That Time of Year Again… Why Qualified Swimming Teachers Matter More Than Ever!

Every year, as swimming lessons ramp up and families start planning ahead, we run a recruitment drive at Sue’s Swim School. It’s an important part of making sure we continue to deliver safe, high-quality swimming lessons for children across all our pools.

This year’s recruitment brought up something we think parents deserve to know.

What We Found During Our Recent Recruitment Drive

We received 15 applications from individuals currently working at other local swim schools. All of them were enthusiastic, passionate about swimming, and keen to work with children.

However, when we looked closely at qualifications, only 5 of those applicants actually held the required qualifications to teach children how to swim.

That means two-thirds of applicants were not qualified swimming teachers, despite already working in lessons elsewhere.

This isn’t about blaming individuals – many were fantastic applicants – but it does highlight a wider issue within the industry. Sadly, some swim schools are cutting corners when it comes to staffing, often to reduce costs.

What “Qualified” Actually Means

At Sue’s Swim School, every instructor wearing a blue top is qualified to teach children to swim.

Our teachers hold recognised qualifications from:

• S.T.A (Swimming Teachers’ Association)

• Swim England

These qualifications aren’t just certificates – they cover:

• Child development

• Teaching techniques for different ages and abilities

• Water safety

• Risk management

• Safeguarding children

Teaching children to swim is a professional responsibility, not just a love of swimming.

Supporting New Teachers the Right Way

We also believe that qualification is just the starting point.

All new teachers at Sue’s Swim School:

• Complete a probation period

• Receive ongoing support and mentoring

• Are never left unsupported

For newly qualified teachers, we always pair them with a more experienced instructor so they can grow in confidence, pace, and lesson delivery.

During recruitment, we were genuinely shocked to learn that some applicants – as young as 15 years old – had previously been left alone in a building, running swimming lessons of up to 12 children, with no additional staff on site.

That is not something we are comfortable with. Ever.

Why We Always Have at Least Two Staff on Poolside

From a safety, safeguarding, and wellbeing point of view, we insist on having at least two members of staff at every pool, at all times.

Yes, this costs more. Yes, it’s harder to staff. But you can’t put a price on safety – for swimmers or for our team.

Having multiple staff members means:

• Better supervision

• Faster response in an emergency

• Support for instructors

• A safer environment for children

• Peace of mind for parents

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Why This Matters for Parents

When you choose swimming lessons for your child, you’re not just choosing a timetable or a location – you’re choosing:

• Who is responsible for your child’s safety

• Who is teaching them a life-saving skill

• Who is supporting them when they feel nervous or unsure

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At Sue’s Swim School, we’re proud to say that quality, safety, and proper qualifications are never optional.