For more information, to check availability and to book your child onto one of our swim academy courses please email swimacademy@caterhamschool.co.uk
Our classes are aimed at learning and developing the basic movement skills of our swimmers with the main focus of having fun whilst being safe. We work with small class sizes typically 5:1 from 3 years onwards. Having small classes means we can give each child the individual attention they need and can work to their specific ability levels. At the end of each term all children will be awarded either a progress badge or a new swim stage badge.
Our Sunday classes run for 30 minutes between the hours of 8.30am-11.30am.
Our weekday classes are held on Mondays from 4-7pm and Thursdays between 4-6pm.
Private 1-to-1 lessons are also available to book, subject to availability. Please contact the Swim Academy Manager to enquire about availability.
At any one time slot we run three ability classes:
While focusing building water confidence, we encourage swimmers to move more independently, learning the very basics of arm and leg movements.
In the Ducklings groups. We teach in the pool with a ratio of 6:1. We tend to have a water assistant in the water to help with the lesson.
To move up from Ducklings 1 (Duckling stage 1+2), we ask swimmers to be able to :-
Travel 3 meters kicking on back without support.
Submerge their face with confidence.
Enter the pool, rotate and return.
To move up from Ducklings 2 (Duckling stage 3+4), we ask swimmers to be able to :-
Travel 10 meters on front or back without support
Push off on the front and back in streamlined shape.
Perform a mushroom or star float.
Dolphins group will learn to swim independently using flotation aids and progress towards swimming further unaided. We focus on arm technique and breathing within this group.
In the Dolphins groups. We teach in the pool with a ratio of 5:1. We tend to have a water assistant in the water to help with the lesson.
To move up from Dolphins 1 (Stage 1+2), we ask swimmers to be able to :-
Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on front and back for 5 metres.
Push from a wall and glide on the front and back with arms extended.
Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.
To move up from Dolphins 2 (Stage 3+4), we ask swimmers to be able to :-
Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.
Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).
Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).
Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.
Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).
Sharks will be swimming full lengths, focusing on stamina and techniques required to master all strokes.
In sharks we teach from the poolside with a ratio of 7:1. In this group they will swim in lanes to build their stamina and focusing on better technique across all strokes.
To move up from Sharks 1 (Stage 5+6), we ask swimmers to be able to :-
Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional (performed to Swim England expected standards).
To move up from Sharks 2 (Stage 7+8), we ask swimmers to be able to :-
Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Perform a dive track or grab start and kick butterfly underwater in a streamlined position for 5m with the focus on progressing it to 10m.
During school holidays the Academy holds a range of different swimming courses for all ages and abilities, all of which can be found on the Wildcats Camp website. These include:
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