Are children being denied a lifesaving skill? Swimming is not just a life skill - it’s a gateway to lifelong physical activity, water safety, and confidence. However, despite being part of England's National Curriculum since 1994, school swimming programmes continue to face persistent challenges.
Issues such as insufficient teacher training, financial constraints, and inequalities in access have left many children unable to meet basic swimming benchmarks.
Recent data reveals that only 59% of children aged 5-16 can swim 25 metres unaided, with significant disparities linked to ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
Enter the SwimFin, an innovative buoyancy aid designed to support swimmers while encouraging independence.
The shark-shaped fin is worn on the back, keeping arms free and enabling natural swimming movements.
As swimmers improve, its buoyancy decreases, offering support that adapts to individual progress.
However, despite being an official water safety partner of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and an endorsement from the Amateur Swimming Association (now known as Swim England), its application in UK school swimming programmes remains limited.
To address this gap, researchers at the University of East London, in partnership with Parkwood Leisure and SwimFin, have launched a ground-breaking study to examine the SwimFin’s impact on aquatic competency in primary-aged children.
Collaborating with local schools and prominent swimming experts, this initiative combines hands-on sessions with scientific assessments to evaluate both physical and psychological outcomes.
Early feedback from a pilot study has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants showing increased water confidence and parents and teachers praising its transformative effects.
This year, the study expands to include more pupils who are undertaking a 10–12-week swimming programme delivered by Parkwood Leisure.
"Being able to swim is a key life skill that unfortunately many children and young people currently miss out on. We are therefore very pleased to be supporting this research project to further general understanding of methods to support learning to swim. Our own Safer, Smarter, Stronger learn to swim programme has been designed to develop both physical skills and safety awareness, recognising the need for more children and young people to be able to swim safely." Andy Farr, Strategic Director at Parkwood Leisure.
"Swimming is more than a skill, it’s a foundation for life. At SwimFin, we’re passionate about breaking down barriers to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn to swim confidently and safely sooner. This study is an important step toward creating a future where no child is left behind in the water, regardless of their background." Kev Moseley MBE, CEO SwimFin.
The project aims to not only improve swimming skills but also foster a sustained culture of water safety by connecting schools, leisure centres, and academic experts. By addressing generational cycles of non-swimming, this pioneering research has the potential to revolutionise school swimming.
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting journey to transform water safety education for young people.
Mo Jafar - Senior Lecturer, University of East London
E: M.Jafar-junior@uel.ac.uk
