Ten and eleven year olds in Pembrokeshire are among the very best swimmers in Wales, it’s been confirmed.
The Year Six pupils in the county have achieved the best results in the national tests for swimmers of their age this year.
The results were collated from school swimming lessons at leisure centres in Crymych, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Tenby, and Narberth.
An amazing 89% of pupils passed the test – well over the average Welsh pass rate of 75%.
And pupils in the neighbouring county of Ceredigion also excelled – with 89% of their Year Six pupils also passing the test.
The test – known as the Learn to Swim school swimming assessment – consisted of
- swimming 25m in an ‘efficient manner’
- treading water or floating for 30 seconds to include a full rotation in the water
- submerging the body competently under water and surfacing to face the assessor
The Year Six children are among 4,970 children from 61 schools in Pembrokeshire who receive school swimming lessons throughout the year (in years three to six).
Cllr Elwyn Morse, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, said he was thrilled at the news.
“A huge well done to Year 6,” he said. “This is an amazing result by these pupils who have obviously put a lot of effort and work into improving their swimming.
“To be among the best swimmers in Wales for their age group is a great success and they should be very proud. I hope many of them continue to enjoy and develop their swimming and all the benefits it brings.”
Chris Payne, Leisure Services Manager at Pembrokeshire County Council, said the success was a reflection of the Pembrokeshire County Swimming pathway.
“The pathway – which includes school swimming provision, the after school learn to swim programme, swimming clubs and all other aquatic clubs – has played a key role in developing the skills of the children,” he said
“Without the dedication of all the staff and volunteers we wouldn’t have been able to progress in the national aim of making every child a swimmer.”
Caption
Pembrokeshire’s Year 6 swimmers are among the best in Wales.
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