Water Safety Training (Hansard, 9 February 1988)

§ Mr. Simon Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the provision of water safety training in schools.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
The Government recognise the importance of children being able to learn to swim and to be aware of the risks attached to activities where water is involved. The Department's publication "DES Safety Series No. 1 (Safety in Outdoor Pursuits) includes a chapter on "Safety Afloat" and give guidance on various water-based activities.

§ Mr. Simon Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school pupils learn to swim by the age of(a) seven, (b) eleven and (c) 14 years in England and Wales.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
This information is not collected by the Department.

§ Mr. Simon Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what national guidelines are laid down for the assessment of school pupils' ability to swim.
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§ Mrs. Rumbold
No national guidelines are at present laid down, this being a matter for individual local education authorities to determine.

§ Mr. Simon Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what national guidelines are laid down for the qualifications required for the teaching of swimming in schools.

§ Mrs. Rumbold
My Department does not prescribe qualifications for the teaching of swimming in schools but in its general advice on the matter it recommends that swimming teachers should be competent in the principles and practice of life-saving and resuscitation.