Ros qualified as a swimming teacher in 2002 when she was 47 years old. Throughout her 17-year award-winning career, Ros has enjoyed the flexibility and variety that teaching swimming provides.
Now 64, Ros, still works at Everyone Active’s Hart Leisure Centre, and who had her teaching achievement recognised at the Swim England South East Regional Awards in 2017, when she took home the Swim Teacher of the Year accolade. Ros says:
“I didn’t know much about swimming before I qualified, and I came to it as a career through my son and daughter’s involvement with their local swimming lessons and swimming club. My son, Mark, is a fantastic swimmer, and at one point was training ten times a week and trialled for the Sydney 2000 Olympic games. This meant I spent a lot of time at the pool, and started to officiate for swimming galas. I became more aware of the role their swimming teachers had in my children’s early life and development.
Both my son and daughter trained as lifeguards, and at 16 years old my daughter qualified as a swimming teacher. I saw how much enjoyment she got from the role and the training, and the year after she qualified I did too, gaining my level one and level two Swim England Swimming Teacher certification.”
Ros has always combined her teaching with other work and family commitments, including being a Sunday school teacher, owning her own pre-school, working as a learning support assistant and being a busy mum. These days, Ros uses the flexibility of teaching swimming to balance her church administrator volunteering role, as well as spending time with her grandson, including in the pool where he is showing excellent ability.
Ros’s career has developed as she has continued to upskill and learn new methods through CPD run by the Institute of Swimming, including Stroke and Technique Development, Starts and Turns as well as Voice Protection and Projection sessions. Ros says:
“I’ve always really enjoyed the training; the Institute of Swimming courses are up to date and very thorough. The training has given me so much more confidence in myself. In fact, I used to be quite shy, teaching swimming has really helped me to come out of my shell.”
Today Ros specialises in 1-2-1 sessions and working with children with special needs and learning difficulties. She says:
“I have always found teaching swimming to be extremely rewarding, and I value my pupils’ dedication and willingness to learn and listen. I enjoy working closely with young people that might just need some extra support. Their progress maybe slower, but small achievements are real milestones. I love to nurture a love and respect for the water.”