School pools buoyed by £400,000 investment

Thousands of County Durham pupils are set to benefit from a £400,000 programme of improvements to school swimming pools.

Durham County Council has completed refurbishment work across its five school pools, which are used by more than 100 schools across the county.

Upgrades include new changing rooms and bathroom facilities, individual changing areas, new pool liners and tiling, and replacement flooring.

The investment comes as 80 per cent of key stage two children in County Durham can swim at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes and perform a safe self-rescue in different water-based scenarios.

That compares with a national average of 72 per cent.

During Drowning Prevention Week in June, the council also delivered dedicated swimming sessions to 8500 children across its school and leisure centre pools.

Councillor Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Each week, around 600 pupils use our school pools.

“Not only is this time important in teaching children to learn how to swim, but it allows them to develop critical life skills including how to stay safe around water.

“Children can learn in an inclusive and welcoming environment and our swimming team also tailor the programme to best suit the needs of each school and its pupils.

“Most of our school pools are around 30 years old, so it was important to make them fit for purpose, in order to continue to deliver this important programme.”

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