Primary schools that fail to teach pupils to swim ‘should be named and shamed’

Campaigners have called on Ofsted to name and shame primary schools that fail to teach pupils to swim after figures showed almost half leave at 11 without being able to complete a length in the pool.

Under the national curriculum, schools are required to teach pupils to swim confidently over a distance of at least 25 metres, use a range of strokes effectively and know how to safely rescue themselves if they get into difficulties.

But the latest annual census by the Amateur Swimming Association shows that 45% of 11-year-olds leave for secondary school without being able to swim.

While a modest improvement on the figure of 51% last year, which the ASA said was a “positive step forward”, it believes more rigorous assessment is required by Ofsted to encourage schools to meet the requirements.

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