Over 300 school children will be swept up in a wave of fun next week as Bradford Council extends its swimming lessons.
The swimming sweep-up is being held by the Sport and Leisure Service at its pools in Bowling, Keighley, Manningham, Queensbury, Rhodesway, Shipley and at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, as it continues providing additional lessons to give youngsters a second chance to meet Key Stage 2 National Curriculum swimming standards.
And at Bingley, Ilkley and Eccleshill pools, schools' normal half-term programme has been extended by a week.
Taking place next week from Monday 10 December, it is the latest extension to lessons the Council has funded after it recognised that it was more the lack of opportunity rather than ability that prevented some children from learning how to swim.
Bradford Council has seen the number of young swimmers who achieve the Key Stage 2 standard rise steadily over the last four years from 3,570 in 2003 to 4,523 in 2007 - an impressive increase of almost 27 per cent.
Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, Coun Anne Hawkesworth, said: "The ability to swim is such an important life skill and it is really important we give youngsters appropriate opportunities to learn, which is why we have added the Christmas sweep-up to our school swimming programme.
"Providing additional swimming lessons for school children is a priority within our b active campaign and during our last sweep-up in July, over 200 pupils achieved the Key Stage 2 standard. We are very hopeful that we will achieve similar results again this time around."
Killinghall Primary School is just one school that has recently benefited, with record numbers meeting Key Stage 2 requirements and children who were unsuccessful in Year 5 were able to continue their lessons in Year 6.
Swimming is an integral part of Bradford Council's b active campaign which aims to give people of all ages and abilities more opportunities to take part in sports and physical activities.
Officer/Contact
Ben Pollard
Swimming Development Manager
Telephone: 01274 438792
Media Relations Officer
Duncan Thorne
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Date: 6.12.07
