Swim School History

Prior to 1996 - Tom Gresty organised and ran a two week "Learn to Swim" courses during the summer holidays at Rugby school where he taught swimming on a part-time basis after retiring from British Rail. The courses proved to be very successful and popular with both parents and swimmers. This in turn created a need for more qualified swim teachers and Tom encouraged those who had qualified but had not taken up full-time teaching, to return to a sport which they enjoyed through the local swimming club.

During 1996 - It proved difficult to obtain water-time at the Rugby School pool and an approach was made to the bursar at Bilton Grange Preparatory School at Dunchurch, near Rugby. This proved successful and future "Learn to Swim Schools" flourished to even greater heights to include "Easter Swim Schools" along with the summer courses.

March 1998 - Parents were so impressed with the quality of the teaching, they encouraged Tom and his small team to approach Bilton Grange for water-time on a regular weekly basis which they did and again, with the help of a good relationship with the bursar, a one hour session each Sunday was agreed. This was so increased to two hours due to the pressure of more young children requiring lessons.

October 1998 - Following a successful "Summer Swim School" with pressure increased for even more weekend water availability Tom successfully negotiated further time on Sunday mornings and the "Tom Gresty Swim School" began in ernest. Other swim schemes in Rugby were over subscribed the number of enquiries for places increased accordingly. More water space was needed and because Tom insisted on the number of children in each class be kept to a minimum, more teachers were required. The quality of the teaching at the school was a very important factor in its success and Tom insisted all teachers must continue their education by up-grading their qualifications and attending Continuing Professional Development courses run by the ASA and ISTC if they were of interest. The swim school also has in-house performanace management and staff training.

On the ASA's decision to implement the "The National Plan for Teaching Swimming" Tom decided after much deliberation to transfer from using the six "Water Skill Awards" to using the twelve NPTS awards which were aimed with both the development of all swimming skills alongside the acquisition of techniques for the four competing strokes.

September 2005 - The school had over 200 swimmers of all ages ranging from 4 years up to
50 years all of whom are continually assessed by using the award systems. The NPTS levels 1 to 12, the Challenge Awards from Challenge Part 1 up to the very demanding Honours Challenge Award, as well as personal survival awards. Adults have heir own award system and seem to enjoy the challenges they present alongside gaining the fitness element achieved through swimming. The school has fostered a good relationship with local clubs and has a number of swimmers who train for triathlons.

Today - The swim school caters for swimmers of all ages and due to the continual professional development of the staff, has seen a number of squad swimmers progress to assist in the water. Adult leaner lesson have been developed to provide a safe and fun adult only learning environment. The school is able to offer a limited number of one to one lessons for swimmers with special needs by prior arrangement.

We have increased teaching time to meet increasing demand, three and a half hours on a sunday morning and two hours on a friday and one hour on Thursday evenings. Fridays are for swimmers who have gained level 7 or above, who have swum in our hour sessions and adult improvers. One hour on Thursday evening is dedicated to adults who wish to take part in a more advance training schedule.