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Camden New Journal - By CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 3 May 2007

Pool closure leaves pupils high and dry

Swimming lessons cut by half

CHILDREN are leaving a Gospel Oak primary school unable to swim properly because their lessons have been cut by half.
Children at Gospel Oak school in Mansfield Road have missed out on lessons since the Prince of Wales baths closed three months ago, after teachers had to half the number of students they took to the pool from 120 to 60.
The school used to enjoy four sessions a week but this has been cut to two because there are not enough learner pools in the borough.
Pupils with swimming ability are being forced to stay at school while their less-able peers are prioritised – in line with curriculum requirements.
Teacher Jef Gooding has made arrangements with a pool in Islington because Camden Council has only offered the school one session per week at a learner pool in the borough.
He claimed the option offered by Camden at Oasis in Tottenham Court Road would leave pupils missing two-thirds of their day travelling, while lessons in Swiss Cottage pool was impossible because, at 1.2 metres, the shallow end is too deep for smaller students.
He said: “Before, 90 per cent of kids used to leave the school able to swim the national curriculum requirement of 25 metres. I assume that will go down to 50 per cent now.”
Tory Councillor Keith Sedgwick claims private schools from outside the borough are using the learner pool in slots that should be offered to Camden primaries.
Cllr Sedgwick also criticised Lib Dem Councillor Flick Rea, whose executive brief covers swimming pools.
Cllr Sedgwick claimed she had fallen into the trap of believing council officers’ assurances without investigating whether students were being ‘adequately’ provided for.
Cllr Rea admitted there may be logistical problems for the school in reaching Oasis and Highbury, but that it still constituted the offer of four swimming slots. She said there was a stretch at the Swiss Cottage learner pool because the borough had to accommodate every school – private and state.
She warned there was no “magic wand” for the problem but that she was sure it could be resolved.

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