Do you have mandatory swimming lessons at school? In Estonia – yes.
July 2, 2025
In the Estonian National "Basic" School Curriculum it's required as a part of PE. Generally it's done in year 2, so 8-9 year olds.
19 comments
Ireland – primary schools are supposed to offer swimming lessons as part of the PE curriculum. But the number of lessons probably isn’t enough to actually learn to swim. A lot of families pay for group lessons outside of school.
At least when I was in primary school 20 years ago we had half a year of mandatory swimming lessons with the aim to teach everyone at least basic swimming skills.
Then there were no swimming lessons for a long time and only in the final two years my school offered swimming as an elective subject.
I guess it differs significantly based on the availability and proximity of a pool
Same here in Norway. But due to budget cuts, local issues with pools etc. so it may not play out as intended.
Even in Oslo, the capitol there may the large varieties from district to district. Inept polticians and such is the cause. Putting money into on going maintenance etc isnt as sexy to voters apparently.
Googled it as found an article from 2024 that said 1 district only 5% of studends could swim, and in another 88%.
Swimming was part of PE, but we didn’t have swimming lessons in the sense that they taught us to swim. We were expected to already be able to do that by the time we had swimming in PE.
Poland – for grades 1-3 in elementary (thought maybe it changed, I’m 20 already).
After that it’s optional as after school activity you can do or in your own in your own time, or attend organised by school after class activities.
In England we did, and swimming is also required as a part of PE. Whether or not kids continue outside of school is of course up to them, but in primary and secondary school I had compulsory lessons – I loved swimming so also had additional lessons outside of school and was in a competitive team for a bit. Traditionally if the parents are invested in a child’s swimming skills they’ll also pay for additional lessons if they can especially if the child is falling behind.
Yes, from grade 1-9 (if a student fails the last year or doesn’t show up they might even have to do repeat it in year 10). It’s not exactly popular among the teens.
Lithuania – in elementary second grade, at least in my region, we have swimming in PE classes for around a year. But it’s a new thing. When I was a second grader more than a decade ago, it wasn’t offered.
In my old school there’s a few weeks of swimming in gym class every year. There were two kids who couldn’t swim at 7th grade in my year, but they learned on the class.
I guess for schools it depends a bit on whether a particilar town has facilities for it, but most can swim at least a bit. I checked the stats and only 2-5% of people say they can’t swim at all.
Yes, it’s the same in Croatia. If I remember correctly we did ice skating in kindergarden and swimming in primary school.
Idk if it’s mandatory but a lot of primary schools in Ireland do it. I was exempt tho (still can’t swim🥀)
We didn’t do it regularly but we did go swimming for PE class sometimes. It probably wouldn’t have been enough on its own to actually learn. Most people I know went to swimming lessons outside of school.
In secondary school we had to do a life saving course where you’re taught what to do if you accidentally end up in the water. We then had to demonstrate it at the end by jumping in the pool in our pyjamas, treading water, swimming a certain length, using the trousers filled with air as floatation etc.
No, we used to have it compulsory until 1985. Since then it’s up to the school, and most don’t offer it. (Only 26% in 2021)..
I still had it in the 90s though, but I think most children have their swimming diploma(s) at least before they’re 8 privately outside school. Swimming lessons usually start at the age of 4 or 5.
Being able to swim 200meters without stopping, with 50 of those on your back is a requirement to pass PE class in every grade, and thus schools are legally required to have swim lessons. Occational “lessons” to check how everyone is doing and additional lessons to anyone who doesn’t pass.
Nope, swimming is not a mandatory subject here in Italy.
In the past, I think it used to be, but now they have removed it. We only have normal boring PE lessons.
Yes, usually in year 4 I think. Most of, the kids will have learned to swim by then, but this catches the ones who haven’t.
Swimming is considered a basic life skill, that everyone must be able to do.
Yes, for all 10 years of elementary school. I don’t know a single person who hasn’t had lessons for at least 10 years.
germany here.
well… yes and no. (let’s ignore for a second that it might be different in different counties). in theory it’s part of PE in both primary and secondary school. in reality primary schools are often tiny (especially in rural areas) and don’t have access to a pool so they obviously can’t offer swimming lessons. then there’s some pe sessions in a public pool in year 6/7/8 but by then one should definitely already be able to swim and one teacher for 20-30 students is not enough to teach anyone how to swim. which leads to non swimmers sitting on a bench while everybody else swims for pe grades. it’s a terrible system imho. girls who have just gotten their first period and/or hate their body due to puberty have to show their half naked body to their class mates. those who would need actual lessons can’t get them.
19 comments
Ireland – primary schools are supposed to offer swimming lessons as part of the PE curriculum. But the number of lessons probably isn’t enough to actually learn to swim. A lot of families pay for group lessons outside of school.
At least when I was in primary school 20 years ago we had half a year of mandatory swimming lessons with the aim to teach everyone at least basic swimming skills.
Then there were no swimming lessons for a long time and only in the final two years my school offered swimming as an elective subject.
I guess it differs significantly based on the availability and proximity of a pool
Same here in Norway. But due to budget cuts, local issues with pools etc. so it may not play out as intended.
Even in Oslo, the capitol there may the large varieties from district to district. Inept polticians and such is the cause. Putting money into on going maintenance etc isnt as sexy to voters apparently.
Googled it as found an article from 2024 that said 1 district only 5% of studends could swim, and in another 88%.
Swimming was part of PE, but we didn’t have swimming lessons in the sense that they taught us to swim. We were expected to already be able to do that by the time we had swimming in PE.
Poland – for grades 1-3 in elementary (thought maybe it changed, I’m 20 already).
After that it’s optional as after school activity you can do or in your own in your own time, or attend organised by school after class activities.
In England we did, and swimming is also required as a part of PE. Whether or not kids continue outside of school is of course up to them, but in primary and secondary school I had compulsory lessons – I loved swimming so also had additional lessons outside of school and was in a competitive team for a bit. Traditionally if the parents are invested in a child’s swimming skills they’ll also pay for additional lessons if they can especially if the child is falling behind.
Yes, from grade 1-9 (if a student fails the last year or doesn’t show up they might even have to do repeat it in year 10). It’s not exactly popular among the teens.
Lithuania – in elementary second grade, at least in my region, we have swimming in PE classes for around a year. But it’s a new thing. When I was a second grader more than a decade ago, it wasn’t offered.
In my old school there’s a few weeks of swimming in gym class every year. There were two kids who couldn’t swim at 7th grade in my year, but they learned on the class.
I guess for schools it depends a bit on whether a particilar town has facilities for it, but most can swim at least a bit. I checked the stats and only 2-5% of people say they can’t swim at all.
In England, the National Curriculum [requires](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study#swimming-and-water-safety) all children to be taught to swim (for 25 metres, and to self-rescue in water) somewhere between the ages of 5 and 11.
[This is not achieved in practice](https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/active-lives-children-young-people-survey-2024/). Last year, only 70% of children aged 11-12 met this standard.
Yes, it’s the same in Croatia. If I remember correctly we did ice skating in kindergarden and swimming in primary school.
Idk if it’s mandatory but a lot of primary schools in Ireland do it. I was exempt tho (still can’t swim🥀)
We didn’t do it regularly but we did go swimming for PE class sometimes. It probably wouldn’t have been enough on its own to actually learn. Most people I know went to swimming lessons outside of school.
In secondary school we had to do a life saving course where you’re taught what to do if you accidentally end up in the water. We then had to demonstrate it at the end by jumping in the pool in our pyjamas, treading water, swimming a certain length, using the trousers filled with air as floatation etc.
No, we used to have it compulsory until 1985. Since then it’s up to the school, and most don’t offer it. (Only 26% in 2021)..
I still had it in the 90s though, but I think most children have their swimming diploma(s) at least before they’re 8 privately outside school. Swimming lessons usually start at the age of 4 or 5.
Being able to swim 200meters without stopping, with 50 of those on your back is a requirement to pass PE class in every grade, and thus schools are legally required to have swim lessons. Occational “lessons” to check how everyone is doing and additional lessons to anyone who doesn’t pass.
Nope, swimming is not a mandatory subject here in Italy.
In the past, I think it used to be, but now they have removed it. We only have normal boring PE lessons.
Yes, usually in year 4 I think. Most of, the kids will have learned to swim by then, but this catches the ones who haven’t.
Swimming is considered a basic life skill, that everyone must be able to do.
Yes, for all 10 years of elementary school. I don’t know a single person who hasn’t had lessons for at least 10 years.
germany here.
well… yes and no. (let’s ignore for a second that it might be different in different counties). in theory it’s part of PE in both primary and secondary school. in reality primary schools are often tiny (especially in rural areas) and don’t have access to a pool so they obviously can’t offer swimming lessons. then there’s some pe sessions in a public pool in year 6/7/8 but by then one should definitely already be able to swim and one teacher for 20-30 students is not enough to teach anyone how to swim. which leads to non swimmers sitting on a bench while everybody else swims for pe grades. it’s a terrible system imho. girls who have just gotten their first period and/or hate their body due to puberty have to show their half naked body to their class mates. those who would need actual lessons can’t get them.