Pop-up school pools backed by Olympic swimmers

Ellie Simmonds is supporting the pop-up swimming pools scheme in the Black Country

Four temporary pop-up swimming pools have arrived at schools in a drive to encourage more children to learn to swim.

The pools have been placed in playgrounds and will be rotated between eight schools in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The scheme is due to last four months and is being supported by Olympic swimmers Adam Peaty and Ellie Simmonds.

"To see their faces having the most fun time is so good to see," Simmonds, from Walsall, said.

Peaty added: "To see the energy and enthusiasm of the kids, it is really encouraging to see. There is so much there if we have the facilities and this is just the beginning.

"They can learn so much about their mental wellbeing but also how their physical body works and to push themselves."

Adam Peaty said it was encouraging to see the energy and enthusiasm of the school pupils

The programme from Speedo Swim United and Active Black Country aims to give up to 1,000 pupils an extra four hours of swimming each week.

Qualified lifeguards and swimming teachers will work with school pupils during term time.

More than 25% of children left primary school unable to swim, research by Sport England in 2022 found.

The Black Country scheme follows a pilot project in London in 2022 that saw 1,250 children receive swimming lessons, a spokesperson for Speedo Swim United said.

Ellie Simmonds won eight Paralympic medals and 14 World Championship gold medals in her career. Adam Peaty has won gold medals at every major championship over his career.