ASA BACKS SCHOOL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has given its backing
to the government programme Building Schools for the Future
(BSF) through its added value from swimming document.
BSF is a government-funded programme through the Department
for Children, Families and Schools. It is the largest single
capital investment programme in England and is aimed at rebuilding
and renewing England's state secondary schools where there
is a need.
It looks to ensure that pupils have a world-class environment
in which to learn so that they are able to achieve their full
potential. Not only this, it hopes to engage the wider community
through new facilities and technology.
As a national governing body of sport, the ASA puts its educational
responsibilities at the forefront of its priorities. The ASA
has a major recommendation in that as many schools involved
in the BSF programme should include a swimming pool as part
of its plans.
Swimming is a life skill and due to one in five of the population
unable to swim, having a pool available to schools and the
wider community can help people to learn at an early age or
to take up the sport in later life.
And with rising levels of child and adult obesity in the
country, a local swimming pool can go a long way to encouraging
a healthy and active lifestyle comments ASA Director of English
Programmes, Anne Adams-King.
"Swimming is an activity which is suitable for all people
in a community. It is not bound by ability and is a fun, recreational
activity in which all the family can be involved.
"Everyone should be given to opportunity to swim, or
to take those first steps in learning. Aquatic activities
are widely accepted as having a unique contribution to the
health and well-being of the nation so any increase in the
number of pools in England can only improve this further,"
said Adams-King.
In the ASA's Building Schools for the Future - added value
from swimming document offers guidelines to help local decisions
for those involved in the programme. The document also contains
case studies showing how education and local authorities can
achieve various aims.
Swimming is the most popular sport in the UK (only after
walking), with 11.9 million people taking part on a regular
basis. Surveys have also indicated that swimming is the most
likely activity they would like to take up.
To date, the BSF has been a missed opportunity in terms of
swimming and with there been a shortage of pools around the
country, the programme has the potential to change these figures.
The ASA believes that were it is deemed possible, pools should
be provided on school sites. As we look towards the London
2012 Olympics in four years' time the provision of sports
facilities in schools can inspire a new generation of sports
men and women.
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