Ages and Abilities

We do the following badges

Rookie Lifesavers and the ASA badges.

Water skills awards Level 1 to 6 and Duckling badges.

Swimming Challenge Bronze, Silver, Gold.

Rainbow Awards for distances from 5m upwards.

Children can start any time from aged 2 in the Parent and Child classes, then at 4 years old they can join in Grade 1 on their own. Each child then progresses through the Grades, Bronze, Silver and Gold at their own pace. After Gold for the keen swimmers we run Rookie Lifeguarding classes or Complete Swimmer classes.

For adults we run sessions for beginners through to training sessions which are great for fitness.

What each of these Water Skills means

Grade 1

Enter shallow water from poolside in a safe manner
Move across the pool with the water surface no lower than shoulder level
Submerge the face in water and blow bubbles for 3 seconds
Push and glide from the poolside or bottom on the front and move to a standing position
Push and glide from the poolside or bottom on back and move to a standing position
Travel on the back a minimum distance of 5 metres
Travel on the front a minimum distance of 5 metres
To rotate from back to front position and stand
Propel a ball for 3m by any method
Demonstrate a horizontal or vertical floating position for 10 seconds

Grade 2

Enter shallow water unaided from standing or sitting position without the use of the steps
Submerge head completely and blow out under water for a minimum of 3 seconds
Hold a tucked floating position for a minimum of 5 seconds
Swim 1 width on front using a crawl-type front paddle
Swim 1 width on back using a crawl-type leg action
Swim 1 width on front or back using a breaststroke type action
Swim 1 width full stroke on the front or back with arm recovery over the water
Demonstrate a horizontal or vertical floating position for 20 seconds
360 turn or roll
Swim 2 widths without pausing using any stroke

"Jane’s Swim School has taught my children from Parent and Toddler classes through to adult classes and given them the love of swimming and the confidence in the water that I wish I had. It was a lucky find. Both my daughters now out-swim their peers and this has all been down to them looking forward to their lessons each week. Jane has a special ability to connect with the children. They all love her."

Grade 3

Jump into water of at least full reach depth
Swim 4 widths without pause using any stroke
Submerge in shallow water and retrieve an object from the bottom using both hands
Tread water for 20 seconds
Swim 2 widths on front demonstrating good technique
Swim 2 widths on back demonstrating good technique
Swim 10m showing 3 changes of direction without touching the side of the pool or the bottom
Scull head first for 5 metres
Swim through a hoop in shoulder depth water
Swim continuously for 1 minute, using 2 different strokes and with good technique

Grade 4

Jump in and swim 25m without touching the side or the bottom
Surface dive, demonstrating good technique
Perform a forward somersault
Swim 25m front crawl or breast stroke showing good technique
Swim 25m back stroke showing good technique
Scull 5m head first and return feet first
Swim 5m dolphin leg action
Swim 2 widths any stroke including ‘correct’ turn complying with ASA law
Tread water for 20 seconds, followed by a 25m swim
Swim 5m under water
Enter shallow water unaided from standing or sitting position without the use of the steps
Submerge head completely and blow out under water for a minimum of 3 seconds
Hold a tucked floating position for a minimum of 5 seconds
Swim 1 width on front using a crawl-type front paddle
Swim 1 width on back using a crawl-type leg action
Swim 1 width on front or back using a breaststroke type action
Swim 1 width full stroke on the front or back with arm recovery over the water
Demonstrate a horizontal or vertical floating position for 20 seconds
360 turn or roll
Swim 2 widths without pausing using any stroke

"The swim school is brilliant it is the highlight of Benjamin (age 5) week."

Grade 5

Tread water 30 seconds, followed by a 25m swim which includes swimming through a hoop
Perform a back somersault
Surface dive followed by a 5m underwater swim
Swim 50m in 90 seconds
Swim 25m back or breast stroke
Dive into deep water and swim 25m front crawl
Swim1 width front crawl finishing with a front somersault into poolside & a push & glide away on the front or back
Swim1 width butterfly
Jump in deep water, with good height and an upright position
Swim 25m propelling a ball maintaining close control throughout

Grade 6

Swim 75m within 2 minutes using 3 different strokes and demonstrating good technique
Perform following skills consecutively and without pause: head first scull for 5 m, somersault, feet first scull for 5mand a 360 rotation in a vertical tucked position
Swim 3 widths of front crawl showing 2 appropriate turns and demonstrating good techniques
Swim 3 widths back crawl showing 2 back crawl turns and demonstrating good techniques
Swim 3 widths breast stroke showing 2 breast stroke turns and demonstrating good technique
Swim 2 widths butterfly
Perform 2 jumps, (straight, tuck, pick or turning) gaining good height
Propel a ball 25m, controlling throughout and demonstrating 2 changes of direction
Plunge dive, holding glide 5m
Plunge dive and tread water for 1 minute

Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards

Bronze

SECTION A

Jump into deep water
Swim 10m, followed by a surface-dive and swim under water for 5m
Tread water in a vertical position for 3 minutes
Scull head first on back for 15 metres with feet at or near the surface throughout

SECTION B

Swim 400m using 2 strokes. A minimum of 100m is to be swum on each stroke
Climb out at deep end

Silver

SECTION A

Plunge dive into deep water
Swim 100m in less than 3 minutes using any stroke
Tread water for 2 minutes one hand behind the back
Swim 10m followed by 1 head first and 1 feet first surface dive, bringing an object to the surface
Scull head first on back for 10m and return by sculling feet first, horizontal position must be maintained throughout

SECTION B

Swim 800m 400m on the front and 400m on back, a change of stroke may only occur every 50m
Climb out at deep end

Gold

SECTION A

Dive in swim 100m in 2 minutes 30 seconds or less using 2 different strokes, 50m of each
Tread water for 3 minutes with 1 hand above the head throughout. The arm raised maybe changed no more than 5 times
Scull head first on back for 10m, move into tucked position and turn through 360 keeping head above water and return to start sculling feet first. Feet near surface and hands close to hips.
Swim 10m, perform a forward somersault and continue to swim in the same direction for 10m

SECTION B

Swim 800m, in 25 minutes, using 3 of the following strokes , (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly or English backstroke) minimum distance 200m per stroke. A change of stroke may only occur every 100m.
Climb out at deep end