The boss of Swim Wales has warned that a lack of classes and rising costs means learning to swim could be limited to "white middle-class children" in the future. The governing body says only half of Wales' 1,600 primary schools provide classes and the cost of private lessons has rocketed.
Figures show that only 42% of children going into secondary schools in Wales can swim, and some private lessons have doubled in price since before the coronavirus pandemic from £6.50 to £12.50.
Boss Fergus Feeney told a Senedd select committee that children from deprived areas have "no chance" to learn the important life skill that is good for fitness and mental health. Speaking to the committee he said it was one of the rare sports that attracts people from six months to aged 96.
He told the inquiry that is looking into council leisure services: "We're going to have a situation very soon, dare I say it, that white middle class children will be able to swim and the rest won't.
"It's not a blame thing, but I think we've taken our eye off the ball regarding school swimming in a big way. The average cost of a lesson pre-Covid was £6.50 and post-Covid, in the current environment across Wales, the average cost of a swimming lesson is £12.50. We've nearly doubled the cost of a swimming lesson.
"So those children in those hard to reach areas, the under-served areas, the socially economically deprived areas, they have no chance and that's why school swimming is so important. We're going to have a situation very soon, dare I say it, that white middle class children will be able to swim and the rest won't".
Some parents in Cardiff have complained about the lack of public swimming sessions available in the area.
One mum, who lives in the south of the city, said: "Frustrated with the lack of public swimming sessions after school."
She said the pool closest to them is only open for public sessions between 3pm and 4pm, but with her children finishing school at 3.30pm means the only one closest is the International pool and that would cost her family £21.80 a session.
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