Crucial more Hull children learn to swim, experts say

The national curriculum states that Year 6 pupils should be able to swim proficiently over at least 25m, use a range of strokes and perform a safe “self-rescue”, which involves being able to tread water, float and leave the water unaided.

The figures, for 2024-25, show 67% of pupils in Hull on average could perform a self-rescue, but only 53% could perform a range of swimming strokes.

In the neighbouring East Riding of Yorkshire, an average of 75% could swim 25m, 79% could perform a self-rescue and 73% could swim a range of strokes.

Nationally, the BBC found poorer outcomes at schools with a higher proportion of disadvantaged children.

The Department for Education (DfE) said it was aware of the gap and it needed to change.

Rudd said a range of factors could affect how many children learned to swim, including the availability of facilities, affordability of lessons and the attitude of parents and guardians.

“We find that an awful lot of children who have to come under the National Curriculum guidelines at the age of eight have never been in a swimming pool before,” he added.