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Swimming Arrangements.—Provision was made for a session
of ten weeks, using all facilities at present available.
Schools. Attendances (each week). No. of Children.
Secondary 49 classes of 25-30 children. 1,230 (approx.) per week.
Primary 35 classes of 25 - 30 children. 1,050 (approx.) per week.
Total 2,280 per week.
A wider development of swimming in the Autumn Term has
been possible and one class from each of six Secondary Schools
attends throughout the term though it has not been financially
possible to include all schools who would wish to benefit from the
arrangements.
Whenever qualified teachers are available, swimming instruction
is taken by members of the school staffs. Two part-time men
and three part-time women undertake limited periods of teaching
service in the various swimming baths.
It will be obvious that, although swimming progresses
favourably, future extension must depend upon additional facilities
which at present do not exist. A possibility for the future might be
a swimming bath below the floor of the gymnasium in a Secondary
School available throughout the Summer Term. An arrangement
of this kind would probably result in a substantial reduction in
expenditure since the building, changing rooms, hot and cold water
and drainage are already provided for the initial building. Lack
of facilities particularly for the Secondary Schools now limits full
instruction.
It is pleasing to note that a generous concession has been
granted by the Downham Baths Committee. Bromley school
children who normally receive instruction at the Bath will now be
charged only half price when attending Downham Baths out of
school hours.
Individual School Galas.—The number of individual school
Galas has increased in both Primary and Secondary Schools during
the year, with a consequent quickening of interest in swimming
within the schools concerned and a noticeable improvement in the
standard of achievement.
Bromley Schools Swimming Association.—Out of a total of
20 Secondary and Primary Junior Schools in the Borough. 16 have
affiliated to the Bromley Schools Swimming Association and have
taken part in a very successful Gala held in July.
Two Bromley Teachers recently qualified for inclusion on the
Kent A.S.A. panel of officials as judges, starters and time keepers.
Competitive Swimming.
(1) Kent County Schools Gala.
Eight girls and five boys from Bromley were selected to compete
at the Divisional Trials held at Kingston-on-Thames.
(2) English Schools Championships.
Three girls took part in this Gala and two did well to gain places,
the third acting as a reserve.