National Calendar

Please check the individual Division Page for information about your local Divisional events.
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Water Polo (Sept – May) 

[see Water Polo]

A range of competitions are held for both boys’ and girls’ groups at varying levels across the year.
Cadet competitions aim to attract new players into competitive water polo.
A championship competition is held for U18, U15 and U13 age groups. The first phase of preliminary competitions is mostly regionalised. Following this preliminary phase the U18 and U15 age groups split into three levels;

• the ‘Championship’, where the elite schools compete for the national title,
• the ‘Plate’ where the intermediate schools compete for their national title, and
• the ‘Bowl’ where the developing schools compete for their national title.

A one day tournament is also held for the top 60 boys and girls, who compete in the Prince of Wales Cup. International Honours can also be achieved by selection (usually at the Prince of Wales Cup).

Secondary Schools’ Team Championships (Sept – Nov) 

[see Secondary Team Championships]

A team competition comprising a qualification round held in September, followed by National Finals held typically on 3rd Saturday in November. Teams comprise 4 boys, 4 girls, or a mixed team of 2 boys and 2 girls and swim 4x50m Freestyle and Medley relays. Teams enter in junior (Year 7-8), Intermediate (Yr 9-10) or Senior (Yr 11-13) age groups. The championships also include events for Para swimmers, entered as a divisional team

Primary Schools’ Team Championships (March-June)

[see Primary Team Championships]

A team competition comprising a qualification round held in March-May, followed by National Finals held typically on 3rd Saturday in June. Teams comprise 4 boys, 4 girls, or a mixed team (any combination of 4 swimmers) and swim 4x25m Freestyle and Mixed stroke relays. There is a single age group covering Yrs 5-6, with teams able to enter as Small schools, Medium Schools, or ‘Open’ school. The championships also include events for Para swimmers, entered as a divisional team

International Schools Gymnasiade (varies)

[see International School Games]

ESSA selects a team of swimmers and para swimmers to represent England in International School Swimming events. Typically these are held every 2nd year. Selection for these events is dependent on participation in other ESSA events.

Summer Open (Individual) Championships

[see Summer Open]

This is an open meet entered by individuals, schools or clubs. It is held in the South East in June/July

ESSA Age Groups

Ages are calculated at midnight 31st August/1st September at the beginning of academic year of competition:
e.g. for competitions in school year 2025/26, swimmers must have been born in the date range below (inclusive) to participate in that age-group's events: