New DfE RSHE Statutory Guidance: Water Safety Code to Become Mandatory in Schools

In July 2025, in a landmark move for child safety, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that the Water Safety Code will be integrated into the newly released Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance for schools in England.

This decision follows years of intensive campaigning by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), Swim England, the RNLI, and bereaved families. The move transitions water safety from an optional topic to a statutory requirement, ensuring that students in both primary and secondary schools are equipped with the life-saving knowledge necessary to navigate water environments.

A Response to a Growing Crisis

The urgency of this curriculum change is underscored by alarming statistics. Data reveals that child drownings in England have doubled since the 2019-20 period. In the last three years alone, 141 children aged 0-17 drowned across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Simmy Akhtar, CEO of RLSS UK, hailed the announcement:

"This long-awaited announcement is significant. Our collaborative efforts with the Government and our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children learn how to be safe in, on, and around water have made a substantial impact."

Key Elements of the New Guidance

The updated RSHE guidance features a new "Personal Safety" module. Under this mandate, schools must ensure:

• The Water Safety Code: Pupils recognize risks and understand the core principles of water safety;

• Emergency Response: Students learn how to respond to unexpected situations, such as rip currents;

• The "Float" Technique: Based on research from Professor Mike Tipton, pupils will be taught how to float to survive—a critical skill for those who unexpectedly fall into water; and

• Basic First Aid: Pupils will be taught how to contact emergency services and manage common injuries.

A "Huge Team Effort"

The inclusion of the code is the result of a "huge team effort" from the National Water Safety Forum, RoSPA, and the STA. A significant catalyst was the award-winning Parliamentary Petition led by Beckie Ramsay (Doing it for Dylan), which garnered over 100,000 signatures.

The campaign also received vital support from Vanessa Abbess, who lost her 17-year-old son, Joe, to a rip current in 2023.

"I hope that through education, the Water Safety Code will be as broadly known as 'The Green Cross Code' for road safety," Abbess stated. "I feel this is a very positive step, a lasting legacy to all of those who have lost their lives to drowning."

Government Commitment and Support

The government is backing this transition with a grant of up to £300,000 to be allocated to Inclusion 2028, a programme designed to upskill teachers in delivering high-quality, inclusive PE and water safety education for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Handsam in Partnership With Swim England

Swim England have produced a wide range of useful resources to assist schools with compliance with the Water Safety Code element of the September 2026 RSHE DfE Curriculum Statutory Guidance update. Our new Quick Guide PEG09 Swim England Resources for the September 2026 RSHE DfE Curriculum Statutory Guidance Update contains links to those resources, many of which are also within the Handsam Quick Guides Library and can be found using the topic tag ‘Swim England'.

Who are Swim England?

Swim England is the national governing body for aquatics in England, covering swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and artistic swimming. Established in 1869 as the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), it is the world’s oldest swimming governing body and is currently based at Loughborough University.

Core Functions & Operations

• Club Support: Oversees 1,200+ affiliated clubs using a regional structure and the SwimMark Accreditation quality standard;

• Education & Training: Provides certification for teachers, coaches, and officials through its Institute of Swimming;

• Learn to Swim: Operates a 10-stage national award scheme that transitions learners from basic skills to competitive disciplines or lifeguarding;

• Competitions: Organizes national events ranging from age-group talent programs to elite-level championships; and

• Safety & Advocacy: Establishes industry standards for pool safety and acts as a facilitator for community aquatic facilities.

Key Developments

• Governance: Forms part of Aquatics GB alongside Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales;

• Recent History: Rebranded from the ASA to Swim England in 2017 under CEO Jane Nickerson; and

• Culture Review: A 2024 independent review identified significant past issues regarding abuse, discrimination, and the treatment of whistleblowers within the sport’s hierarchy.