Pop up Peterborough pool in playground provides pupils with vital swimming lessons
A pop up swimming pool is giving youngsters the chance to learn vital swimming and ‘self rescue’ skills.
Ravensthorpe Primary Academy is celebrating a dramatic leap in swimming ability and water safety after transforming part of its playground into the temporary pop-up swimming pool.
As the first school in Peterborough to host a pop-up pool, the school said the initiative has delivered outstanding results.
Delivered in partnership with Fiesta Sports Coaching through its SwimED programme, the on-site lessons have resulted in 64% of Year 6 pupils now able to swim 25 metres, compared with just 24% based on last year’s Year 6 swim data.
Across Years 5 and 6, 76% of pupils can now perform safe self-rescue skills, a vital life-saving competency.
Assessment data from the programme shows that the proportion of children able to swim 25 metres increased from 13% at the initial assessment to 54% at the final assessment. Year 5 improved from 11% to 35%, Year 6 improved from 14% to 64% and water safety awareness rose from 0% to 71% overall.
Emma Ward, Head Teacher at Ravensthorpe Primary Academy said: “The progress our pupils have made has been exceptional. Last year, only a quarter of our Year 6 children could swim 25 metres; this year that figure has risen to 64%. Having the pool on site removed barriers such as travel costs, staffing pressures and lost learning time. Swimming is not just about sport – it’s about confidence, safety and equity, and this programme has delivered real impact for our children.”
The results are particularly significant in the context of a national decline in swimming ability. According to Swim England, around one in three children leave primary school unable to swim 25 metres, while over 90% of accidental drownings occur in open water, highlighting the importance of water safety education as a vital life skill.
Swimming and water safety are statutory requirements of the National Curriculum, and schools are expected to demonstrate effective delivery during Ofsted inspections, including ensuring pupils can swim competently and understand how to stay safe in and around water.
Dr Ian Young, CEO of Keys Academies Trust said: “Ravensthorpe Primary Academy has taken innovative, practical action to overcome a systemic challenge. Swimming is a compulsory life skill, yet access remains unequal for many families. This project ensures pupils receive high-quality provision regardless of background, and the improvement in outcomes speaks for itself. We are proud to see one of our schools taking the initiative to have such a strong impact.”
Fiesta Sports Coaching also praised the commitment shown by pupils and staff throughout the programme.
Georgia Coulson from Fiesta Sports Coaching said: “We felt incredibly welcome at Ravensthorpe and are proud to have worked in partnership with the Academy. Supporting such a significant increase in swimming attainment and self-rescue skills is a real testament to the hard work of the pupils, staff and our team. We’re delighted to be returning in the 2026–27 academic year.”
Although the pool has now left the playground, it has already been booked again ensuring the programme’s continuation. Before its departure, pupils enjoyed a celebratory splash session with Mrs Ward, marking the success of the project in a memorable and fun way.