British Gas Pools 4 Schools™ takes temporary swimming pools to schools and communities right across England, helping meet National Curriculum targets and reinvigorate swimming in the community.

British Gas Pools 4 Schools

Increasing confidence – growing skills

Working together with Total Swimming and the Amateur Swimming Association, British Gas Pools 4 Schools™ installs temporary pools for the length of a school term in ‘aquatically deprived’ schools across England.  Pool closures, a lack of facilities, or the costs of transport and leisure centre hire all contribute to the sad fact that one in five children leaves primary school unable to swim. The National Curriculum Key Stage 2 requires all children to be able to swim 25m without floats or armbands.

 

We’re tackling the problem head-on, bringing swimming to where it’s needed most. In this safe environment, experienced teachers provide swimming lessons and activities ranging from mini-polo to aqua-aerobics, even extending their expertise to the community outside of school hours. This helps children to increase their confidence in the water – with some amazing results.

Key moments so far:


June 2011

BBC Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere visits British Gas Pools 4 Schools™ to highlight the important work the programme is doing to tackle aquatic inequalities and get more children from ethnic minority backgrounds swimming.

 

November 2010

British Gas Pools 4 Schools™ is recognised with the European Hollis Sponsorship of the Year Award.

 

September 2010

Duncan Goodhew launches the UK’s first self-contained 25m temporary swimming pool. By working together, British Gas, Total Swimming and the Coventry Sports Foundation ensured thousands of Coventry’s children continued to learn to swim despite to their local pool’s closure.


July 2010

At a special event held in Coventry, Mark Foster helps Pools 4 Schools to celebrate teaching its 10,000th child how to swim.


May 2009

British Gas Pools 4 Schools™ launches with the mission of teaching thousands of children each year from across England how to swim.

 

Get involved

If you're located in England and you would like us to visit your community visit British Gas Pools 4 Schools and see whether your school is eligible for this fantastic programme.

 

Video and photo gallery

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