SWIM
SCHOOL
LEARN THE BASICS OR BOOST YOUR SKILLS
At Wellington Health & Fitness Club, we believe swimming is more than just a sport, it’s a vital life skill! Sadly though, in the UK, an increasing body of research shows that children are stopping swimming far too early. In fact, as of 2023, around 200,000 children, nearly one in three, are unable to swim the statutory 25 metres when they leave primary school. We’re passionate about helping to change that statistic, building confidence, safety, and a lifelong love of the water.
Our swim school offers a welcoming and structured pathway for young swimmers, with lessons running after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons, making it easy to find a time that suits your family.
Thanks to the unique setup of our pool at Wellington College, children can join our Stage 1 group lessons in the school term during which they turn four. From there, swimmers progress through the Swim England Stages, developing skills and confidence all the way up to Stage 7. Those who complete the programme may then be invited to join our highly sought-after Rookie Lifeguard Club, the perfect next step for building water safety, rescue skills, and responsibility.
We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, supportive lessons at every level. Our beginner classes (Stages 1–2) with a maximum of nine children, are led by a qualified Level 2 teacher and supported by three in-water helpers to ensure plenty of individual attention. Our improver groups (Stages 3–6) are capped at 10 swimmers, maintaining a strong focus on technique and progression. For our advanced swimmers at Stage 7 and above, our hour-long sessions utilise the full pool space and can accommodate up to 25 participants, creating an energetic and engaging environment to refine skills and build endurance. These sessions currently run on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Whether your child is just starting their swimming journey or looking to take their skills further, we’re here to support every step, helping them become confident, capable swimmers for life.
For all group lesson enquiries please visit the following link, and leave us a message and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible:
https://morleisure.co.uk/MyLessons/MSL_Registration.asp?oid=397
If your enquiry is with regard to private lessons, please register interest the same way or feel free to email Katy, our Swim School Manager directly:
ONLINE
MEET
OUR TEACHERS
Lorraine
Swimming TeacherLorraine
Beginners, Improvers 1, Improvers 2
Katy
Swimming TeacherJoe
Swimming TeacherJoe
Beginners, Improvers 1, Improvers 2
Ben
Swimming TeacherBen
Beginners, Improvers 1, Improvers 2, Advanced
“I just want to say a massive thank you for all the work you put in with Sarah. She looks forward to your lessons and I can see such an improvement. Watching her swimming independently across the pool today had me welling up. It’s so rare to find people who understand and nurture children with needs but you do. Thank you so much.“
PARENT
HOW TO
ENROL YOUR CHILD
The priority with which you are able to enrol your children onto one of our classes depend on which category you fall into.
Priority 1a – For all existing attendees who wish to remain on the same course, day and time. Within the term you may at any time submit a request to change to the Swim School Manager, and we can apply this instantly where available or on an agreeable date. Where your request to change is for the next academic term we will honour this, where possible, before new families are offered places.
Priority 1b – For existing attendees who have completed a stage and are ready to move up to the next group. The same day and time will be offered where available, unless you communicate to us otherwise. Priorities 1a and 1b happen at the same time, but a child changing classes through progression up a stage will fall into priority 1b.
Priority 2 – For all new families.
COURSE
FEES
We take payment for a whole term up front before the term commences owing to our continual use of waiting lists. Course fees are dependent on the number of weeks in the calendar term. (Autumn is typically the longest term.)
30 Minute group lessons are £9.50 each. 60 minute group lessons £17.00 each and 45 minute Rookie Lifeguard Courses are charged at £14.00 per lesson. One to one private tuition is currently £22.50 for 30 minutes with two to one tuition for siblings of a similar age and swimming ability costing £32.50 for 30 minutes. All courses are non-refundable unless there is a medical reason.
AWARD OUTCOMES STAGE 1-7
LEARN TO SWIM
There’s never been a better time to learn to swim. Swimming keeps your heart and lungs healthy, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture. If you would like to know more about the swimming levels please visit the ASA Website.
STAGE ONE
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:
1. Enter the water safely.
2. Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
3. Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
4. Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
5. Scoop the water and wash the face.
6. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.
7. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.
8. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.
9. Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.
10. Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.
11. Give examples of two pool rules.
12. Exit the water safely.
STAGE TWO
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:
1. Jump in from poolside safely.
2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.
3. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.
4. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.
5. Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.
6. Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
7. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
8. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
9. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.
10. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.
11. Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
12. Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
13. Exit the water without support.
** Completion of Stage 2 and progression to the deep end and our Improver 1 class REQUIRES a child to be comfortably swimming independently, without floatation aids and with their face/mouth/nose and eyes in the water consistently.
STAGE THREE
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:
1. Jump in from poolside and submerge.
2. Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.
3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.
4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.
5. Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back.
6. Fully submerge to pick up an object.
7. Correctly identify three of the four key water safety messages.*
8. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.
9. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.
10. Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.
11. Exit the water without using steps.
* The four key water safety messages include: 1. Always swim in a safe place. 2. Always swim with an adult. 3. If you fall in, float, breathe, relax. 4. If someone else in trouble, call 999/112.
STAGE FOUR
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:
1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.
2. Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.
3. Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).
4. Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).
5. Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.
6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).
7. Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
8. Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.
9. Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.
10. Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.
STAGE FIVE
By completing this Award you will be able to:
1. Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.
2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
3. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.
4. Tread water for 30 seconds.
5. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
6. Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
7. Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
9. Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
10. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
11. Perform a forward somersault.
12. Demonstrate an action for getting help.
STAGE SIX
By completing this Award you will be able to:
1. Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important.
2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.
3. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.
4. Swim 10 metres wearing clothes.
5. Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
6. Push and glide and swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
7. Push and glide and swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths.
8. Push and glide and swim backstroke to include at least six regular breaths.
9. Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional (performed to Swim England expected standards).
10. Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.
11. Perform a surface dive.
STAGE SEVEN
By completing this Award you will be able to:
1. Push and glide and swim 25 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
2. Push and glide and swim 25 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
3. Push and glide and swim 25 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
4. Push and glide and swim 25 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
5. Perform a movement sequence (linking skills with strokes and sculls) of one minute duration, in a group of three or more, incorporating a number of the following skills:Sculling: head first, feet first Rotation: forward or backward somersault, log roll Floating: star on the front or on the back, tuck float, create own Eggbeater: Moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water
6. Perform a sitting dive or dive.
7. Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
8. Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes (performed to Swim England expected standards).
9. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.
10. Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout.
LIFEGUARDING
ROOKIE LIFEGUARD AWARDS
Built into the programme are lessons in valuable survival, rescue and sports skills…all delivered in an exciting way that will get children involved and motivated. The course can run parallel to your child’s current swimming lessons and will enhance the skills they learn in the pool.
For many of our Rookie Lifeguards, our programme offers the first opportunity to explore water safety, gradually gaining independence and confidence while learning vital life skills. Our programme will inspire and embolden your child, helping them keep themselves, their friends and their family safe in the water through a range of fun activities that lead towards a series of awards.
Rookie Lifeguard is aimed at children – though the skills learned through the course of the programme are just as valuable to people of all ages. The scheme begins with Stage 1 of the Bronze Award and progresses to Stage 3 of the Gold Award, starting off at an ability level suitable for brand-new swimmers and progressing to the level where our Rookie Lifeguards perform impressive lifesaving tows.
Rookie Lifeguard is part of the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme, although it can also be run as a stand-alone course by junior lifesaving clubs, leisure centres, swimming schools and as part of school swimming lessons. The Rookie Lifeguard programme fulfils all of the Key Stage 2 water safety elements of the National Curriculum and is taught by RLSS UK approved instructors.
At Wellington Health and Fitness Club we require all Rookie Lifeguard participants to have completed at least 1 full term of Advanced (Stage7+) swimming.
Click here to read more about our RLSS UK’s Rookie Lifeguard programme.
NATIONAL
POOL LIFEGUARD QUALIFICATION (NPLQ)
As well as our popular Swim School sessions, which run throughout the year, the Health & Fitness Club also runs NPLQ courses. The NPLQ covers all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ is in three sections and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification.
The NPLQ is a course for anyone aged 16 and over. In order to be eligible for the course, entrants must be able to: Jump or dive into deep water, swim 50 metres in 1 minute or less, swim 100 metres continuously on your front and then on your back and tread water for 30 seconds.
Our NPLQ life-guarding course is limited to a maximum of 12 places. Course times will be 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.
For further information contact Gaby on GMMC@wellingtonfitness.co.uk or phone 01344 444 244 to register your interest in the next course.
Cost: £230 for members OR £250 for non members
