(Image: Martin Avery)
Hundreds of County Durham pupils will benefit from refurbished school swimming pools following a major investment programme aimed at improving facilities and water safety education.
Durham County Council has invested £400,000 to upgrade five school pools, including the installation of new changing rooms, bathroom facilities and pool liners.
Cllr 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.
A new wave of learning will be enjoyed by County Durham pupils following an extensiverefurbishment of school pools (Image: Martin Avery)
"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."
Most of the pools, which are used by over 100 schools across the county, are around 30 years old.
The upgrades are designed to ensure the facilities remain suitable for continued use.
A council spokesperson said: "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."
Swimming attainment in County Durham is above the national average.
Eighty per cent of Key Stage Two pupils can swim at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes and perform a safe self-rescue in different water scenarios.
Read more
County Durham residents can scoop free gym and leisure centre access this month
'Most desirable' County Durham village once dubbed 'perfect' by BBC
Pictures show progress of new £14m leisure complex with pool, sauna, and gym
Nationally, 72 per cent of children meet these standards.
During Drowning Prevention Week in June, Durham County Council delivered targeted swimming sessions to 8,500 children at both school and leisure centre pools.
The council’s swimming team tailors its programme to meet the specific needs of each school and pupil.