Pupils learn vital coastal safety skills at West Wittering School Games event

Pupils from five West Sussex schools swapped the classroom for the coastline to take part in a special School Games event at West Wittering Beach to coincide with Drowning Prevention Week.

The School Games day was designed to build confidence, teamwork, and essential water‑safety awareness across four sessions: first aid, beach‑safety learning with the lifeguards, ultimate frisbee, and beach volleyball.

Children from Southway Primary, Funtington Primary School, Sidlesham School, West Wittering Primary, and The Regis School — whose Sport Leaders supported activities throughout the day — took part. 

The event on Friday, June 19, was organised by School Games Organiser Sean O’Connor and brought together pupils from Years 3, 4 and 5, many of whom were visiting the beach for the very first time.

With this week marking Drowning Prevention Week, the timing could not have been more important. The day gave children the chance to learn how to stay safe on the coast, understand the role of lifeguards, and recognise the meaning of beach‑safety flags, all in a supportive, hands‑on environment.

“An amazing opportunity to learn outside in a real‑life situation”

Kerry Hill, teacher at Funtington Primary School, said the experience would have a lasting impact on her pupils: “It is an amazing opportunity to learn outside in a real-life situation the importance of personal responsibility in keeping oneself safe.

“We do have the RNLI come into school, but we are from Funtington, and some of our children have not been to the beach, even though they are not far away.

“Being here and seeing the lifeguards and learning about the flags in a game will hopefully make it more memorable.

“We have got a mill pond and a big stream, and I am going to take them there and explain that this is our local environment and ask them how they can apply what they have learned to this.”

Lifeguards highlight why coastal education matters

Lifeguard Darcey Powell emphasised the importance of helping young people understand beach‑safety signals.

“Doing events like this is really important for us,” she said.  “I lost one of my friends when I was at school, so getting to do this is important so that children understand the flags.

“We have been playing Simon Says with the flags. This is all about understanding what they mean.”

A day of learning, leadership and new experiences

The Regis School Sport Leaders played a key role in supporting activities, guiding younger pupils and helping create a positive, inclusive atmosphere throughout the day.

From practising first‑aid basics to learning how to spot hazards on the beach, pupils left with new skills, new confidence and a deeper understanding of how to stay safe near open water — knowledge that could one day save a life.

The event showcased the power of outdoor learning, the value of youth leadership, and the importance of giving every child the chance to explore and enjoy their local environment safely.