Celebrating Our Swim School’s Journey: Inspiring Confidence and Lifelong Skills
At Ravelin Sports Centre, we see swimming as more than just a life skill - it’s a gateway to fitness, fun, and self-confidence. Since its launch in 2022, our swimming program has thrived under the dedicated leadership of Madeleine Campbell OLY, our Senior Sports Development Officer (Swimming and Activities), and Sam Adamson, our Swimming and Wetside Coordinator. With their combined passion and expertise, they’ve been able to create a supportive and engaging environment that continues to help hundreds of children and families discover the joy of swimming alongside our fantastic instructors.
Why Swimming Matters
Swimming is not just a fun activity but an essential life skill that provides many benefits. It helps children build water safety skills, improves physical fitness, boosts confidence, and fosters a sense of achievement. With access to our modern facilities, including a movable pool floor designed to accommodate multiple levels of ability, our swim school is uniquely positioned to support young swimmers on their journey.
Feedback Highlights
We’re thrilled to share the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our recent survey, which shows how much our community values the swimming program:
- Teaching Excellence: 9/10 respondents rated the quality of teaching as good or excellent, praising our instructors for their professionalism, patience, and ability to cater to individual needs, including children with special educational needs (SEN).
- Strong Recommendations: 95% of respondents said they are likely to recommend our swim school to friends and family.
- Child Progress: Over 78% of parents believe their children are making expected progress, with many appreciating the boost in confidence and enthusiasm their children have gained.
- Dedicated Swim Desk: 94% of parents value our unique, dedicated swim desk, which is manned when swim lessons take place with experienced coordinators. The desk can answer queries and provide a service for parents to communicate with their child’s teacher.
- Modern Facilities: Families value our new, well-maintained facilities, warm water, and convenient amenities.
- Active Participation: Over half of the families surveyed have been with the swim school for more than a year, demonstrating a stable and engaged membership base.
What parents say about our Swimming Lessons:
“The friendly staff know our children and all seem positive and enthusiastic. That staff are not afraid to push children and make sure they do their best (not just in technique but in things like listening to instructions, following simple rules in games, etc.)”
“My children are happy and feel safe, and my little one, who was not confident in previous lessons at another swimming pool, is making great progress and has lots more confidence.”
“Staff are amazing and patient, you can see they really care about the children and will bend over backwards to support the children who are struggling due to confidence or SEN needs.”
“Madeleine and her team are so helpful. It's brilliant having a dedicated swimming lesson desk to answer your questions, and the whole team shows a genuine commitment to everyone who attends. In addition, facilities are excellent, have convenient parking, and provide a great space.”
What We’re Working On
While the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, we also received thoughtful suggestions for improvement. Parents highlighted a desire for:
- Smaller class sizes to allow for more individual attention.
- Clearer communication about their child’s progress and areas for development.
- Improved cleanliness in changing areas during busy times.
We hear you, and we’re already reviewing these suggestions to identify actionable next steps. Our goal is to maintain, and improve where possible, the high-quality swimming experience for all learners.
More Activities for Children
At Ravelin Sports Centre, we offer a variety of activities to keep your children active and growing. A highlight is our National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS), perfect for climbers of all levels.
Indoor climbing, one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports, promotes fitness, mobility, confidence, and resilience. Our professionally trained coaches deliver lessons as part of the NICAS Climbing Programme, offering a high-quality climbing curriculum for the Portsmouth community.
Whether your child is building confidence on the wall, working towards their Duke of Edinburgh award, pursuing GCSE requirements, or simply exploring a fun after-school activity, climbing can offer all this and more. Our University of Portsmouth NICAS coaches are here to help them reach their goals while having a great time doing it.
Looking Ahead
We’re excited to continue providing exceptional swimming lessons and expanding our offerings to meet the needs of our community. With a program built on quality instruction, state-of-the-art facilities, and a welcoming atmosphere, Ravelin Sports Centre remains the perfect place for young swimmers to thrive.
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. Your input is invaluable as we work to ensure that our swimming program remains one of the best in the region. Together, we’re making waves and inspiring greatness in and out of the water!
