There’s something quite remarkable happening behind the gates of Drove Primary School—and it doesn’t involve textbooks or timetables. Instead, it involves water. A lot of it.
In a first for the school and a growing trend across the region, Drove Primary, part of The White Horse Federation, has transformed part of its playground into a temporary swimming pool.
Installed by Fortius PE, the 10-metre long pool, which holds more than 500 gallons of water, is currently home to daily swimming lessons for pupils—and, notably, their mums too.
The scheme aims to address an urgent gap. With pool closures across Swindon and a shortage of accessible swimming facilities, meeting National Curriculum requirements has become increasingly challenging. The curriculum states that by the end of primary school, children should be able to swim 25 metres, use various strokes, and perform safe self-rescue. For many local schools, getting pupils to a pool is simply not feasible.
But instead of letting this be a barrier, Drove Primary has brought the pool to them.
Juliet Rayden from Fortius PE explained, “There’s a clear need for this. The challenge isn’t just pool availability—it’s also transport, time, and cost. By bringing the pool onto school grounds, we’re making it far easier for children to learn.”
The programme launched in April and has already reached more than 15 schools across Swindon, teaching over 2,000 children using two mobile pools. At Drove, the lessons are making an immediate difference.
“Some of our pupils had never set foot in a pool before,” said Sarah Hyde, swimming instructor. “We’ve had children terrified to even dip a toe in—and now, after just a couple of weeks, they’re swimming with confidence. We’re teaching over 600 children in six weeks.”
The sessions cater to Years 2 through 5 during the school day, with afterschool clubs open to all years, including Reception and Year 1.
But this initiative isn’t just for the pupils.
Kelly Reynolds, PE teacher at Drove, wanted to extend the offer to mums—many of whom face cultural or financial barriers that prevent them from swimming. With the help of Fortius PE and family support worker Emma Rant, Kelly made it happen.
“Culturally and traditionally, many of our school mums haven’t had the opportunity to swim,” said Kelly. “Some have never learnt, and public pools often don’t cater to their needs—especially when it comes to privacy and female-only staff. We’re proud to offer that here.”
One of those taking part is Repi Begum, Councillor for Lydiard & Freshbrook and parent at the school. Speaking after an early morning session, she said:
“It’s rare to find sessions that cater to our religious needs. Here, I can stay covered, swim with other women, and feel completely comfortable. It’s perfectly timed too—after the school run. We get to exercise, meet others and gain confidence.”
Headteacher Bryony Bardwell summed it up best: “This is about more than ticking boxes. It’s about life skills that could one day save lives. I’m proud of everyone involved—staff, students, and families—and thankful to Fortius PE for helping us bring it all together.”
Dan Nicholls, CEO of The White Horse Federation, added: “This is a brilliant example of a school stepping up for its community. It shows what’s possible when passion meets innovation.”
