English primary schools with more pupils on free school meals are more likely to have a higher percentage of children that are unable to swim 25m in year six, BBC research has found.

A BBC Freedom of Information request to the DfE showed that while 72% of Year 6 children on average left school able to swim 25m in 2024-25, this falls to just 55% for schools with a higher proportion of disadvantaged children.

The national curriculum in England states that when pupils leave in Year 6, they should be able to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25m. They should be able to use a range of strokes effectively and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

The research showed that while 70% of 2024-25 Year 6 leavers nationally could on average perform a safe self-rescue, only half of children from schools with the highest level of free meal eligibility could do so.

The research come after a number water-related deaths this summer.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) would like to see a fully funded, fully supported, high-level learn to swim programme that is supported by water safety education and then applied in an outdoor environment.