swimming charter materials
- Guidance on using the primary PE and sport premium
- Information on reporting attainment
- Inclusion resources and links to the Inclusion 2024 project
Why this is important
Swimming teaches more than enjoyment - it helps children know what to do in emergencies, such as when someone gets into difficulty or if they accidentally fall into water.
Swimming also supports physical and mental wellbeing and is suitable for all ages and abilities. By working together, we can make sure every generation learns essential water safety skills.
For more details, please email: swimming.lessons@hartlepool.gov.uk
Swimphony - School swimming software
Swimphony is a digital system used nationwide to manage school swimming programmes. It reduces paperwork and provides real‑time data for schools.
Features include:
- a dedicated school portal
- poolside app for teachers to record attendance and progress
- real‑time tracking of national curriculum outcomes
Swim safe
Swim Safe is a free summer activity run by Swim England and the RNLI that teaches children how to stay safe in open water.
What children receive
- water safety advice from trained lifeguards
- at least 30 minutes of in‑water instruction
- all necessary outdoor swimming equipment provided
Who can take part
- children aged 7 to 14
- must be able to swim 15m unaided in deep water
- a responsible adult must stay for the whole session
Register your interest through Swim England. Public sessions will be advertised closer to summer.
More information at: Learn to swim safe | Swimsafe.org