Fife School Aquatic Group: Empowering Youth Through Swimming and Lifeguard Training

In a vital collaboration between local organizations, the Fife School Aquatic Group (FSAG) has emerged as a powerful force promoting swimming and water safety education in the Cupar area. FSAG represents a dynamic partnership involving the East Fife Sports Council, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, Cupar Sports Centre, Bell Baxter High School (BBHS), Active Schools, and the Cupar and District Swimming Club. Together, they are working to reconnect children and young people with swimming—a critical life skill that had been absent from the school curriculum for over 15 years.

Restoring Swimming Access in Cupar

Swimming, ranked as the second most popular physical activity after walking, has life-saving potential. However, the sport was removed from Scotland’s school curriculum over a decade ago, and by pre-pandemic estimates, up to 40% of students were leaving primary school without being able to swim. FSAG was established to counter this trend by ensuring that students in Cupar and the surrounding areas could access swimming facilities and lessons at the local Cupar Sports Centre. Despite challenges—such as reduced operating hours in 2019 and further restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic—the centre restored full hours in 2023. This victory is especially important as other community pools across Scotland remain under threat.

The group also provides valuable employment opportunities to local youth, particularly in the leisure industry, through various training programs. By offering these skills locally, FSAG is not only increasing the pool of trained lifeguards and swim instructors but also boosting young people’s employability, a key factor in the region’s rural economy.

Award-Winning Community Project

In recognition of its positive impact, FSAG received a prestigious Sustainability Award in 2022 for promoting community involvement in swimming and improving the delivery of aquatic sports. The group’s achievements illustrate how sports can play a central role in both personal development and community resilience.

Project Aims and Milestones

FSAG’s mission is multifaceted: to enhance local water safety training, expand swimming lesson availability, and strengthen the community’s leisure infrastructure. By positioning Cupar Sports Centre as a hub for aquatic training, in partnership with the Cupar and District Swimming Club, FSAG has created a unique resource for the area. The club’s dry-side classroom supports this mission by offering space for theoretical instruction alongside practical training in the pool.

2021-22: Laying the Foundation

In its first year, FSAG launched a successful pilot program aimed at providing aquatics and lifeguarding training to local high school students. Partnering with Bell Baxter High School, the Sports Leaders program included an eight-week aquatic training course that qualified participating students to deliver water safety lessons to primary pupils within the BBHS catchment. That summer, FSAG worked alongside Active Schools to deliver swimming lessons as part of a holiday camp for primary pupils. Additionally, students aged 16 and above were given the opportunity to pursue national lifeguarding (NPLQ) and swim teaching (SSTQ) qualifications, further expanding their career prospects.

2022-23: Expanding the Program

Building on its early success, FSAG worked with BBHS’s physical education department to reintroduce swimming into the S1 curriculum. This move ensured that a significant number of students benefited from structured swim lessons during their first year of high school. The program also continued its work with primary school pupils and offered further lifeguarding and swim teaching qualifications.

2023-24: Overcoming Challenges

In the most recent academic year, FSAG expanded its focus, offering lifeguard training to students interested in leisure industry employment but lacking swimming skills. Unfortunately, the group faced challenges in delivering swimming to S1 pupils due to timetabling and funding limitations. However, FSAG continued its work with primary schools and the Sports Leaders program, maintaining its commitment to improving youth water safety education.

Looking Ahead: 2024-25

FSAG has ambitious plans for the coming year, including supporting two classes of Sports Leaders and continuing primary school water safety sessions. In addition, BBHS students enrolled in the Excellence in Sport course will receive swim training and, in turn, deliver water safety lessons to S1 pupils and those from the school’s Department for Additional Needs. Qualified pupils will be eligible to pursue the NPLQ lifeguard qualification, with additional swim support offered where necessary.

Impact and Results

Over the past three academic years, FSAG has made a profound impact on the local community, reaching 525 children and young people, 445 of whom participated in structured swimming lessons, with an additional 80 children attending Active Schools summer camps.

The group has also qualified 41 students (18 girls and 23 boys) in lifeguarding and swim teaching, and helped 16 secure employment in the leisure industry, making a tangible contribution to local employment.

• S1 PE swimming: 281 pupils (132 girls, 149 boys)
• Sports Leaders: 74 pupils (27 girls, 47 boys)
• Primary school water safety: 49 pupils (22 girls, 27 boys)
• Qualified lifeguards: 32 pupils (10 girls, 22 boys)
• Qualified swim teachers: 9 pupils (8 girls, 1 boy)

A Community Effort

The success of FSAG would not have been possible without the generous support of local and national organizations. The Bruce Charitable Trust, Howe of Fife Rotary Club, Cupar Rotary Club, and Kingdom Housing Community Initiative are among the key supporters of the program in 2023-24. Previous backers include the Scottish Government’s Rural and Island Communities Idea into Action Fund, as well as Essentia, administered by Foundation Scotland.

As FSAG continues its work, it remains committed to ensuring that young people in Cupar not only learn to swim but also gain valuable skills and career opportunities through aquatics. With the continued support of the community, the program is poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come.