Awards Scheme
Awarding your child's progress
Every child progresses at their own pace. Our awards scheme recognises both the skills your child has mastered and the distances they can swim unaided — giving you a clear picture of how far they've come, from their very first lesson through to advanced swimming.
Skill Badges
Your child demonstrates the skills they've learnt each term. Badges increase in difficulty as they progress through the programme.
Distance Awards
Alongside skill badges, your child can earn distance certificates based on how far they're able to swim unaided.
Certificates
You'll be notified at the end of each term when your child achieves a new award. Certificates are available to purchase.
What your child receives
When your child achieves a new award, they'll receive a printed certificate to mark their progress. Certificates are available to purchase at the end of each term.
Beginner
Seahorse 1
- Enter the water safely
- Wash the face with both hands
- Move through the water on the front for 2 metres
- Move through the water on the back for 2 metres
- Blow a floating object across the pool for 2 metres
- Perform a star float
- Exit the pool safely
Buoyancy aids are permitted
Assistance is permitted
Seahorse 2
- Enter the water from the poolside safely
- Splash face with water
- Move through the water for 3 metres on the front
- Move through the water for 3 metres on the back
- Perform 2 floating positions
- Climb out of the pool safely
Buoyancy aids are permitted
Assistance is permitted
Blowfish 1
- Enter the water from the poolside safely
- Blow bubbles with the mouth & nose in the water
- Perform a star float on the back & regain feet
- Move through the water on the front using front paddle action for 5 metres
- Jump into the water with assistance
Buoyancy aids are permitted
Assistance is permitted
Blowfish 2
- Learn about poolside safety
- Blow bubbles with the face in the water
- Swim 5 metres front paddle
- Move through the water on the back using an alternating leg action for 5 metres
- Perform 2 floating positions
- Jump into the water safely
Buoyancy aids are permitted
Assistance is permitted
Turtle 1
- Learn about poolside rules
- Swim 5 metres front paddle & 5 metres back paddle
- Perform 3 different floating positions
- Holding the rail, bob up & down submerging the face 3 times
- Perform a front push & glide holding a float
- Identify an object below the surface of the water
Buoyancy aids are permitted
Assistance is permitted
Turtle 2
- Holding the rail, bob up & down submerging the face 4 times blowing bubbles
- Perform a front push & glide holding a float with the face in the water
- Perform a pencil float on the front & back
- Star or pencil jump into the pool
- Pick up an object from beneath the surface of the water
Buoyancy aids are permitted
Assistance is permitted
Penguin 1
- Learn about water safety
- Perform a sit & swivel entry
- Perform a star float, change to a narrow float and return to a star float on front or back
- Swim 2 metres on the front & 2 metres back paddle with a smooth transition in between
- Perform a push & glide on the back
- Pick up an object from the bottom of the pool
- Jump in from the side unaided
Penguin 2
- Learn about water safety
- Enter safely, swim front or back paddle for 5 metres
- Perform a tucked float for 2 seconds
- Holding the rail, breathe rhythmically 4 cycles
- Scull on the back for 2 metres
- Push off from the side under the water
- Pick up an object from the bottom of the pool
Dolphin 1
- Enter safely, swim front or back paddle for 5 metres
- Scull on the back 2 metres head first
- Perform a mushroom float for 3 seconds
- Holding onto the rail, breathe rhythmically 6 cycles
- In a standing position demonstrate back crawl arm action
- Perform a star float for 3 seconds on the front, turn and repeat on the back
- Perform a front push & glide with arms stretched & the face in the water
- Swim through a submerged hoop
Dolphin 2
- Scull on the back in a complete circle
- Perform a mushroom float for 5 seconds
- Fully submerge beneath the surface of the water
- Perform a push & glide for 2 metres on the front holding a float with the face in the water and exhaling
- Swim through a submerged hoop
- Swim 3 metres using a breaststroke type leg action, holding 2 floats
Swordfish 1
- Holding the rail with one hand, breathe rhythmically turning the head to the side to inhale
- Demonstrate front crawl arm action
- Perform a star float, change to a pencil float and return to a star float
- Sit on the bottom of the pool (shallow water)
- Swim 5 metres using a breaststroke type leg action, holding floats
- Swim through a submerged hoop
- Swim 10 metres on the back
Swordfish 2
- Holding a float with one hand, breathe rhythmically to the side to inhale & exhaling under the water
- Demonstrate breaststroke arm action
- Swim 2 metres dolphin leg kick on the front or back
- Swim 15 metres front paddle
- Swim 5 metres front or back crawl
- Swim 3 metres using frog like action of the arms and legs
Advanced
Octopus 1
- Learn about water safety
- Enter the pool safely and unassisted
- Perform a star float on the back
- Perform a star float on the front
- Swim 5 metres front paddle in deep water
- Swim 5 metres back paddle in deep water
- Blow bubbles with the whole face in the water
- Exit the pool safely and unassisted
Octopus 2
- Push & glide on the front and on the back
- Holding the rail, bob up and down exhaling under the water
- Hold a float(s) and swim 3 metres using an alternating leg kick on the front
- Hold a float(s) and swim 3 metres using an alternating leg kick on the back
- Hold a float(s) and swim 3 metres using a simultaneous leg kick on the back
- Demonstrate front crawl, backstroke & breaststroke arm action
- Perform a floating position without the use of buoyancy aids
- Rotate 360° in a tucked position with both feet off the pool bottom
- Swim 5 metres & climb safely out of the pool
Octopus 3
- Perform a sit & swivel entry
- Push & glide on the front and swim 2 metres
- Push & glide on the back and swim 2 metres backstroke
- Swim on the front for 5 metres
- Swim on the back for 5 metres
- Fully submerge beneath the surface
- Hold the rail & breathe rhythmically for 6 cycles
- Scull head first for 3 metres
- Identify an object under water
- Perform a mushroom float
Goldfish 1
- Perform a step in entry
- Push and glide and hold the glide for 5 seconds
- Pick up an object from the bottom of the pool from a depth of approximately 1 metre
- Holding a buoyancy aid, swim 5 metres, legs only, in each of the following: back crawl, breaststroke and front crawl
- Swim 10 metres of a recognised stroke; pupil’s choice
- Perform a push and glide under the water and glide to the surface
- Swim 3 metres dolphin leg kick on the front or back
Goldfish 2
- Perform a back float then tuck to a front float
- Scull head first for 5 metres then feet first for 3 metres
- Push & glide on the back, tuck, rotate to the front & swim back to the starting point
- Swim 10 metres of a recognised stroke (pupil’s choice)
- Swim 10 metres back crawl
- Swim 5 metres of a recognised stroke (pupil’s 2nd choice)
- Push & glide to the bottom of the pool
- Perform a mushroom float & hold for 3 seconds then extend to a front float
Goldfish 3
- Perform two different types of entries and tread water for 15 seconds each time: performed in chest deep water
- Swim 15 metres backstroke
- Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke (pupil’s choice)
- Swim 10 metres holding a float under each arm using life saving backstroke leg kick
- Swim 5 metres dolphin leg kick on front or back
- Push and glide on the surface, pike sharply and assume a handstand with both hands on the bottom of the pool: performed in chest deep water
- Perform a horizontal float on the back and hold for 5 seconds, roll onto the front and hold for 5 seconds, then roll back to the original back float position and hold for 5 seconds
Angelfish 1
- Be rescued by a reaching aid
- Perform a straddle entry and tread water for 30 seconds. If water too shallow substitute step entry and support scull
- Push and glide into a forward somersault
- Scull head first for 5 metres and feet first for 5 metres
- Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke using correct breathing (pupil’s choice)
- Swim 10 metres of a recognised front stroke using correct breathing (pupil’s 2nd choice)
- Swim 15 metres back crawl
- Swim 5 metres legs only on the front, using dolphin leg kick (without floats)
Angelfish 2
- Be rescued by catching a buoyancy aid
- Perform a straddle entry, tread water for 30 seconds, perform a 360° turn in a vertical position whilst wearing a T-shirt: performed in at least chest deep water
- Swim 5 metres, perform a forward somersault and continue to swim forward for 5 metres
- Swim 20 metres of a recognised front stroke using a correct finish (pupil’s 1st choice of stroke)
- Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke using a correct finish (pupil’s 2nd choice of stroke)
- Swim 20 metres back crawl using a correct touch finish
- Swim 5 metres on the back using a double arm action and dolphin leg kick
- Swim underwater for five breaststroke arm pulls
Angelfish 3
- Be rescued by catching a rope
- Perform a straddle entry and tread water for 30 seconds whilst wearing a T-shirt. Remove the T-shirt and climb out unassisted
- Perform a head first and feet first surface dive
- Scull feet first for 10 metres and head first for 10 metres
- Swim 25 metres back crawl incorporating a correct finish
- Swim 25 metres of a recognised front stroke, incorporating a correct finish: pupil’s choice
- Swim 20 metres of recognised front stroke incorporating a correct finish: pupil’s 2nd choice
- Swim 5 metres butterfly
- Perform a handstand in chest deep water
Shark 1
- Perform a reaching rescue
- Enter the water with a compact jump & swim 10 metres in a T‑shirt, tread water for 30 seconds, remove T‑shirt & climb out
- Swim 5 metres of a recognised stroke, perform a head first surface dive & swim 5 metres under water
- Swim 5 metres of a recognised stroke, perform a feet first surface dive, tuck & swim 5 metres under water
- Swim 50 metres of a recognised front stroke; pupil’s choice
- Swim 25 metres of a recognised front stroke; pupil’s 2nd choice
- Swim 25 metres of Old English backstroke
- Swim 25 metres front crawl demonstrating bilateral breathing
- Perform a kneeling dive (depth of water permitting)
Shark 2
- Throw a buoyant aid 3 metres to a target point in the pool
- Enter the water with a star jump, swim 10 metres of a recognised stroke, tread water for 1 minute, swim 5 metres of a recognised stroke, surface dive, swim 3 metres underwater, surface, climb out of the pool unassisted
- Swim 75 metres during which the pupil performs two recognised strokes with a smooth transition and the correct turns
- Swim 25 metres using a recognised stroke not undertaken in the 75 metre swim
- Wearing a T‑shirt and shorts, swim 20 metres sidestroke
- Perform a plunge dive; depth of water permitting or if shallow water perform submerge and swim width of pool or 7 metres
- Swim 4 × 1 width individual medley incorporating the appropriate transition procedure at the end of each stroke
Shark 3
- Throw a rope over 5 metres
- Dive in, swim 25 metres, tread water for 1 minute, tread water for 1 minute waving 1 hand, surface dive, swim 5 metres under water, surface and remove clothing
- Swim 100 metres of a recognised front stroke (pupil’s choice) incorporating the appropriate start, turns and finish
- Swim 50 metres of a different recognised front stroke incorporating the appropriate start, turns and finish
- Swim 100 metres of back crawl incorporating the appropriate start, turns and finish
- Swim 25 metres of a 4th recognised stroke not used in the other tests
- Swim 4 × 1 length individual medley incorporating the correct transition procedure
- Perform a competitive start for 2 strokes using 2 different stances
Distances
Starfish
Move through the water for a distance of 5 metres using any buoyancy aid.
I Can Swim
Swim across 1 width unaided.
5 Metres
Move through the water for a distance of 5 metres unaided.
10 Metres
Move through the water for a distance of 10 metres unaided.
15 Metres
Move through the water for a distance of 15 metres unaided.
25 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 25 metres.
50 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 50 metres.
100 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 100 metres.
200 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 200 metres.
400 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 400 metres.
600 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 600 metres.
800 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 800 metres.
1000 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 1000 metres.
1500 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 1500 metres.
1800 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 1800 metres.
2000 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 2000 metres.
2500 Metres
Move through the water unaided using a recognisable stroke for a distance of 2500 metres.
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