Swimming
Locks Heath Junior School Swimming
At Locks Heath Junior School we are very fortunate to have our own swimming pool onsite and lots of fantastic equipment to make learning fun. Our pool is 17m x 7m and is heated to 29.5 degrees.
We strongly believe that all children should have the opportunity to learn to swim and be taught how to stay safe in and around water. Our children participate in regular, 45-minute lessons grouped with swimmers of similar ability.
Swimming lessons at Locks Heath Junior School follow the Swim England Learn to Swim Stages and go beyond the minimum requirement of the National Curriculum. The children receive a certificate annually to celebrate their achievements.
Our Swim Instructors are highly qualified holding a minimum of Swim England Level 2 Teaching Certificate as well as the Royal Life Saving Society Teacher Rescue Test.
During the swim lessons the children are taught a variety of strokes and skills tailored to their ability level.
Lessons include:
| Developing technique on the four strokes - front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly |
| Floatation – with and without floatation aids and in a variety of shapes/combinations |
| Submersion – collecting objects from pool bottom and swimming through large hoops |
| Rotation – log roll, forward and backward somersaults and handstands |
| Streamlining – improving efficiency when pushing off the wall |
| Swimming longer distances – to build on endurance |
| Using the Pace Clock – to complete a swim set independently |
| Survival and Self Rescue – sculling, treading water, floating to survive |
| Water Safety Knowledge – identifying hazards in different bodies of water and how to stay safe |
| How to Help Others in Difficulty – raise the alarm, throw rescue equipment, do not enter water |
| Individual and Team Games – Knock Out, Water Polo, Relays, Hangman, Raft Races, Walk the Plank, Giant Connect 4, Word Games, North/East/South/West……… |
| Free Play – an end of term treat which everyone really enjoys! |
History of Locks Heath Junior's Swimming Pool
This information is taken from 'Our Swimming Success' a souvenir handed to parents after the completion of the swimming pool in 1971.
May 1967 found the recently formed PTA preparing for a grand Summer Fayre but without any specific project in mind. A swimming pool was suggested. The Headmaster of the time, Mr Bertram Ebborn, immediately warned against the cheap and nasty. He insisted that only an all year round indoor heated pool was acceptable. A quick survey of available package built pools and buildings led to a figure of £8,000 for a barren pool with little to commend it. A parent who knew something of the 'trade', manager of a leading plant hire firm, suggested a do-it-yourself venture. Another parent, an engineer, set about the task of designing it.
One year later at the end of the summer term, the County Education Department granted the necessary approval and the work began.
On continuing to read the 1971 'Our Swimming Success booklet', the swimming pool was only completed due to the sheer determination of the parent body. Here are some of the tasks they undertook:
- a parent made the pool steps from plastic and teak;
- 1000 square feet of rusted steel was sand-blasted and painted by parents(to protect it from the corrosive action of the pool atmosphere);
- a parent-run firm of bricklayers built the walls of the pool;
- the new Headmaster, Mr Bill Leonard also helped with welding the steel;
- the three giant portal frames were lifted into place by a giant crane with parents manning the ropes.
