Byw’n Iach is proud to be using the new framework recently announced by Swim Wales for School Swimming lessons!
Swimming is an essential skill for every child and, for many children, during school swimming lessons are the only time they will have the opportunity to develop the skill. The new framework aims to ensure every school child has basic knowledge of swimming and an understanding of water safety, in and around the water. It supports the success criteria of the National Curriculum, and they have set the target for every student to pass before they finish key stage 2 (year 6).
All 11 of the assessment levels under the new framework are designed to create an engaging and purposeful experience for pupils, giving them the skills and experiences that will help them to form a positive relationship with the water. By creating a fun environment where the experience is more important than the activity, the hope is that pupils will feel safe in and around water, giving them confidence and shaping their relationship with swimming. To do this, teachers will be encouraged use games, themes and scenarios to make the lessons memorable and interesting for the pupils.
Assessment at each level will focus on pupils achieving skills and strokes that will allow them to stay safe in water rather than on technique. Lessons at every level will have a similar structure, with differing activities and themes. This structure will allow for children to be active for the whole lesson, with an important part of the new framework stating that children should be active for at least 80% of the lesson.
In the Academic year 2022-23, 72% of Gwynedd’s Children succeeded in the National curriculum exam. Our intention is to improve this each year.