The guidance in the PE national curriculum in relation to swimming is clear: all primary schools must provide swimming instruction in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2. 

In particular, children should be taught to:

• swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of 25 metres

• use a range of strokes effectively (for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke)

• perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Pupils should be assessed against the above attainment targets by the end of Year 6. 

At Brampton, our pupils have six weeks of swimming lessons (one half-term) at Crook Log Leisure Centre in both Year 5 and Year 6 to ensure that they are able to meet the above curriculum objectives. Please see the timetable below, which details when each class will attend swimming lessons. 

In the summer term, pupils who have not yet met the above objectives attend an additional six- or twelve-week booster sessions to ensure they have every opportunity to meet the objectives before leaving Brampton. 

A letter is sent to parents/carers the term before lessons begin with details of arrangements. We ask that parents/carers make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of the swimming lessons.