CHILDREN in primary schools with more pupils on free meals are less likely to be able to swim 25 metres, researchers said today.

A Freedom of Information request to the Department for Education (DfE) submitted by the BBC found that only 55 per cent of pupils in English schools with more disadvantaged children were able to swim the distance.

This represents a significant drop from the overall average 72 per cent for the same Year Six students.

Royal Life Saving Society head of water safety and education Ashley Jones blamed accessibility, adding it was “absolutely vital” young people know basic swimming skills.

“We’ve got some incredible public leisure facilities, just not enough of them,” he said.

A DfE spokesperson said the department was aware of the gap and it “needs to change.”

It comes after several related deaths this summer, including an 18-year-old man who died after getting into difficulty in the seat last weekend in East Sussex.