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Blue Shirts, Real Skills: Why Qualifications Matter!
- Sue's Swim School England
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
We know—it sounds a bit like discovering your pilot got their licence from a cereal box. But yes, it’s true. In the UK, there’s currently no legal requirement for swimming teachers to hold formal qualifications. It’s strongly advised, but not mandatory. Wild, right?
Recently, during a recruitment drive here at Sue’s Swim School, we were surprised (and slightly alarmed) to find that more than 20 applicants from well-known, local swim schools had been teaching without the necessary qualifications. Some were even teaching swimming in primary schools. And before you start imagining rogue instructors cannonballing into lessons with zero training—don’t worry. It’s not really their fault.
The truth is, many companies are cutting corners by employing unqualified instructors to save on costs. And while these individuals may be enthusiastic and well-meaning, they’ve often been placed in roles without the right training or support.
At Sue’s Swim School, we take a very different approach. All of our instructors—the friendly faces you see in the iconic blue shirts—are fully qualified Level 2 Swimming Teachers. They’ve earned their credentials through the UK’s governing bodies: the STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association) or Swim England. That means every lesson is led by someone who knows how to teach safely, effectively, and with a whole lot of passion.
And it doesn’t stop there. We don’t just hire qualified teachers—we keep training them. From regular workshops to refresher courses and safeguarding updates, our staff are constantly learning, improving, and staying on top of best practice.
So as we head into another recruitment phase, we want to reassure all our swimmers and their families: at Sue’s Swim School, you're in safe (and fully certified) hands.
Because when it comes to learning a life-saving skill like swimming, qualifications aren’t just a nice-to-have. They're essential.
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