“The water is my friend!”

In 2023, Britannica completely renovated and refurbished its swimming pool to create a world class facility for their whole community. Swimming is a key element of the school's PE curriculum, and the aquatic area provides students with a very special learning environment.

Swimming lessons at Britannica introduce children to a wide variety of water activities from a young age. Studies have found that youth sports result in better physical and mental health as well as stronger social skills and even improved academic performance.

We decided to interview, Mr Liam Redshaw and Mr Andras Hudetz, our expert swim coaches to find out more about the swimming provision at Britannica.

• How have Britannica students benefited from the renovation of our indoor pool?

There are numerous benefits students can enjoy! Devices, such as the large digital display showing 'real time' water temperatures and air humidity, LED TV to support modelling and demonstrations of techniques by our swim teachers and LED pool lights enhance the quality of fun playtime activities and lessons.

For the safety of the children, there are anti-slip tiles around the pool. An additional Mobile platform (90cm deep - under one of the lanes) was also added to provide support to our beginner swimmers.

• How is swimming structured in the school?

Swimming education at the school is based on the British curriculum and the facility provides provision for students from Year 1 to Year 9. After- school swimming activities (ECA) are also available.

Our main objective is to teach according to the students ‘individual ability levels, differentiation is of utmost importance, so children can feel safe and motivated in their development.

• What do you cover in the swimming curriculum?

For Primary students we follow the swimming modules from The British Physical Education curriculum. Additionally, we include Swim England levels and guidance.

For Secondary students we teach core strokes and swimming skills linked to the Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education qualification - Swimming activities such as Competitive Swimming, Lifesaving, Personal survival and Water polo also form part of what we deliver.

• Various events are held throughout the academic year to enhance students' enjoyment of using the pool. 
  Can you please name a few?

We have several competitive swimming fixtures with other local schools organised annually. There is the Channel Challenge House Event - where students try to complete the English Channel distance in two weeks. Students also compete for the 'Fastest Swimmer of Britannica' title. Our students also love to be challenged through house and individual water activities and competitions during curriculum time.

• How do you develop students' water skills to ensure they can enjoy swimming safely during their free time as well?

Besides the curriculum tasks, every lesson we provide play based activities where students use different equipment, such as diving sticks, surf boards, floating balls, pool nodules, underwater gates, fins and snorkelling masks. These encourage students to feel safe and comfortable in the water in a variety of situations.

As a core part of the wider PE and sports curriculum or as an extracurricular activity, Britannica's pool is a key part of our vision to develop students' life skills and cultivate future healthy habits, building their resilience and supporting physical and mental well-being.