A Swindon primary school is cutting back its swimming provision amid concerns over major changes to government funding for PE and sport.
South Marston Church of England Primary School has told parents that swimming lessons will be restricted to Key Stage 2 pupils from September.
The school is facing an approximately £16,000 reduction in funding it currently receives through the Primary PE and Sport Premium.
Swindon Conservatives, who run Swindon Borough Council, have called on the Government to reconsider the changes, warning other schools could also be affected.
Under the existing scheme, most eligible primary schools receive at least £16,000 a year, with additional funding based on pupil numbers.
The ring-fenced money can be used by schools to improve their PE and sporting provision.
In May, the Government announced plans to replace the scheme with a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, which is expected to be fully operational from spring 2027.
Ministers have committed more than £1 billion over three years to children’s physical activity.
That includes £580 million for the new network, almost £200 million for improvements to sporting facilities and a one-off £100 million PE Premium payment to primary schools during the transition.
But Swindon Conservatives claim the changes will result in schools having less control over funding and how sporting opportunities are provided.
South Marston Primary School says swimming costs an average of around £85 per pupil and it has already subsidised provision by an additional £6,000 during the current year.
Councillor Matthew Vallender, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Sport and Leisure and ward councillor for South Marston, said: “The Labour Government can dress this decision up however it likes, but the reality for schools is less control over their funding and less money available to provide opportunities for children.
“It is deeply disappointing that one of our local schools is being forced to reduce its swimming provision because of a decision made by the Labour Government.
“At a time when we should be helping more children to become active and confident in the water, ministers are introducing a system with less annual funding and less direct control for schools.
“Our Conservative administration wants to improve access to sport and leisure across Swindon. That ambition is made harder when the Government cuts established funding streams and leaves schools to explain to parents why opportunities are being withdrawn.
“We will continue working with schools and local PE providers to understand the wider impact in Swindon, but the Government must take responsibility and reconsider this damaging change.”
Councillor Kate Tomlinson, the council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Education, has also visited Swindon-based HS Sport.
The company provides PE coaches to five local schools and runs holiday sports and football camps.
HS Sport founder Harvey Scholes said some schools have indicated that funding pressures could affect their ability to employ specialist coaches.
He said:
“We run PE lessons in five local schools in Swindon. Our coaches are amazing role models for the children and they really enjoy it.
“We also hear back regularly about the positive impact that the PE lessons have, including children being able to focus better on other lessons including Maths and English, as well as the very positive impact that PE has on their mental health.
“Unfortunately, we have heard from some schools that because of the cuts in funding they aren’t able to bring in sports coaches to deliver those lessons and that the provision will have to be reduced.”
Councillor Tomlinson said: “Reducing the money given to schools for PE will set back the positive work done to encourage physical activity which has a positive impact on physical and mental well-being, as well as giving pupils a better chance to focus on other lessons throughout the day.
“Schools are having to re-adjust budgets which are already stretched and make difficult decisions to cut back PE provision.
“We believe schools are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils. Taking funding away from individual schools and moving it into a centralised national structure risks removing both their flexibility and their ability to plan with confidence.”
The Government says fewer than half of young people achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day.
It says girls, children with special educational needs and disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly affected, while one in five children are living with obesity by the end of primary school.
Ministers argue the figures show why the existing funding system needs reform.
The Department for Education says the replacement network will connect schools with grassroots clubs and national sporting bodies.
It says the system could provide specialist coaching, teacher development, extracurricular activities and support with swimming and water safety.
The Government has described the existing PE Premium as a “one-size fits all” approach and says its replacement will allow support to be targeted at children and areas where inactivity is greatest.
Swindon’s Conservative administration is calling for sufficient funding to continue going directly to schools, greater certainty over future allocations and guarantees that children will not lose sporting or swimming opportunities during the transition.
