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Bradford schools facing doubled costs for swimming lessons amid pool shortages
Overview
A campaign group in Bradford has warned that a shortage of local swimming facilities is forcing schools to pay double to cover transport costs or temporary pop-up pools. The comments coincide with a cross-party scrutiny review by Bradford Council examining school swimming provision, curriculum compliance, and facility costs, following figures showing only 58% of Year 6 children in the district can swim 25 metres.
Key points
- Campaigner Jeremy Thackray states that Bradford schools are seeing swimming provision costs double due to transport expenses and temporary pools.
- Bradford Council's Children's Scrutiny Committee has launched a review into school swimming lessons following concerns over facility shortages and costs.
- Data shows that only 58% of Year 6 children in Bradford could swim 25 metres in 2024-25, significantly below the national average of 72%.
- Plans for a new £32.9 million swimming pool and leisure centre at Squire Lane were recently abandoned by the council's executive.
- Campaigners are urging the council to use government funding previously allocated for Squire Lane to revive existing infrastructure such as Bingley Pool.