Introducing Open Water Swimming at Britannica

This October, Britannica International School, Budapest made history by becoming the first school in Hungary to introduce open water swimming skills into the educational curriculum. Over the course of a week—from 6 to 10 October 2025—more than 200 students from Years 2 to 9 (ages 7–14) took part in a dynamic and ground breaking swimming programme.

This initiative was inspired by one of our swimming coaches, Mr. András Hudetz, who is also a certified international open water referee. The aim was to go beyond traditional swimming lessons and offer students an exciting, real-world skillset that includes water safety, navigation, and teamwork—skills that are both recreational and potentially lifesaving.

Why Open Water Swimming?

While traditional swimming focuses on controlled environments, open water swimming introduces students to the challenges of navigating natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and oceans. It also integrates techniques from other aquatic sports, such as water polo and lifesaving, which align with content taught in our IGCSE Physical Education curriculum.

Tailored Instruction

During the course of the project week - to cater for a wide range of swimming abilities - our pool was divided into two distinct zones:

1. A shallow lane with a fixed-height platform for less confident swimmers.
2. A deep-water area with buoys marking a square-shaped course for more advanced swimmers.

In the shallow area, students worked on:

• Front crawl breathing techniques.

• Obstacle course slalom swimming.

• Short time trials.

• Optional deep water experience.

In the deep-water zone, confident swimmers practiced:

• “Shoulder-to-shoulder” and “fingertip-to-toe” group swimming.

• Turning around buoys.

• Mass start races (separated by gender).

• Full-course timed swims.
  

Student Feedback

Students were enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Many had never swum in a course that wasn’t a straight line and found the buoy turns and orientation tasks both challenging and energising. Learning to breathe forward, rather than to the side, introduced a whole new dimension to their swimming technique.

Most importantly, students recognised the real-life value of these skills—particularly for holiday swimming in open water environments, where orientation and safety are key.

A Lasting Impact

The open water skills project week has not only broadened our students' swimming abilities but also boosted confidence, resilience, and a deeper love for their aquatic activities.