CONCERNS have been raised over the increased use of “pop up” pools for school swimming lessons.

Councillors from across West Yorkshire were recently told there were “issues” around the use of above-ground pools.

One local councillor has called for Bradford Council to ban the use of such pools for swimming lessons.

Tightening school budgets have meant more schools are looking to pop-up pools to meet the national curriculum requirements for swimming.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Culture, Heritage and Sports Committee last month.

Nigel Harrison, CEO of the Yorkshire Sport Foundation, said: “Schools have less money and there is less school time to send children.

“The threat of future pool closures will have significant impact.

“Schools are increasingly attracted to pop-up pools. It sounds great, but there are issues around that.”

The report that went to the committee said: “There are stringent health and safety measures in place regarding the operation of swimming pools relating to supervision levels, storage and use of chemicals, water temperature, security, etc.

“It is incumbent on local authorities, head teachers and school staff to ensure these measures are in place relating to any temporary pool structures.

“Further national guidance from Swim England and Sport England is expected soon, which is expected to clarify the issues relating to pop-up pools and, in the meantime, local guidance is being distributed to all schools by the local authorities.

“It would not be possible to meet national curriculum standards in temporary pools due to their length, depth and the inability to jump in and climb out of the pool (without steps) in line with the water safety standards.”

Mr Harrison pointed out that Swim England, the Swimming Teachers’ Association and Swim Wales recently put out a statement saying they did not endorse the use of pop-up pools.

Tracy Brabin said the issues around pop-up pools were “worrying” and something the Authority would need to look at further.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) has written to Bradford Council bosses urging the authority to investigate banning the use of above-ground and temporary pools for the use by the district’s schools for swimming lessons.

She has cited water hygiene concerns, as well as arguing that the heating of such pools raises environmental issues and that pupils do not get the full pool experience from using such pools.

She fears an ongoing review of leisure facilities in Bradford, likely to lead to pool closures, could see even more schools looking to pop up pools for school swimming lessons.