Swimming and water safety are crucial life skills.

All schools must provide swimming instruction either in key stage 1 or key stage 2.

In particular, pupils should be taught to:

• swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke]
• perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Physical Education National Curriculum, Department for Education, 2022

During Autumn or Spring Term Year 3 at Beech Hyde all pupils undertake swimming lessons. These take place at Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre in St Albans. Pupils are taken by coach to the pool by staff and parent helpers.