A WORKING group to explore options for bringing back swimming lessons in schools is to be set up.

The move has been welcomed by Dunfermline Central councillor Aude Boubaker-Calder, the Fife Liberal Democrat spokesperson on education, who previously called on Full Council to reinstate swimming lessons in the primary school Physical Education curriculum.

She raised concerns over figures that showed that over a quarter of P7 pupils in the Kingdom are unable to swim and that the issue disproportionately affected children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

"Swimming is not only a vital life-saving skill, but also an excellent form of exercise with positive effects on wellbeing," she said.

"It is shocking that today's report shows over a quarter of P7 pupils cannot swim, and this is particularly unacceptable in the 2020s."

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She further criticised the 2015 decision by the SNP government to remove swimming from the Scottish PE curriculum and cut its funding, noting that swimming remains part of the curriculum in England.

“I join Swimming Scotland in calling the Scottish Government to reinstate the funding cut in 2015, which is essential for local authorities to provide swimming lessons. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn this crucial skill, regardless of their background," she emphasised.

"I am pleased that we have now agreed to set up a working group to explore the best ways to ensure all pupils have the opportunity to learn this essential skill.

"The report outlined a range of options, and we must now move forward to address this gap and provide every child with the chance to learn to swim."

Earlier this year, Fife Councillors were told that it would cost £2.2 million a year to give all P6 children the opportunity to learn to swim.

They were told this included £110,000 per year for additional instructors, £970,000 for pool hire and £1.1m for transport costs.

Last year, the council said reintroducing swimming as part of the school curriculum would be a "huge challenge" due to pool closures, lack of funds and spiralling energy bills.