Teaching Water Safety Across the Moorland Federation

Across all our schools, we were pleased to welcome Guy, a representative of the fourth emergency service, who delivered engaging and informative sessions to pupils on coastal safety and the vital role of lifeguards—a topic of particular relevance to our communities, many of which are located within close proximity to the North Somerset coastline.

The sessions provided pupils with a solid understanding of key water safety principles:

• The meaning of beach safety flags:
  • Red and yellow: safe to swim between these markers
  • Black and white: designated areas for surfing or kayaking
  • Red flag: unsafe to enter the water due to hazards such as changing tides or wildlife
  • Windsock: indicating strong offshore winds—particularly dangerous when using inflatables
• Rip current awareness: Children learned that rip currents are fast-moving channels of water pulling back out to sea. In such situations, they were taught to remain calm, float on their backs, and swim across the current rather than against it.

The training was highly relevant and well-received, equipping pupils with essential knowledge to help keep themselves and others safe in and around the water. These sessions not only reinforced the theme of recognising everyday heroes but also served as a critical part of our wider commitment to personal safety and outdoor education.

We are grateful to Guy for his time and expertise, and proud of how engaged our pupils were in learning about the vital contributions of the Coastguard and the importance of water safety—particularly as we approach the summer season.

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