Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many children in England leave school not being able to swim.

The department does not collect data on schools’ access to swimming pools or on pupils’ swimming ability on leaving school.

All schools in receipt of the primary PE and sport premium are required to publish the percentage of their pupils in year 6 who meet each of the three swimming and water safety national curriculum expectations. This includes the ability to swim 25 metres unaided. Schools will publish this data by 31 July 2023.

Sport England collects data from schools in England for its Active Lives Children and Young People’s Survey. Data from the 2020/21 academic year shows 76% of year 7 children can swim 25 metres unaided.