How on-site swimming helped Charville Academy make rapid progress in one term

For many primary schools, swimming is one of the hardest parts of the PE curriculum to deliver well.

Pool availability is limited. Transport eats into learning time. Sessions are short. And for children who already lack confidence in the water, progress can feel painfully slow.

That was the challenge facing Charville Academy; a large primary school with pupils at very different starting points when it came to swimming.

To tackle this, the school worked with Swim:ED to bring an on-site pool directly onto the school grounds. This allowed swimming to be delivered as a focused programme block rather than fragmented weekly trips, with time, consistency and relationships at its core.

The results speak for themselves.

Participation and overall outcomes

In a single programme block, 103 children from Years 4, 5 and 6 took part in on-site swimming lessons.

By the end of the programme, 46.6% of participating pupils met the National Curriculum swimming standard, a significant outcome given the low baseline levels many children started from.

Crucially, progress was seen across every year group, not just among older pupils.

Year 4: building confidence early

Among Year 4 pupils (48 children), the programme delivered strong early gains:

• Pupils able to swim 25 metres increased from 4% to 31%
• Those able to swim a range of strokes rose from 6% to 31%
• Pupils able to perform safe self-rescue jumped from 25% to 65%

For many children, this was the first time they had experienced consistent, confidence-building instruction without the pressure of busy public pools.

Year 5: accelerated progress

Year 5 showed particularly strong acceleration across all measures (37 children):

• Ability to swim 25 metres increased from 0% to 65%
• Swimming a range of strokes rose from 5% to 62%
• Safe self-rescue improved from 22% to 76%

These gains highlight what’s possible when pupils have uninterrupted teaching time and instructors can adapt sessions to individual needs.

Year 6: closing the gap before transition

For Year 6 pupils (18 children), the impact was especially important as they approached the transition to secondary school:

• 25 metre swimming: 0% to 83%
• Range of strokes: 0% to 83%
• Safe self-rescue: 17% to 89%

For many of these pupils, the programme represented a final opportunity to meet curriculum expectations, and to leave primary school with vital life skills.

Beyond the data: wider impact across the school

While the progress data is compelling, the wider impact of the programme was just as significant.

Pupil confidence and relationships
Children formed new friendships and supported one another in ways staff rarely see in the classroom. Pupils encouraged each other, celebrated success together, and built confidence both in and out of the pool.

SEND inclusion
Pupils in the school’s Hub (SRP) made noticeable gains in motor skills and confidence. The on-site environment, smaller group sizes and consistent staff enabled these pupils to participate meaningfully and succeed at their own pace.

Staff wellbeing
Staff reported reduced stress thanks to Swim:ED’s streamlined scheduling, clear communication and responsive approach. With logistics handled smoothly, teachers were able to focus on supporting pupils rather than managing transport and timetables.

School spirit
A genuine buzz surrounded the programme. Pupils looked forward to swimming days, talked about sessions long after they ended, and proudly cheered each other on — creating a positive whole-school atmosphere.

To find out more about Swim:ED or to enquire, visit our dedicated page here, call 01494 700817 or email james@clubsportuk.com.

Voices from Charville Academy

“I think the swimming was very good. They kept on checking in on you to see if you were okay. When you were swimming they were teaching you how to breathe properly. Thank you coach Rachel for teaching us how to swim!” Year 6 pupilCharville Academy “The flexibility, professionalism and dedication of the Swim:ED team made a noticeable impact on each pupil. The children connected and are still talking about them! Every aspect was well-planned, communication was clear, and the organisation was exceptional. We also greatly appreciated the company’s friendly and thorough organisation, clear and consistent communication, and dedication to delivering a high-quality service. We highly recommend Club Sport and Swim:ED to any school looking for a reliable, effective, and student-centred swimming programme that can be delivered at school.” Rachel RodipeSwimming Lead, Charville Academy “I’m so impressed by how well the swimming lessons have gone for our year 4 children. They’ve all really enjoyed it and looked forward to it daily. They’ve grown in confidence so much thanks to your patience and understanding of our children’s different needs. The clear, precise instructions that you give along with lots of encouragement and praise works wonders with our children and you can really see it in the confidence that you have given them in the water. Thank you for all your hard work.” Kerry VyseClass Teacher, Charville Academy FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SWIM:ED

Why the on-site model works

By removing travel time and delivering swimming on the school site, Charville Academy was able to:

• Increase teaching time per pupil
• Create smaller, more focused learning groups
• Support children who lacked confidence in traditional pool settings
• Include SEND pupils more effectively
• Track progress clearly across defined outcomes

Rather than swimming being something pupils had to “fit around” the school day, it became a central, purposeful part of learning.

A model that delivers measurable and meaningful outcomes

This single-block programme shows how schools can make real progress against National Curriculum swimming requirements, even where starting points are low.

For Charville Academy, the on-site approach delivered not only strong data outcomes, but improved confidence, inclusion, staff wellbeing and school morale.

For schools facing similar challenges, this case study shows what’s possible within just one term when barriers are removed and swimming is done properly.

Pools don’t stay available for long!

To get on the waiting list or to find out more about Swim:ED, visit our dedicated page here, call 01494 700817 or email james@clubsportuk.com.