About Us

The outstanding Aqua Swim School was set up to provide the local private swimming industry with a quality (rather than quantity) swim school. To ensure this all teachers have a minimum of three years experience and are qualified at a minimum of a Level 2 certificate in swimming teaching. In addition all teachers have a lifeguard and first aid qualification and have been CRB checked and attend regular Sports Coach UK, Child Welfare and Protection courses. Aquakidz classes only have 6 pupils at a time in non swimmer,beginner and improver classes and no more than 8 in advanced classes. In non swimmer and beginners classes we also have friendly qualified helpers to further help the development of swimmers.

Teachers

Barry Alldrick

Barry has been a water baby all his life having represented the UK at both Swimming and Competitive Lifesaving. He is the passionate Head Coach of the Seagulls Swimming Club based in Christchurch and New Milton and regularly trains people to become Swimming Teachers and Lifeguards. Barry also has a vast knowledge within Fitness and was a Personal Trainer before moving into full time coaching. Barry has three ambitions, to swim the channel as a solo swim (relay completed in 2008), complete an Ironman Event, and coach a swimmer to an Olympic Gold.

Charlotte Alldrick

Charlotte is also a water baby and has been swimming since she can remember winning numerous Dorset Championships in Freestyle events and winning national open water championships.

Since being awarded a Sports Development and Fitness Diploma at college Charlotte has successfully been running the Aqua Swim School and Coaching at Seagulls Swimming Club gaining many swimming teaching, coaching and fitness qualifications. Charlotte also recently ran the London Marathon and her next goal is to become a Zumba and Aqua Zumba instructor!

Charlotte's passion is to teach young children from babies and watch them progress into talented swimmers who become National and Regional Champions.

Background

Barry and Charlotte started the Aqua Swim School in 2006, both have been immersed in swimming from the age of 6 months and between them have been International and National Level Youth Swimming Medallists, National Masters Medallists, an International Competitive Lifeguard with the UK RLSS, National and Regional long distance open water swimming champions.

They married in August 2011 and their lifes' currently evolve around taking part in a huge range of water sports from hydro-speeding, coasteering, wind and kite surfing, surfing and sea kayaking. It is this love for fun and water they enjoy sharing and instilling in their pupils.

Carolyn Skew

Carolyn grew up, with swimming playing a huge part in her life being a competitive swimmer with the New Milton Torpedos and was their club captain during a very succesful era. Carolyn now teaches the Development and Junior swimmers at the Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls.

Carolyn teaches with a high energy and classes are always fun, fun, fun!

Dee Seabrook

Dee is an extremely experienced and very popular teacher and regularly teaches all levels of abilities and ages from 3 month old beginners to national level swimmers. Dee has been teaching for 16 years and her father was a founder member of the New Milton Torpedo's swimming club where Dee trained and swam competitely up to the age of 17.

Apart from teaching parent and child and learn to swim lessons, Dee has recently started Seabrook Seals Open Water Swimming Club inspiring swimmers to take on the challenge of swimming the channel. Dee also has a deep knowledge of coaching competitive swimmers up to National Level having coached with the Bournemouth Dolphins Swimming Club giving her a great knowledge of stroke mechanics and being able to quickly identify and correct faults.

Dee teaches with great energy and draws all her pupils in with a constant infectious smile!

Tara Groom

Tara has been a swimmer all her life, started swimming at the age of 3 yrs when she was growing up in Hong Kong. Seeing her children enjoy the water at a young age Tara went on to take her swimming teaching qualifications to improve their technique and instil confidence. Finding this rewarding Tara was recruited by friends to teach their children and has become a very popular teacher.

Tara is a keen fitness fanatic and passes on her energy with great enthusiasm to inspire the swimmers

Chloe Dowson

Chloe swam competitively with Ringwood Seals and also progressed in cross country and athletics competing at Regional Level. Chloe is currently studying for a Sports Psychology and Coaching degree at Bournemouth University and alongside swimming teaching works as a Personal Trainer, Spinning, Circuit and Aqua Aerobics Instructor.

Like our other instructors Chloe shares a great energy and passion when teaching gaining the most out of swimmers.

Glenn Deveraux - Bailey

Glenn competed at Regional Level Swimming through the Christchurch Seagulls. Having spent time out of competive swimming whilst working in fitness and leisure management he has been drawn back in to once again enjoy the competitive environment. In Sept 2011 Glenn became the Assistant Head Swimming Coach of Seagulls Swimming Club coaching swimmers up to Regional and National level.

Glenn is a Level 2 Teacher and teaches well planned, motivating and fun lessons which swimmers thrive on.

Simon Kilminster

Simon has always enjoyed swimming and takes part in a range of water sports, especially surfing where he spends many weekends in the waves. During the week Simon is a teaching assistant at Twynham School and finds both school and swimming teaching equally as rewardng.

Simon teaches with a fun laid back yet progressive attitude, building a great rapport with his pupils.

Helpers

The Aqua Swim School carefully selects lesson helpers who are or have been immersed in swimming from an early age and have a background in swimming similar to our instructors. We ensure each helper has a fun personality and freindly face. Lesson helpers also hold a Poolside Helper Lifesaving Qualification and have a Student Teacher Qualification.

Molly Board

Molly swam with the Seagulls Swimming Club competing at County Level swimming and started with the Aqua Swim School in Sept 2009. She has become a very confident helper and her passion is to follow in the Arts and Drama after school. During lessons Molly succesfully uses her acting skills to open childrens imagination to learn water skills, increase confidence and build up swimming strokes.

Sophie Duffell

Sophie also swam with the Seagulls Swimming Club becoming one of their most succesful 1500m Freestyle swimmers of all time achieving a fourth at Nationals as well as regular Regional and County Medals. Sophie started with the Aqua Swim School in December 2009 and also assists running a bridging class from Aquakidz to Seagulls Swimming Club, called "Pre Gulls" to allow swimmers to pick up competitive skills. Sophie has become a very confident helper and has a great skill of building trust and rapport with timid swimmers very quickly as well as possessing a good knowledge of technical skill for progressing swimming strokes.

Rebecca Simpson

Rebecca still swims with the Seagulls Swimming Club more for fitness these days whilst concetrating on education. Although she can still pull out great swims currently, in her time Rebecca was a County Medallist and a Regional Competitor being one of the club's most succesful Breast-stroke swimmers. Rebecca started with the Aqua Swim School in Sept 2009 and is also a very confident helper, being able to ease timid swimmers into lessons, whilst showing an intelligient ability to "read" children and constantly adapt her approach sometimes nurturing, sometimes authoritive to instill confidence and learning. Rebecca also possesses a good knowledge of building up swimming strokes.

Franchesca Brown

Franchesca still swims with the Seagulls Swimming Club and loves pushing herself to achieve small goals whilst thoroughly enjoing the water and competing up to County Level. Franchesca started with the Aqua Swim School in September 2010 and is quickly learning all of the skill's in becoming a confident helper. Franchesca shows a natural friendly and caring rapport ensuring each child gains progression from every lesson. From her own swimming Franchesca shows a good knowledge of developing swimming strokes.

Venues

Currently the Aqua Swim School operates out of 3 venues, chosen by having good water quality and consistant evidence of being maintained to a high standard.

The Marriott Highcliffe Hotel, Bournemouth City Centre

The pool at the Bournemouth Marriott Highcliffe Hotel panoramically overlooks the Bournemouth Bay. There is an outdoor and an indoor pool and superb facilities within the hotel for coffees and chats whilst friends and families partake in their lessons. This pool is ideal for people wanting swimming lessons in Bournemouth, swimming lesson in Branksome, swimming lessons in Canford Cliffs, swimming lessons in Westbourne or swimming lessons in Alum Chime.

Stourfield School, Cranleigh Road, Bournemouth West Area

The pool here is well maintained and has recently had its entrance and changing rooms updated. This pool is ideal for people wanting swimming lessons in Southbourne, swimming lessons in Pokesdown, swimming lessons in Boscombe East or swimming lessons in Tuckton.

Bournemouth Collegiate School Senior Site (BCS), College Road, Southbourne area of Bournemouth

The pool here is a 4 x 25m lane swimming pool set in the garden of the private school. This pool is ideal for people wanting swimming lessons in Christchurch, swiming lessons in Bournemouth, swimming lessons in Soutbourne.