Based on the information of the water safety skills described by Stallman et al. [1Stallman R., Junge M., Blixt T. The teaching of swimming based on a model derived from the causes of drowning Int J Aquat Res Educ 2008 ; 372-382

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références] and compared with an extensive literature review a new water safety test for children was developed, tried out as a final test at the end of elementary school and later on split up in three levels or age groups.

In a first pilot study the aquatic skills of 52 children at the age of 11–12 years were screened and compared with a traditional 50m test. In the second pilot study, the aim was to differentiate the water safety skill test in three age groups (6, 9 and 11 years) and to try out the evidence and feasibility at school and in a swimming club.

The majority of the pupils (11 years) who passed the traditional test of 50m were not able to perform all the water safety skills correctly; 44/52 pupils failed at least two of the tested skills. When comparing the average total score for the water safety skill test, the teacher (m=16,15; SD=3,02) gave significantly (t(df=51)=7366; P<0,0005) higher scores than the expert (m=13, 62; SD=2,79). Based on the testing at three levels (second pilot study), several practical adaptations were introduced in order to make the test more achievable and explicit for the three age groups (6, 9 and 11 years).

The water safety test, as constructed in these two pilot studies, approaches a more valid assessment of the competences necessary to swim safely than a traditional distance swimming test. Teachers overestimate pupils’ aquatic skills and should be trained better in teaching and evaluating water safety skills. Because the pupils were not used to the content, the learning method and demonstrate the water safety skills, the assessment can become more focused when swimming lessons will introduce more of these basic skills instead of distances in traditional crawl and breaststroke.