So you want to teach swimming? Great, we provide the best opportunities for you to achieve your ambitions. We can help you start your journey as a swimming teacher, and then support you every step of the way as you progress to the level you want.

We’re the UK’s most experienced trainer

As the largest trainer of swimming teachers in the UK, we have a vast experience in supporting all kinds of people achieve teaching qualifications, and we’d love to help you do the same.

Let’s get you qualified

While being an active and challenging role, becoming a swimming teacher is also hugely rewarding. You’ll have great opportunities for employment. Yes, you’ll need your qualifications, but thanks to our expertise and experience, gaining these is also fun and rewarding.

Watch this short video which showcases the experiences of real swim teachers, the rewards of teaching swimming and the benefits of a Swim England Qualifications (SEQ) course.

To become a swimming teacher there are two qualifications for you to gain. The SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) course is the first step and it allows you to support a Level 2 qualified swimming teacher. We then recommend gaining at least 3 months of experience as a swimming assistant before attending an SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming course. Once you have your level 2 qualification you can then add you your skills with our Level 2 Teaching Pre-school Swimming course or brand new SEQ Level 3 Swim Coordinator.

Teaching swimming courses

SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching)

Develops your knowledge, skills and abilities as an assistant swimming teacher.

SEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher

Builds on the SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) qualification, giving you the skills to independently deliver swimming lessons.

SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers

Builds on the SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification, developing your knowledge and skills to teach swimming to babies and toddlers.

SEQ Level 3 Swim Coordinator

Produced collaboratively with the swimming sector, to develop leadership skills, support business needs, improve the customer experience and maximise pool performance.

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Continued Professional Development (CPD)

We find that for most the gaining of a qualification is only the start of their swimming journey. The best teachers and coaches are always looking to add to their knowledge and develop their skills.

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School Swimming

The National Curriculum Training Programme gives you the skills and knowledge to deliver high quality school swimming lessons to make sure your school not only meets but exceeds the national curriculum requirements

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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

If you already possess the skills and knowledge needed to gain a Swim England qualification, RPL could be the route for you. To qualify through RPL you match your knowledge and experience against the course specification.

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Institute of Swimming Membership

Help and support so you can develop your capabilities as a swimming teacher

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Teaching news

E-learning exploring the Swim England Return to Pools Guidance now open to everyone

To support the release of Swim England’s Return to Pools guidance, the Institute of Swimming created a series of free training webinars and e-learning for swimming teachers and assistants. The webinars saw unprecedented demand with 5000 places taken in just a couple of weeks. These webinars covered an Introduction to the Returning to Pools Guidance, Teaching from Poolside, Effective Communication and Teaching in Deep Water. To make sure

Industry-first qualification supports sector needs and helps teachers take the next step in their career

Swim England Qualifications have launched their SEQ Level 3 Swim Coordinator qualification which is an industry first and been produced collaboratively with the swimming sector. It has been designed to develop leadership skills, support business needs, improve the customer experience and maximise pool performance. The programme is relevant to the current operating environment and gets the candidates to utilise working case studies from their

Swimming teacher training to support Swim England’s Returning to Pools Guidance

In mid-June Swim England released their comprehensive Returning to Pools Guidance which includes robust recommendations for how the whole sector can safely reopen in line with government guidance. So swimming teachers and operators can implement the guidance safely and effectively, and restart their learn to swim programmes, the Institute of Swimming has created a suite of free learning in partnership with Swim England. A series of live

New Introduction to Teaching the Four Strokes online learning

The Institute of Swimming has developed a new suite of four interactive online courses, enabling you to deliver practical sessions that focus on the development of a good technique across all four strokes, from non-swimmers to improvers. The Introduction to Teaching Front Crawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly online courses have also been brought together as a bundle and free for Institute of Swimming Members. All members will be

Institute of Swimming delivers bespoke Aquatic Online Training for Derby City Council Swimming Teachers during Covid-19 Pandemic

The Institute of Swimming has developed bespoke online training for its long term partner, Derby City Council, after an aquatic conference day developed by the Institute of Swimming, was cancelled due to the government’s Covid-19 guidelines. The Institute of Swimming modified the conference day, transforming the training into an online platform to maintain Derby City Council’s operational aquatic strategy. Ben Hannan, Sports Manager,

Swim England’s top tutor talks about her career and gives her tips on training to be a swimming teacher

Carolyn, 35, is this year’s Swim England Tutor of the Year. Her career in aquatics is a testament to her hard work and love of the sport. Carolyn delivers both the SEQ Level 1 and SEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher courses, as well as CPD training and is currently upskilling to tutor the assistant coach certificate. Based in Manchester, Carolyn is delivering most of her courses around the North of England. Her job as a tutor is varied, busy and,

Teaching Swimming

We’re the UK’s most experienced trainer

Let’s get you qualified

Teaching swimming courses

SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching)

SEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher

SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers

SEQ Level 3 Swim Coordinator

Find your nearest course

Continued Professional Development (CPD)

Continued Professional Development (CPD)

School Swimming

School Swimming

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Institute of Swimming Membership

Institute of Swimming Membership

Teaching news

E-learning exploring the Swim England Return to Pools Guidance now open to everyone

Industry-first qualification supports sector needs and helps teachers take the next step in their career

Swimming teacher training to support Swim England’s Returning to Pools Guidance

New Introduction to Teaching the Four Strokes online learning

Institute of Swimming delivers bespoke Aquatic Online Training for Derby City Council Swimming Teachers during Covid-19 Pandemic

Swim England’s top tutor talks about her career and gives her tips on training to be a swimming teacher

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