Swimming Lessons
About the University of Bristol Swim School
University of Bristol Swim School offers a range of group lessons for both juniors and adults, from beginner to advanced ability. We also offer short-term swim courses that run during school holidays. All of our programmes are based at the University Swimming Pool located at our Clifton campus.
Our lesson programmes continue for 49 weeks of the year, breaking for two weeks at Christmas and one week at Easter.
You do not need to hold a University of Bristol Sport membership to join our programmes.
For general enquires, please contact us.
Junior Swimming Lessons
Junior swimming lessons at the University of Bristol Swim School follow the structure set out by the Swim England Learn To Swim Stages 2-7. The progressive stages form part of a national syllabus for learning to swim, for primary school age children, and ensure that your child learns how to be confident, competent and safe in the water. Our Junior Swimming Lessons are for children between the ages of 4 and 16 years old.
Our Swimming Pool features a Teaching Pool and Main Pool. Swimming lessons take place across both pools and lesson location is dependant on the swim stage.
- Stages 2–4 group lessons – Teaching pool
- Stages 5-7 group lessons – Main pool
- Stage 8-10 (Swim Fit and Rookie Lifeguard) – Main pool
Lessons take place week day afternoons from 16:00 onwards and Saturday mornings.
Junior swimming lessons are available on a Direct Debit basis and cost £29.10 per month with a pro-rata joining amount for the first month. From 1 October 2023, there will be a small increase in price, to £29.60 per month.
Everyone on our Junior swimming programme also benefits from a Junior Sports Membership as part of their direct debit payment.
To enrol onto our Junior Swim lessons, please use this link: Online Booking and Enrolment. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
Please note: Parents/guardians may watch from the spectator areas (balcony/ reception) but must not approach or sit poolside.
Adult Swimming Lessons
Adult Beginners
Beginners is about gaining confidence to be safe in the water. It also teaches the ability to move around the pool and achieve the basic core aquatic skills. Including entries, exits, buoyancy, balance and aquatic breathing. Building up to swimming independently over short distances (5 to 10 metres). Group ratio 1:5. Lessons take place in the teaching area depth 1.2-1.5m
Adult Improvers
By this point you’ll be able to swim independently, the focus of these group lessons are to improve stroke technique for Frontcrawl, Backstroke and Breaststroke. Building confidence to swim distance 100m. Group ratio 1:6. Lessons take place in the teaching area depth 1.2-1.5m
Adult Improvers
Lesson takes place in a lane in the 25m main pool. Group ratio 1:6. Aiming to build stamina over longer distances and stroke technique. Introducing aquatic skills such as streamline, diving and turns.
| Ability | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner |
Monday |
18:00 - 18:30 |
| Beginner | Wednesday | 19:00 - 19:30 |
| Beginner | Saturday | 08:30 - 09:00 |
| Improver |
Tuesday |
18:30 - 19:00 |
| Improver | Wednesday | 19:30 - 20:00 |
| Improver Plus |
Monday |
18:30-19:00 |
Adult swimming lessons are available on a direct debit basis and cost £29.10 per month, with a pro-rata joining fee for the first month. From 1 October 2023, there will be a small increase in price, to £29.60 per month.
To enrol onto our Adult Swimming lessons, please use this link: Online Booking and Enrolment.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.