Are our qualifications enough?Challenging the status quo in learn-to-swim education

Let’s talk about the elephant in the pool.

Across the country, swim teachers are proudly displaying certificates, ticking CPD boxes, and delivering the same lessons their trainers taught them years—sometimes decades—ago. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Being qualified doesn’t always mean we’re equipped.

The Qualification Question

It’s time to ask the hard questions. Are the foundational swim teaching qualifications we rely on truly preparing us for the children we face in the pool today?

Children who are neurodivergent. Children with high anxiety or high energy. Children who are fiercely independent or deeply fearful. Children who don’t fit neatly into badge-based pathways.

The standard training structures weren’t designed with these children in mind. They were built around rigid frameworks, outcome-driven progressions, and a strong focus on stroke proficiency—often at the expense of emotional awareness, creativity, and connection.

Credit Where It’s Due

Now, let’s be clear—there are some excellent individual tutors out there. Inspiring educators who bring their own experience, warmth, and innovation to the training process. Tutors who light the spark for new teachers and encourage thinking beyond the manual.

But they’re working within a system that hasn’t kept pace with the evolving needs of our swimmers or our profession.

It’s not that what we have is all bad—it’s just not enough anymore.

Today’s Swimmers Need More

Modern swim teaching demands a deeper, more thoughtful approach. It’s not just about how far a child can swim, but how they feel, how they learn, and how they grow in the water.

That’s where concepts like:

• Water Wisdom – teaching children to understand water, not just survive in it

• SMART Swimmers – swimmers who are Self-aware, have Mastery of movement, show Anticipation, Respect the water, and Trust in their own abilities

• Power H2O – a philosophy of teaching that builds confidence, resilience, independence, and joy

…come into play.

These ideas move us beyond the basics and toward something far more profound: lifelong aquatic readiness, confidence, and capability.

The Power of Play and Communication

We must also acknowledge that how we teach is just as important as what we teach.

Purposeful play is not just fun—it’s fundamental. It builds understanding, reduces anxiety, and allows children to take ownership of their learning. Powerful communication—verbal and non-verbal—is essential to ensure every child feels safe, seen, and supported.

These aren’t “soft skills.” They’re core skills.

They should sit at the heart of every qualification, not be left to chance or experience alone.

A Call for Change

So here’s the challenge:

• Are we brave enough to admit that the system needs updating?

• Are we ready to demand qualifications that reflect the complexity of the children we teach?

• Are we willing to move away from outdated models and toward training that empowers teachers with modern, child-centred strategies?

  
  

Because the future of swimming isn’t about how fast a child can get a badge.

It’s about how confident they feel when faced with the unexpected. It’s about how safe they feel in water, even when the world feels uncertain. It’s about how much they love being in the pool—and how that love transforms into skill, awareness, and strength over time.

Let’s be the generation that evolves. Let’s choose progress over tradition. Let’s raise the standard—not just for teachers, but for the children who rely on us.

By challenging outdated methods and adopting new, purposeful strategies, we can create a learning environment where every child feels empowered to grow, explore, and thrive. If you’re ready to be part of a like-minded community of forward-thinking teachers, join the SWIM Squad membership today and access exclusive resources, inspiring ideas, and ongoing support to elevate your teaching. Let’s lead the way together and shape the future of swimming!