Double Olympic Champion Warns of Risk to Children as Record Number of Public Pools Shut-Down

Four-time Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington has warned that more children than ever before are at risk of leaving primary school unable to swim, due to the record number of public pool closures over the last 18 months, leaving children unable to access lessons and facilities.

This comes as current figures show that one in three children leave primary school unable to swim the statutory 25 metres, but Adlington fears this number will be much higher due to the rising trend for school pool closures.

Adlington is pleading with schools to fast-track swimming to the top of the agenda, saying swimming should be prioritised just as much as core subjects as it’s a life-saving skills every child deserves to have.

In a bid to solve the issue, and give more children opportunities to learn to swim, as well as combating the growing obesity crisis, Adlington is launching The Movement Project – an initiative from Total Swimming Academies and Vivify – which is offering schools across the country a £1million lifeline to help them stay open.

• Rebecca Adlington OBE warns of increasing risk to children as more than 300 public pools closed in the last 18 months
• 96% of children, aged 7 to 11 in England – more than 3.4million – will not have the fundamental skills to stay safe if they were to get into difficulty in the water
• One in five school pools may not be able to fund themselves moving forward
• The Movement Project is offering a £1million investment fund as a lifeline to schools

Adlington said:

There aren’t enough pools in the country as it is, and the impact of so many public pools closing this past year is catastrophic.

The reason school pools are important is because their main priority is national curriculum swimming. They’re absolutely fundamental to achieving national curriculum swim targets, and equipping children with the basic skill set they need, when they leave for secondary school.

Research has shown that if children don’t learn to swim in primary school, then they never will. It’s very worrying that we are seeing so many pools close, many of which are in deprived areas. Families rely on them – if they don’t have access to school pool facilities then we are going to see the number of children unable to swim rise rapidly.

Adlington adds,

I can’t see that there is a more important activity that children should be doing in schools than learning to swim at primary age. We know that physical activity is key to tackling the obesity crisis and supports mental health –  I implore headteachers and governors to take this seriously.

According to the RSPCH, there has been a record rise in obesity amongst children since the start of the pandemic, with the latest data highlighting that one in four (27.7%) children of reception school age are overweight or obese; this rises to 4 in 10 (40.9%) in Year 6 (ages 10-11).

As well as offering schools the chance to have pool facilities upgraded, the Movement Project is also offering funding to school dry side facilities and will support schools in managing facility operations to ensure school pool and dry side facilities stay open outside of school hours, providing vital access to the local community.

Adlington adds,

I’m a big believer that the more active you are, the more mentally alert you will become, and we know the impact that sport has on helping children to achieve their life goals, both in and out of the classroom.

I’m imploring headteachers, PE departments, governors, parents and local  authorities to stand behind these valuable community assets and contact us about The Movement Project, whether it’s investment to upgrade the pool or dry side facilities or both – we can help.

The £1 million Movement Project by Total Swimming Academies and Vivify Venues is available to all schools across the UK, and is there to save pools and dry side facilities from closing imminently. The funds can be used for a range of maintenance works including new changing room facilities, viewing galleries, pool plant works or to build a reception area.

To learn more about the funding, click HERE.