Dartmouth primary school children rank highly in national swimming data, thanks to free lessons funded by harbour authority

With this summer’s heatwave in the UK enticing more people into the water to cool down, the ability to swim is an essential life-saving skill that needs to be taught early. And, according to a Freedom of Information data request to the DfE from the BBC, Dartmouth primary school children are achieving top results in their abilities – thanks to free swimming lessons provided by Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority.

The Authority is helping to ensure lives are saved through its initiative to teach every primary school child in Dartmouth to swim – for free.

As a Trust Port, where all its work is based around the coastline and in the river, the Authority understands the importance of teaching children to swim and ensures the local children have access to these very skills that could save their lives.

And the data proves it’s working – the proportion of Dartmouth and Stoke Fleming primary school children who can self-rescue is a whopping 100%!

The National Curriculum in England states that all pupils should be able to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25m when they leave Year 6. On top of this, they should be able to use a range of strokes effectively and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

In an impressive result, 100% of Dartmouth Academy Year 6 children could swim 25m, with St John the Baptist RC Primary School attendees achieving 78% and Stoke Fleming pupils achieving 95%.

The recent BBC article has highlighted how vital swimming lessons are in primary schools and many children, especially those from disadvantaged areas, are missing out on these life-saving skills.

The free swimming lessons initiative in Dartmouth – for children at Dartmouth Academy, Stoke Fleming Primary School and St John the Baptist RC Primary School – is funded by profits generated by the Harbour Authority, totalling over 180 children in total receiving free swimming lessons in every academic year.

Paul Britton, Harbourmaster and CEO at Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority, said: “Dart Harbour has worked closely with Dartmouth Academy and Stoke Fleming Primary School and identified an area of concern as children leaving primary school and being unable to swim.

“Dart Harbour has committed funding until 2030 towards swimming lessons for Key Stage 2 students. This will ensure every student between 8-11 years old will be taught how to swim. Swimming lessons are delivered by the Dartmouth Indoor Swimming Pool Trust and take place at Dartmouth Leisure Centre.”

Dartmouth Indoor Pool Trust recently released its annual funding report, which states ‘the programme has demonstrated excellent outcomes for participating schools, with many children progressing from non-swimmers to confident swimmers’.

It continues the children achieved ‘Increased confidence and water safety awareness’ and it ‘removes financial barriers, giving disadvantaged children opportunities to learn a vital life skill’.

Craig Davidson, Chair of Dartmouth Indoor Pool Trust, added: “With huge pressure on school budgets the offer of long-term funding by Dart Harbour is simply fantastic.”

The Harbour Authority also uses its Community & Environment Fund – generated from a levy paid by visiting cruise ship passengers and awarded to local charities and projects -to fund other similar initiatives such as the Royal Dart Yacht Club youth sailing, school canoe trips and disabled sailing charity Dart Sailability.

Paul Britton concluded: “As a not-for-profit trust port we manage the Dart on behalf of the community, so helping to provide swimming lessons for local children will encourage a whole new generation to learn to enjoy our beautiful river safely.”