Pupils 'buzzing' in pop-up pool swimming lessons

More than 600 pupils at a primary school have been using the temporary pool

A primary school has said a pop-up pool in its playground has been an enormous hit with pupils, who are "buzzing" in swimming lessons.

Drove Primary School in Swindon, Wiltshire, installed the temporary pool due to a shortage of swimming facilities in the area.

Giving all pupils the opportunity to learn how to swim is a curriculum requirement.

But pupils' mothers are also being given free lessons at the school. This particularly suits those who find public pools inaccessible due to cultural and religious reasons.

The pool was installed by the company Fortius PE, which began offering pools in April 2024 and has so far been used by more than 15 schools across Swindon, reaching more than 2,000 children.

Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre has been closed since November 2020 and isn't set to open until 2026.

Other pool closures in the area mean schools in Swindon are struggling to find a place for their pupils to learn how to swim.

Staff at Drove Primary say the pupils love the pool

Swimming instructor for Fortius, Sarah Hyde, said: "It's not accessible for a lot of children to go swimming in Swindon.

"This gives them the opportunity to be able to do that. They don't need to get on the bus and get overwhelmed by that journey and they won't miss as much school."

Kelly Reynolds, PE teacher at Drove Primary School, said the pool had been a huge success.

"There's over 600 children a week coming through our swimming lessons, and they're absolutely buzzing," she said.

"They love it, and the progress they're making is absolutely brilliant. So it's been really worth the effort of getting it up and running."

Repi Begum is one of the mothers attending the women-only free classes.

"I think this has been a phenomenal idea," she said.

Repi Begum swims in the pool after the school drop-off

Ms Begum continued: "The timing's perfect because you drop your children off and straight away you're able to swim for half an hour.

"We've got people from all backgrounds and it just allows them to be themselves.

"Body shaming is unfortunately part of society and even without the body shaming, I think women feel uncomfortable about their bodies, especially after having children."

Bryony Bardwell, principal of Drove Primary School, said: "This is about equipping our children, and mums, with a vital life skill that could one day save their life.

"I'm incredibly proud of our staff and students."