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Swimming
It is an exciting time at Dame Alice Harpur School, with the newly acquired status as an ASA Approved Centre of Education for swimming. This allows us not only to teach pupils to reach their highest personal standard of swimming performance, but from the age of 16 years to gain knowledge and qualifications to teach swimming at a basic level under specific supervision.
Each pupil from Year 3 to Year 8 benefits from regular swimming lessons and swimming is optional in Years 9 to 11. The main focus of these lessons is on Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD). Beginning at Year 3, introducing the basic fundamentals of movement and then building on stroke development. We have strong links with swimming clubs in the area and those girls who show particular promise in swimming are encouraged to develop their talent at a local swimming club. Some have gone on to reach county, regional and national standard. Dame Alice swimmers had another busy season both training in school and at their clubs in and around the county.
The Swimming Team extends over the U12, U13, U14, U15, U16 and U18 age groups. At the beginning of the year trials are held, which girls are able to come along to in the first two weeks of term.
The criterion for selection is that pupils are able to dive and they meet three of the four cut of times whilst demonstrating sound stroke technique. The majority of individual races take place over 2 lengths, whilst relays require each member to swim 1 length of the pool. The team members are expected to train after school for an hour once a week. They are also able to attend two extra optional early morning sessions.