CONFIDENCE in the water begins at a young age when you have a pool right in the middle of your school.

Students at Warwick Christian College have started school with a splash, coming back to a newly renovated 25 meter lap pool that even the parents can enjoy.

Principle Carmelo Rubio said swimming was a focus of the school's health and physical education program.

"Teaching kids to be safe in the water is a big part of our swimming program,” Mr Rubio said.

"They learn to tread water, how to float on their back how to call for safety and what to do when they are caught in a difficult situation.”

Mr Rubio said swimming lessons began in Prep and teaching kids to swim and play in the water from a young age was crucial to preventing the loss of lives.

"We live in a country surrounded by water and some of the best beaches in the world, and yet every year we hear of deaths and drownings.”

Mr Rubio said rural children were particularly at risk of missing out on vital training when they were young.

"We have to teach our kids to be good, strong and sensible swimmers. The risks is still there especially for country kids,” he said.

The committment from Mr Rubio comes today as The Courier-Mail and 45 other News Queensland publications is launching an S.O.S. campaign to 'Save Our Schoolkids'.

Queensland is the only state in Australia that does not have a compulsory or comprehensive State Government-funded swimming program in its primary schools, despite our amazing beaches, rivers and dams.

Mr Rubio agreed that teaching kids to swim should be a priority in Queensland schools.

Students at Warwick Christian College will get the chance to put their new facility to the test in a swimming carnival this Friday.

Mr Rubio said the pool, which has been freshly painted and has new swimming blocks and an electronic touch pad was an asset to the school that kids and families loved using in the summer months.