Junior Section

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do your lessons take place?

Highgrove Pool, Hume Way, Ruislip, HA4 8DZ. We use the small (teaching) pool and the main pool.

St Helen's School Sports Complex, Green Lane, Northwood, HA6 1AF

Children are allocated spaces at either pool. It is not possible to request which pool children swim at.

When do your lessons take place?

Our lessons are 1.00pm - 3.00pm at St Helen's School Sports Complex and 3.30pm-5.30pm at Highgrove Pool on Sundays only. We run 3 blocks of 13 weeks through the year during term time. We do not have a half time break.

If my child misses their lesson can they make it up another time?

Unfortunately missed lessons cannot be made up.

How do you group the children?

Children are grouped with those with a similar ability and technique. Good technique is paramount and children will often spend longer swimming shorter distances to develop their technique and to ensure a smooth transition to longer distance swimming. Children are not grouped by stage as per other lesson providers.

How many children are in your groups?

The majority of our small pool classes at Highgrove will have 6 children in a class. There is a class teacher on the side of the pool and then pool helpers who assist the children in the water. Our half length classes at Highgrove have 6 children in a group and our full length classes have 7. In our 1 hour classes at Highgrove there are 10 children in a group and at St Helen's there are 12. Some of these groups will also have a pool helper working with them.

What badges do you do?

Our beginner groups start by working on Duckling Awards. We do Stages 1-7 and Distance awards from 5m-1000m. Our most advanced swimmers will also work towards their Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Badges & certificates are available to purchase at the end of each term for a cost of £4.00, purchase is optional but it is advisable to visit the desk on the last day of term and find out what stage/distance award(s) your swimmer has achieved during the term. Please note we do not issue progress reports or have an online portal to track progress towards badges.

Beginner Level - Duckling Awards

Intermediate Level - Learn to Swim Stage 1-7 Awards & Distance Awards

Advanced Level - Swimming Challenge Awards - Bronze Silver and Gold

What is the usual progression through the Junior Section classes?

The following chart aims to give a general guide for parents on progression through the lessons whilst working towards the Swim England stages and awards .

Where can I watch my child’s lesson?

Parents are not permitted on poolside at Highgrove Pool but can view the lessons from the spectator gallery. At St Helen's Pool spectators are able to watch the lessons from the path which runs down the outside of the pool. Children are not to be left unsupervised in the buildings and are the responsibility of parents/carers when they are not in their lesson.