Water-safety organisations are calling for every child in England to be given swimming lessons and practical safety education as part of a new national effort to prevent drowning.

Water Safety England’s 2026–30 strategy sets out an ambition to move towards zero drownings. Its priorities include improving access to swimming and water-safety education, strengthening public-awareness campaigns and gaining a better understanding of how climate change and extreme weather affect the risks around water.

More than 2,300 water-related deaths were recorded in England between 2019 and 2023. Around 42% were accidental, while four in five of those who died were male. Incidents were also more common during the summer.

Swimming and water safety already form part of England’s primary curriculum, but campaigners want to ensure that children receive consistent instruction regardless of their school, location or family circumstances.

A new national framework has been developed to identify the swimming ability, safety knowledge and practical skills children should acquire at different stages of their education. Supporting resources for pupils aged three to 18 are expected to be available to schools from September 2026, when water safety will also be incorporated into statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance.

Professor Mike Tipton, chair of Water Safety England, has described drowning as an under-recognised public-health problem. The organisation intends to work with the Government and partner bodies to ensure all children learn to swim and understand how to respond safely around pools, rivers, lakes and the coast.
 

The wider strategy also calls for better data, closer cooperation between government and organisations responsible for waterways, and greater support for families and communities affected by drowning.