Private schools will be urged to open up their swimming pools to pupils from the state sector under plans announced by the education secretary.

Nearly half of pupils are unable to swim by the time they leave primary school despite the activity being a compulsory part of the national curriculum.

Damian Hinds called for the private sector to do more to help children in their community acquire the skill.

He said: “As a parent I want my children to enjoy swimming as part of an active lifestyle, and as Education Secretary I want to make sure our children grow up safe and water confident.

“That’s why I wanted to partner with the Independent Schools Council to get more private schools to offer up their pools, teachers or training to their neighbouring local state schools.

“Many independent schools are already doing this, but others can and must do more to help every child in their community.

“And as these partnerships develop, I hope to see some healthy competition between and within schools so that children can not only have the health benefit of swimming, but the team spirit and personal development that comes from competitive sport.”

Around half of the Independent Schools Council’s members that have swimming pools, some 304 of 603 schools, already share their facilities with other schools.

Some 72 per cent of primary schools have to use public facilities for their swimming classes.

Barnaby Lenon, Independent Schools Council chairman, said: “Swimming is a life skill which helps develop fitness and for many people leads to a lifetime of enjoyment.

“Many of those independent schools that have pools are already involved in swimming partnership work with other schools and the wider community.”