https://www.ardingly.com/prep/whats-on/swim_school/

Ardingly Swim School, Ardingly College, College Road, Haywards Heath (2026)

12/06/2026

🐥 Ducklings Stage 4 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers become more independent and confident, preparing them to transition into the Learn to Swim Stages. Skills focus on movement, floating, and control without support.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Jump in unaided but supervised
✅ Fully submerge
✅ Rotate 360 either horizontally or vertically
✅ Travel 10 metres on the front and back without assistance
✅ Push and glide on front and back
✅ Mushroom or Star Float
✅ Show the sequence to jump in, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold onto the side
✅ Exit the water safely with assistance if required

These stages build a strong foundation of confidence, independence, and basic aquatic skills, preparing swimmers for Stage 1 of the Learn to Swim programme 🌊

10/06/2026

🐥 Ducklings Stage 3 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers develop greater confidence, independence, and basic coordination, beginning to move and control their body more effectively in the water.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support
✅ Show a streamlined shape on front or back when push off from a supporting adult
✅ Float on their front and back without support for a short time
✅ Kick 5 metres on the front with a float
✅ Travel 5 metres independently using legs and arms
✅ Blow bubbles with the mouth and nose underwater
✅ Enter pool, rotate and return to the side without adult support
✅ Exit the water safely with assistance if required

08/06/2026

🐥 Ducklings Stage 2 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers continue to build confidence and independence in the water, developing basic skills such as submersion, rotation, and movement with reduced support.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Make a sitting entry with adult support if required
✅ Using a buoyancy aid. rotate through 180 degrees without assistance
✅ Wet the head and face, showing increased confidence with submersion
✅ Blow an object for a distance of two metres
✅ Travel 3 metres using arms and/or legs without assistance
✅ Travel 5 metres along the wall without assistance
✅ Enter the pool, rotate, and return to the side with less support
✅ Exit the water safely with minimal or no adult assistance

05/06/2026

🐥 Ducklings Stage 1 (Swim England)

At this introductory stage, swimmers build water confidence and basic movement skills in a fun, supportive environment. The focus is on becoming comfortable in the water, learning safe entry and exit, and beginning to move independently with support where needed.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Make a safe, supervised entry into the water (with adult support if required)
✅ Float on their back with head support (without flotation aids)
✅ Blow bubbles at the water surface
✅ Become comfortable getting their head wet (without full submersion)
✅ Kick 5 metres on their back with adult support
✅ Travel 5 metres independently towards a floating object
✅ Enter the water, rotate, and return to the poolside with adult support
✅ Exit the water safely with minimal adult support

This stage is all about building early confidence, enjoyment, and comfort in the water 🌊

03/06/2026

🏊 Learn to Swim Stage 10 (Swim England)

Stage 10 prepares swimmers for a smooth transition into competitive swimming clubs. At this level, swimmers demonstrate excellent technique across all four strokes, complete structured training sets, and build the endurance to swim long distances. They also develop discipline, focus, and lane etiquette, setting them up for success in a club environment.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Complete a set totalling 1600 metres (e.g. 16 × 100m, 8 × 200m, or 4 × 400m) on a timed turnaround set by the teacher or coach, maintaining strong technique and consistency
✅ Swim 1500 metres continuously using one stroke
✅ Perform a continuous 100 metre Individual Medley kick (4 × 25m) without the use of a kickboard
✅ Swim a continuous 200 metre Individual Medley (IM) (4 × 50m), using recognised turns and demonstrating good technique
✅ Perform a front crawl relay take-over as the incoming swimmer
✅ Perform a front crawl relay take-over as the outgoing swimmer

This final stage develops confident, disciplined swimmers with the endurance, skills, and understanding needed to progress into club training and competitive swimming pathways 💧

01/06/2026

🏊 Learn to Swim Stage 9 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers continue to refine stroke technique while developing advanced skills such as underwater work, race skills, and stroke-specific drills. There is a strong focus on aerobic capacity, pacing, and consistency, with swimming distances increasing up to 800 metres.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Complete a set totalling 800 metres (e.g. 16 × 50m, 8 × 100m, or 4 × 200m) on a consistent turnaround time set by the teacher or coach, maintaining strong technique throughout
✅ Swim 800 metres continuously using one stroke
✅ Swim a continuous 100 metre Individual Medley (IM) (4 × 25m), using recognised turns and focusing on technique and consistency
✅ Perform a 15 metre underwater kick on the front from a push and glide in a streamlined position
✅ Perform a backstroke start, followed by underwater butterfly kick in a streamlined position for up to 15 metres, then transition smoothly into the stroke to complete 25 metres
✅ Perform a front crawl start, followed by underwater kicking in a streamlined position for up to 15 metres, then transition into the stroke to complete 25 metres
✅ Perform a butterfly start, followed by underwater kicking in a streamlined position for up to 15 metres, then transition into the stroke to complete 25 metres
✅ Perform a breaststroke start, including a one-and-a-half pull underwater, then transition into the stroke to complete 25 metres

This stage develops strong, efficient swimmers with advanced technique, endurance, and race skills, preparing them for lane swimming, training squads, and competitive swimming pathways 💧

29/05/2026

🏊 Learn to Swim Stage 8 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers focus on improving efficiency, technique, and stamina across all four strokes. They also begin developing competitive swimming skills, including starts and turns, while swimming longer distances with consistency.

By completing this stage, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Complete a set totalling 400 metres (e.g. 16 × 25m, 8 × 50m, or 4 × 100m) on a consistent turnaround time set by the teacher or coach, maintaining good technique throughout
✅ Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke
✅ Push and streamline, then kick 25 metres backstroke (with or without a board)
✅ Push and streamline, then kick 25 metres breaststroke (with or without a board)
✅ Push and streamline, then kick 25 metres butterfly (without a board)
✅ Push and streamline, then kick 25 metres front crawl (with or without a board)
✅ Perform turns for all four strokes from 10 metres in to 15 metres out:

Backstroke turn
Breaststroke turn
Butterfly turn
Front crawl turn

✅ Perform a track or grab start, followed by underwater butterfly kick in a streamlined position for at least 5 metres, progressing towards 10 metres

This stage builds strong, efficient swimmers with the stamina and technical skills needed for lane swimming and competitive progression 💧

27/05/2026

🏊 Learn to Swim Stage 7 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers develop high-quality stroke technique up to 100 metres, combining skills learned across all stages. Swimmers build endurance, coordination, and control, and apply their skills through linked routines and obstacle challenges.

By completing this award, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Push, glide, and swim 25 metres backstroke to Swim England expected standards
✅ Push, glide, and swim 25 metres front crawl to Swim England expected standards
✅ Push, glide, and swim 25 metres breaststroke to Swim England expected standards
✅ Push, glide, and swim 25 metres butterfly to Swim England expected standards
✅ Perform a group movement sequence (1 minute) linking skills, strokes, and sculling. This may include:

Sculling: head-first or feet-first
Rotation: forward/backward somersaults, log rolls
Floating: star floats (front/back), tuck float, or own shapes
Eggbeater: moving while lifting one or both arms out of the water

✅ Perform a sitting dive or a dive
✅ Push, glide, and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke
✅ Push, glide, and swim 100 metres using at least three different strokes
✅ Tread water using eggbeater for 30 seconds
✅ Complete an obstacle course (minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout

This final stage builds strong, confident swimmers with the skills, stamina, and awareness to swim efficiently and safely 💧

25/05/2026

🏊 Learn to Swim Stage 6 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers develop effective, coordinated swimming skills, including rhythmic breathing, alongside an increased understanding of water safety and preparing for exercise.

By completing this award, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and explain why this is important
✅ Sink, push off from the wall on their side, glide, kick, and rotate into backstroke
✅ Sink, push off from the wall on their side, glide, kick, and rotate into front crawl
✅ Swim 10 metres wearing clothes
✅ Push, glide, and swim front crawl with at least six rhythmical breaths
✅ Push, glide, and swim breaststroke with at least six rhythmical breaths
✅ Push, glide, and swim butterfly with at least three rhythmical breaths
✅ Push, glide, and swim backstroke with at least six regular breaths
✅ Push, glide, and swim 25 metres (stroke of choice) to Swim England expected standards
✅ Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue
✅ Perform a surface dive

This stage focuses on stamina, coordination, and safety skills, preparing swimmers for more advanced technique and water awareness 💧

22/05/2026

🏊 Learn to Swim Stage 5 (Swim England)

At this stage, swimmers develop strong watermanship skills, including sculling, treading water, rotation, and performing all four strokes to the expected standard.

By completing this award, swimmers will be able to:
✅ Perform a stationary scull on the back in a flat position
✅ Perform a feet-first sculling action for 5 metres on the back
✅ Work with a partner to perform a sculling sequence for 30–45 seconds, including a rotation
✅ Tread water for 30 seconds
✅ Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water
✅ Push, glide, and swim 10 metres backstroke to Swim England expected standards
✅ Push, glide, and swim 10 metres front crawl to Swim England expected standards
✅ Push, glide, and swim 10 metres breaststroke to Swim England expected standards
✅ Push, glide, and swim 10 metres butterfly to Swim England expected standards
✅ Perform a handstand and hold for at least 3 seconds
✅ Perform a forward somersault
✅ Demonstrate an effective action for getting help

This stage builds endurance, coordination, and confidence, helping swimmers become more capable and aware in deeper water 💧

Ardingly Swim School

12/06/2026

10/06/2026

08/06/2026

05/06/2026

03/06/2026

01/06/2026

29/05/2026

27/05/2026

25/05/2026

22/05/2026

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