Q&A with Swim Design Space

Q: How long has your swim school been established, and what’s the story behind it?

Founded in 2021, Swim Design Space was created to offer a refreshing alternative to traditional swim schools, one that values design, atmosphere, and the emotional journey of learning as much as the physical skill itself. Our team set out to build a swimming environment that feels calm, professional, and personal. Every detail, from lesson design to communication with families, is crafted to help swimmers feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Q: What age range do you cater for, and which disciplines do you offer?

We teach swimmers from 2½ years through to adults, offering:
• Pre-School Framework
• Learn to Swim Stages 1–7
• Integrated SEND sessions
• Adult Learn to Swim
• School Swimming Year 4 – Year 9 (PE subject)
• Women-Only Lessons with full privacy and cultural awareness
• Girls-Only School Lessons in partnership with local schools

Our boutique model ensures small class sizes, meaningful relationships, and consistently high teaching standards.

Q: How many days a week do you offer lessons, and what type of lessons do you deliver?

We currently operate six days a week across Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean, delivering a blend of group, one-to-one and school-based sessions, and are now preparing to expand into Wales for a seventh day of delivery. Each session is carefully designed to balance progression, enjoyment, and calm, confident learning.

Q: What’s one of your favourite lesson themes?

A favourite is “Halloween Pumpkin Float – Water Safety Week.”
Children discover whether pumpkins sink or float, exploring buoyancy, balance, and rescue techniques through play. It’s creative, sensory, and fun, turning safety into curiosity and learning into adventure. The best part is that you receive a duck upon completion.

Q: How do you track progress and communicate with parents or students?

We use online progress-tracking software so families can view progress any time. All certificates and awards are purchased via Awards Direct and delivered straight to swimmers’ doors, creating a special moment of recognition that extends beyond the pool. It’s simple, professional, and perfectly aligned with our boutique ethos.

Q: Can you share your best testimonial from the last six months?

“Swim Design Space has completely transformed my son’s confidence. The teachers are calm, professional, and genuinely care about every child. It feels like a family — personal, high-quality, and beautifully run. We wouldn’t swim anywhere else.”

Q: Where would you like to see growth in the next 12 months?

We’re focused on impact, not scale, growing sustainably while maintaining the calm, design-led quality that defines us.
Our expansion into Wales will extend access for more families while preserving our boutique, relationship-centred approach.

Q: How does your swim school influence learning to swim and water safety in the community?

Community connection is at the heart of what we do. Through our credited partnerships, we collaborate on outreach and inclusion projects that remove barriers to swimming.

Our award-winning approach earned the Swim England Sporting Equals Aquatics Champion Award last October (2024). We have been lucky enough to be at the front line of Swim England Swim School to inspire new participation among ethnically diverse communities and are now entering a leisure-centre environment for the first time.

As Mike Hawkes, Swim England’s Head of Diversity & Inclusion, said:
“The team at Swim Design Space were very deserving of the Swim England Aquatics Champion Award.”

Q: What are your three top tips for someone starting a swim school?

1. Design your experience before your timetable – know what feeling you want families to take away.
2. Build an exceptional team – your teachers carry your values into every lesson.
3. Stay authentic – let your purpose, not numbers, guide your growth.

Q: What’s been the most useful thing about working with Swim England?

The Learn to Swim Programme gives us the structure and standards to innovate confidently. It ensures quality, progression, and safety while giving boutique swim schools like ours the freedom to deliver modern, inclusive experiences rooted in care and creativity.

👉 Find out more about becoming a Swim School Member here