AIBU regarding DD birthday?

[HopeSpringsEternal2017]

DD will be turning 12. She wants to have some friends over to go swimming then home for food. AIBU to let them swim unsupervised at the local council pool?

What's your pool's rule about unaccompanied children?

Any over 8's can swim unsupervised

As long as you follow the pools rules it's fine

It's fine then.

That sounds fine. Do you have particular concerns about your daughter/ her froend's ability to swim?

I was going to ask if they can all swim!
Leave your mobile number at reception and stay close (ish) in case of emergency? (Unlikely but bumped heads or nosebleeds etc are possible!)

My son is 10 and goes with his friends regularly. They are all good swimmers.

What are you calling unsupervised? Will you be in the building?

I wouldn't. I try and be extra careful with other people's DC. It'd be a bit awkward having to explain that their kid was face down at the bottom of the pool when their Mum came to pick them up later.

Saucyjack that would never happen, pools have life guards !

Presumably there'll be a lifeguard there?

My dd is 11 and three quarters. No way would I let her go swimming on her own with friends. If I were responsible for her friends? Even worse. I'd have to supervise. Might be just me though. Here they don't walk down to the post box on their own yet.

The lifeguards at our pool are 16 years old and rarely looking at the pool.

She's just started a new school so I don't know any of there parents to ask which is why I think I'm worrying. Her previous friends I'd have no problem with as they are all sensible and swim like fishes. I only live 2 minutes from the pool and DD swims 6 times a week so all the lifeguards and staff know her very well.

My 10 year old and her friends from class take themselves off swimming at the local pool every week on the free under 18's evening. There are staff to ensure they're safe in the water. If they misbehave then they get chucked out and possibly even banned. (They could even phone the parents because it's a small town and all the local kids have school swimming there)
I've never thought to be concerned about her going (well, I can't say I wasn't a little nervous when she went for the first time as a 9 year old). 12 is definitely old enough in my book.

I was going swimming with friends without parents from the age of 9. I can't see any problem with this.

My 10 year old and all her friends go on their own.

My 10 year old goes with his friends - in fact they cycle there on the road together.

I would have no problem with what you propose, but I think you should at the pool as a spectator.

Maybe make it explicit in the invitations that they will be unsupervised except for the swimming pool staff. Then the parents can make their own decisions about whether that's OK for their children.

My kids have been meeting with friends to go swimming unsupervised by parents since they were around 9. I find it strange that people would not be comfortable with 12 years olds doing this.