1. The fingerprint of SWIMMING in Wales

2. How does swimming compare to other sports amongst young people in Wales?

3. Lines are in units of 5 percentage points, with the mid-point being gender equal i.e. 50% male / 50% female
The size of bubble indicates the size of the demand of non-participants (weighted count).
Key Insight:
The charts shows that slightly more females have done swimming (in ‘any setting’ in the past academic year) and that the demand for swimming amongst non-participants is slightly higher for females.
Overall however, existing participation and demand for swimming is relatively gender equal, particularly compared to other sports.

4. A high proportion of both swimming participants and non-participants have a demand to do more swimming (not shown in this chart).
The proportion of pupils that have done swimming in the past academic year is very high compared to other sports.
As there are fewer non-participants in swimming (because a high proportion of pupils already do it), the demand for swimming in absolute terms is relatively low compared with other sports.

5. How does swimming participation look by Year Group and Gender?

6. For both boys and girls participation in swimming peaks at Year 6.
At Year 7 (i.e. transition into secondary) we see a significant drop in participation which continues as pupils progress through the year groups.
While participation for primary aged pupils is higher for girls, the decline in participation for girls is also greater. As a result participation is lower at secondary stage for girls than it is for boys.

7. The pattern of participation is the same for all FSM quartiles.
At Year 3 (first year of primary) participation levels are lower for FSM3 and FSM4 – pupils who are more likely to be from backgrounds of lower socio economic status.
By Secondary stage the difference between the quartiles has closed. However there appears to be a divergence through secondary school and by Year 11 it is FSM1 and FSM 4 that have the higher participation rates.

8. The pattern of participation is the same for those with/without a disability.
While swimming participation rates are higher for those with a disability/impairment in the early school years (3 and 4). This pattern reverses from 6 upwards.

9. How many pupils in Wales take part in swimming, and how many would like to do more?

10. Two thirds of pupils in Wales have taken part in swimming in the past academic year (2018).
Based on the existing latent demand amongst non-participants there is potential to grow the sport by 10 percentage points. Doing so would increase the participation rate to 84% of all pupils in Wales.
16% of pupils have not done swimming and have no demand to do so.

11. 49% 10% 1 2 3 25% 4 16% Participating Not Participating Demand Demand
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Primary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Demand
Demand
Disability
No Disability
Disability
No Disability
FSM1
FSM2
FSM3
FSM4
FSM1
FSM2
FSM3
FSM4
Not Participating 3
Participating
25% 4
16%
Boys
The chart shows the make up of the four different segments (shown in slide 9), each of which is defined by whether or not the pupil participates in swimming and has demand for swimming.
When viewing the following quadrants comparisons can be made both vertically and horizontally:
Vertical comparisons show the difference between pupils with a demand for swimming and no demand for swimming.
Horizontal comparisons show the difference between swimming participants and swimming non-participants.
Key Messages:
Girls are more likely to participate in swimming and are more likely to want to do more swimming (regardless of whether they currently participate).
Amongst existing swimming participants there is a higher demand amongst primary aged pupils, than there is amongst secondary pupils.
However, amongst non-participants the demand is greater for secondary aged pupils. i.e. the demand to do more swimming amongst existing participants is greater for primary, however the potential to increase participation amongst non-participants is higher for secondary aged pupils.
Demand for more swimming tends to be slightly higher for those from FSM 2 and 3. This is true for participants and non-participants.
Girls
Boys
Girls
Primary
Secondary
Primary
Secondary
No Demand
No Demand
Disability
No Disability
Disability
No Disability
FSM1
FSM2
FSM3
FSM4
FSM1
FSM2
FSM3
FSM4

12. The Sport Wales Insight Team have undertaken and commissioned a wide range of research to advance the sector’s understanding of the sport and physical activity landscape in Wales (e.g., National Survey for Wales, School Sports Survey, and BME community interviews).  Throughout the data collected, certain themes and patterns consistently emerge, which fall into five inter-related areas that taken together explain why engagement in sport continues to vary so significantly across our population. Collectively, these themes are referred to as the ‘Elements of Engagement’, and they have been evidenced through an extensive review of the academic literature (see Didymus, Fletcher, Staff, & Potts, 2017). 
Results are presented under the Elements of Engagement. These five key areas underpin the likelihood of a young person engaging in sporting opportunities. 

13. MOTIVATION

14. I Already Do Enough Sport 9% I Already Do Enough Sport 7% Demand
Participating
Not Participating
I Already Do Enough Sport 9%
I Already Do Enough Sport 7%
Demand
Demand
I Don’t Want To Do Anymore Sport 3%
I Don’t Want To Do Anymore Sport 3%
Not Participating
Participating
If you have taken part in swimming you are more likely to say ‘I already do enough sport’.
I Already Do Enough Sport
10%
I Already Do Enough Sport 7%
No Demand
No Demand
I Don’t Want To Do Anymore Sport 3%
I Don’t Want To Do Anymore Sport 4%

15. CONFIDENCE

16. Confident in Trying New Activities 82% Demand
Participating
Not Participating
Demand
Confident in Trying New Activities
82%
Demand
Confident in Trying New Activities
78%
If I Was More Confident
25%
If I Was More Confident
24%
Not Participating
Participating
Key Messages:
Those not participating in swimming are less confident than those who are participating in swimming.
Those pupils with a demand for swimming are more likely to say they would do more sport ‘if they were more confident’, compared to those pupils without a demand for swimming.
Confident in Trying New Activities
82%
Confident in Trying New Activities
77%
No Demand
No Demand
If I Was More Confident
18%
If I Was More Confident
18%

17. AWARENESS
Currently pupil ‘awareness’ of sporting opportunities is not captured within the school sport survey.

18. OPPORTUNITY & RESOURCES

19. If clubs were easier to get to 24% Demand
Participating
Not Participating
If I had more time
39%
If I had more time
35%
If it was cheaper
22%
If it was cheaper
22%
Demand
If clubs were easier to get to
24%
Demand
If clubs were easier to get to
22%
If I had the kit I needed
16%
If I had the kit I needed
14%
If I didn’t have to go home after school
11%
If I didn’t have to go home after school
10%
If I didn’t have to get a bus after school 8%
If I didn’t have to get a bus after school 7%
Not Participating
Participating
If I had more time
31%
If I had more time
34%
Key Messages:
In all cases those with no demand are less likely to give reasons as to what would ‘encourage them to do more’ than those with a demand. This is particularly true of non-participants.
For all segments the pattern is the same with time, cost, and access being the main factors (in terms of ‘opportunity & resources’) that pupils say would encourage them to do more.
If it was cheaper
15%
If it was cheaper
18%
If clubs were easier to get to
16%
If clubs were easier to get to
18%
No Demand
No Demand
If I had the kit I needed
10%
If I had the kit I needed 9%
If I didn’t have to go home after school 6%
If I didn’t have to go home after school 7%
If I didn’t have to get a bus after school 5%
If I didn’t have to get a bus after school 5%

20. THE EXPERIENCE

21. Enjoy extracurricular sport ‘a lot’ 52%
Participating
Not Participating
Enjoy extracurricular sport ‘a lot’
52%
Enjoy extracurricular sport ‘a lot’
46%
Demand
Demand
Enjoy community sport ‘a lot’
68%
Enjoy community sport ‘a lot’
60%
If I Enjoyed Sport More
18%
If I Enjoyed Sport More
17%
Not Participating
Participating
Key Messages:
Those participating in swimming enjoy both forms of sport more than their peers who don’t participate in swimming.
Those with a demand for swimming were more likely to say that they would do more sport if they ‘enjoyed sport more’.
Those with a demand for more swimming are also more likely to say that they enjoy extracurricular swimming ‘a lot’.
Enjoy extracurricular sport ‘a lot’
50%
Enjoy extracurricular sport ‘a lot’
41%
No Demand
No Demand
Enjoy community sport ‘a lot’
69%
Enjoy community sport ‘a lot’
59%
If I Enjoyed Sport More
13%
If I Enjoyed Sport More
13%

22. ‘Always’ comfortable in PE and sport 59%
Participating
Not Participating
‘Always’ comfortable in PE and sport
59%
‘Always’ comfortable in PE and sport
56%
Demand
Demand
‘Always’ feel ideas are listened too
28%
‘Always’ feel ideas are listened too
25%
Not Participating
Participating
Key Messages:
Swimming participants were more likely to say that they were ‘always comfortable’ taking part and to say that their ideas are ‘always’ listened to.
Interestingly, those with a ‘demand’ (both participants and non-participants) were less likely to say that they are ‘always comfortable’.
‘Always’ comfortable in PE and sport
63%
‘Always’ comfortable in PE and sport
58%
No Demand
No Demand
‘Always’ feel ideas are listened too
28%
‘Always’ feel ideas are listened too
26%

23. KEY SWIMMING INSIGHTS for young people in Wales
In terms of participation and demand, swimming is a relatively gender equal sport.
There is a drop-off in participation rates at Secondary School stage. This is true for boys and girls, for those with/without an impairment, and for those pupils from all FSM quartiles.
A high proportion of both participants and non-participants would like to do more swimming. There are 25,818 pupils in Wales who have not taken part in swimming in the past academic year but would like to do so.
If all of these non-participants became active in swimming the participation rate would grow by 10 percentage points (from 74% to 84% of all pupils in Wales).
While the demand for more swimming (amongst existing participants) is greater amongst primary aged pupils, the potential to grow the sport appears to be greater amongst pupils at secondary stage.
Feeling confident, comfortable and that your ideas are listened to are associated with participation in swimming for young people.
Higher levels of enjoyment are also associated with participation in swimming.
Interestingly, those with a demand for more swimming are less likely to say they ‘always feel comfortable’ taking part.