Pools 4 Schools™

We're giving thousands of children the chance to learn a vital life skill whilst also staying physically active.

Swimming with confidence

British Gas Pools 4 Schools™ provides temporary pools and swimming facilities in areas of 'aquatic deprivation' across the UK. Nationally, one-in-five children are unable to swim 25 metres by the time they leave Primary School. This figure is as high as four out of five in some communities with limited pool access.

It was the brainchild of Steve Parry (former British Swimming captain and Athens Olympic Bronze medallist) and has received support from the Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF).

Pools 4 Schools™ tackles this problem through the innovative solution of taking a temporary, mobile pool into a school hall or gym and opening it out to schools and community groups. It was the brainchild of Steve Parry (former British Swimming captain and Athens Olympic Bronze medallist) and has received support from the Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF).

In this safe environment experienced teachers provide a range of activities, from mini-polo to aqua-aerobics, and help children learn a vital life skill, improve their fitness and overcome their fear of water.

The challenge we have set ourselves is to teach 10,000 non-swimmers to learn to swim 10 metres unaided in one year.

See the pool in action when Pools 4 Schools™ was launched by Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington in May this year.