From schools to marines, Swimmingfirst have a strong ground in education

Swimmingfirst is a Swim England Qualifications (SEQ) Approved Training Centre (ATC) based in the South West offering regular training opportunities for SEQ Swimming Teaching qualifications.

With venues in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Hampshire the Swimmingfirst team offer regular opportunities to get qualified as a Swimming Teacher. 

The Swimmingfirst ATC is managed by Jane Hushon an experienced tutor who has been delivering Swim England courses since 1994.

She works alongside Colin Christmas (from Taunton in Somerset), Gill Instance (Carn Brea, Cornwall) and Shelley Mott (Oaklands Community Pool, Southampton) and a result thousands of individuals have accessed training on their journey to become swim teachers and coaches. 

All Swimmingfirst’s tutors have a strong grounding in education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and experience of teaching within schools; the ability to link educational milestones with swimming in a key strength of the delivery. 

Jane said: “Colin Christmas and Gill Instance were my mentors when I first started tutoring, sharing content and experience has been invaluable. The opportunity to still work as part of a team and nurture new talent like Shelley is particularly rewarding.”

Swimmingfirst has the privileged position of working from the pool at The Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines (CTCRM). “For over 25 years I have been the Swimming Specialist with the responsibility for training Royal Marine Physical Training Instructors at CTCRM,” explained Jane. 

“This is a particularly rewarding role and offering Swim England Qualifications to members of the Royal Marines is our way of supporting the armed forces and recruits in training. The Physical Training Instructors deliver both pool-based sessions and open water sessions to develop confidence and competence for amphibious capabilities.”

Real scenarios

Another valued partner is the University of Exeter with courses offered at St Luke’s Pool for students and the local community. Both Jane and Colin have worked as University Lecturers on the Physical Education Teacher Training Course (PGCE) and bring this teacher training expertise to their swimming teacher training courses. 

Swimmingfirst is fortunate in that the tutors offering training are also experienced coaches and athletes. 

Jane was a competitive swimmer and is the current Swim England Open Water Masters 3k Champion and believes freshness of the training is ensured. 

She continued: “As tutors, we are all still actively teaching and coaching swimming on a regular basis. Jane runs her Swim devon Swim School, Colin & Shelley run their own Swim Schools and Gill regularly supports Surf Lifesaving Clubs and school lessons at Carn Brea Leisure Centre. This hands on and current experience means that course content is supported by real scenarios.”

Swimmingfirst also has a reputation for delivering Open Water Coaching Courses and a partnership with Sideshore, Exmouth means there will be increasing opportunities for these qualifications moving forward. 

“Sea Swim Devon runs a unique Sea Safety session in partnership with Sideshore whereby we deliver the National Curriculum Water Safety component in the sea,” Jane said. “This June will see 1200 primary school children entering the water under the guidance of our SEQ Level 2 Open Water qualified coaches. We are super proud of this project and the calibre of Open Water Coaches delivering.”

To find out more about Swimming First please visit Swimmingfirst. 

Further details on how to become a swimming teacher – and all of Swim England Qualification’s courses – are available by clicking here.