Ministers admit they have failed to ensure all youngsters are taught a life skill which helps develop fitness and keeps them safe.
Lessons are compulsory in primaries, but 72 per cent have to take children to public facilities.
Just 15 per cent have their own pool.
Experts also fear some heads do not take swimming seriously enough as they focus on academic subjects. Education Secretary Damian Hinds will this week launch a drive to get private schools to share pools.
And he hopes it will lead to healthy swimming contests “between and within schools”.
There has been a decline in primary pupils playing competitive sport from 62 per cent in 2016 to 56 per cent last year.
Mr Hinds said yesterday: “As a parent I want my children to enjoy an active lifestyle — and as Education Secretary I want to make sure children grow up safe and water-confident.”
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