School bans pupils from wearing goggles in swimming lessons

Two young girls having fun in pool
Two young girls having fun in pool



A primary school in Dudley has banned children from wearing goggles during swimming lessons as "they don't prepare youngsters for emergency water situations".

Christ Church School in Coseley says that pupils who need to wear goggles for medical reasons will need to produce a doctor's note.

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Lisa Fellows told The Sun that her eight-year-old son Klay cannot go swimming without his goggles.

"If he doesn't wear goggles his eyes become red and start to water," she said. "He loves swimming and it's broken his heart that the school won't let him in the pool if he wears them. It's ridiculous."

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Headteacher Sarah Riley said: "National guidelines discourage goggles to prepare children for emergency water situations, something we support."

Ukip councillor Star Anderton told the Express and Star: "If goggles are good enough for our Olympic swimmers then why should our children not be allowed to wear them?

"I can't for the life of me think why the school would make this decision. They are supposed to be teaching children how to swim not pushing them away by bringing in nonsensical rules."

Chief duty managed Ian Thomas of Tipton Leisure Centre, where the lessons take place, said there was no policy in place that prevents swimmers from wearing goggles in its pool.



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The World's Deepest Swimming Pool

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