Our Swim Teachers

Thanks to my parents wanting me to be safe whilst enjoying the water from a very young age I have loved swimming all my life. And I wanted the same for my two children. Swimming lessons with them both was always my favourite time of the week. Our Baby lessons was our time to bond – just me and them and one of the most precious times in my life, to then watching them on the side line growing as swimmers, knowing they would always be safe in the water.

And because of that I became a Swimming Teacher 10 years ago and have never looked back. Over the 10 years of teaching children of all ages the most rewarding thing for me is to see a child go from strength to strength, loving the water and all the rewards it brings. I truly believe teaching a child to swim is one of the most important life skills we can give our children. It opens up so many opportunities for them and something they can enjoy for a lifetime.

I have been actively teaching and coaching swimming for 10 years at various sites across Sussex. During this time I have seen thousands of children and adults grow into confident swimmers and learn to love the water – there is nothing more rewarding!

Swimming has always been a huge part of my life, I swam competitively when I was younger, it became my job and it's even how I met my wife! My biggest swimming achievements are medals at the National Open Water Championships and Masters Championships as well as podium finishes in some of the best known marathon swimming competitions in the UK and Europe. Alongside swimming I also competed as part of the team GB AG Triathlon team and achieved two gold medals at the Multisport World Championships in Canada and Denmark.

As well as teaching, I used to run the foundation squads for Atlantis swimming club and have taught multiple county champions and seen swimmers go on to become regional and national medalists.

I love being poolside and want to make sure everyone can get the most from swimming and go on to love the water as much as I do!

My swimming journey started over 40 years ago. After my first lesson I knew that swimming was my passion. I still remember my first teacher with great affection. I started swimming for a club, progressed to County swimming and then to International competitions. Fast forward a few years, and after the birth of my first child I began my first role in education. I taught for 17 years at an independent school where my first role was a PE Teacher – teaching Reception to Yr 11. I taught most sports and swimming featured heavily in the diary.

I went back to college to specialise in Early Years and was appointed the Manager of the Nursery Department where I took 14 early years children swimming every – this was the most rewarding part of my teaching career.

The time was right and I decided to focus purely on teaching swimming. I believe the ethos of Early Years runs true for all children. Every child is unique and they all learn in different ways, at different times. I have gained the skills and knowledge through my other rolls to establish the trust of both children and parents. I am dedicated to teaching children a lifesaving skill and I believe all children need to learn in a nurturing and fun environment where they will thrive and learn to understand the many different ways that swimming can enhance their lives.

Hi, I’m Carley and I have loved the water for as long as I can remember, having been taught from a really early age to swim. I am now a mother of three young children (who of course all love the water too!) and I am truly passionate about water safety and nurturing a love of the water from a young age.

There is nothing more wonderful than watching your children grow in confidence and ability during their lessons. I believe with patience, trust and lots of fun, swimming should be something that our children look forward to, as well of course as being a key life and safety skill.

I can honestly say I love my job, I’m famed for loving a song! I believe that building relationships with the children and understanding them as individuals is the key to getting the best from them. Swimming is a skill that will be with them for a lifetime. Can’t wait to meet you all.

Hello, I’m Karen . I’ve loved swimming since I was little, spending all summer in the local lido and joining a synchronised swimming club. When I had my son, I couldn’t wait to introduce him to the water and started baby swimming lessons when he was 3 months old. I loved our time in the water together, it’s such a bonding experience and watching his confidence grow has been such a joy. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to train to be a baby & preschool teacher so I could share this joy with other parents and their children.

I have always loved the water and swam for my county when I was younger. Swimming lessons was one of the first things I arranged when becoming a mummy and I wanted my boys to be safe and confident in the water as soon as possible and to also share such a lovely bonding experience with them.

They have been at WGSA from the beginning and I have watched them both come on leaps and bounds. The care and attention given to each child has been so lovely to watch.

I am looking forward to Being apart of your child’s journey in the water and developing your children's skills whilst having lots of fun. 

Seeing their confidence grow each week makes it the best job!

Hello, my name is Ellie. I have been swimming since I was a baby, and my passion for the water has only grown stronger over the years. I progressed to swimming competitively with Atlantis Swimming Club, where I took part in many competitions and was proud to achieve numerous medals and awards, particularly for my front crawl and Butterfly. Along the way, I was fortunate enough to meet ex-Olympic swimmers and even had the incredible opportunity to swim in the Olympic pool in London.

Swimming has always been a huge part of my life, not only as a sport but also as a way to support both physical and mental wellbeing. This passion inspires me to share the joy and benefits of swimming with children. I love watching young swimmers develop their skills, build confidence, and most importantly, learn to enjoy the water in a safe and fun way.

I believe every child deserves the chance to learn how to swim, and I feel privileged to play a part in their journey. Teaching swimming allows me to combine my love for the sport with my commitment to helping children grow, stay safe, and discover the lifelong benefits of swimming.

I spent over 16 years working in HR before starting my swimming teaching career just over three years ago. The people and problem-solving skills I developed in that time have helped me hugely in the pool.

I’m naturally kind, patient, and nurturing, and I love creating a calm and supportive environment where swimmers can build confidence and enjoy learning. As a mum of two energetic “Duracell Bunny” boys, I also know when a gentle nudge is needed to help them (and my swimmers!) reach their potential.

Outside of the pool, I’m a classically trained singer and have performed with my local theatre company since I was young — so a nursery rhyme or singalong in the water is right up my street!

I have loved the water for as long as I can remember, whether it be swimming, a Lido or water parks I have always found fun in the water.

After having my son I knew I wanted him to learn the important life skill as soon as possible. He started lessons at around 3 months old.

From watching him flourish for the last few years I knew that this was a career I would find so rewarding. Being apart of developing your children's skills in the water and tailoring their learning to their individual needs. I believe it is such an important skill to have and children thrive when learning in a fun safe environment. There is nothing more rewarding than watching the children's progression in the water.

I absolutely love this job and cannot wait to be a part of your child's journey in the water.

Hi, I’m Sofia and I have been swimming for longer than I can remember. Swimming has been such a huge part of my life and it has brought me so many great opportunities and an incredible sense of achievement. I have swum competitively for a long time and have been able to race in regional level individually and national level in a relay team. Swimming has taught me to push myself and work towards something I love. But not only this, I have met my friends for life through swimming, I have built relationships with coaches and it is an outlet for my mind to be at peace. As a new teacher, I only wish to pass these skills on to our little ones so they can grow up with this incredibly important life skill and build their own memories and experiences through swimming. My main goal is to have them grow to love the water and most importantly be able to keep themselves safe in it.