Modernising the journey to poolside

This year, the Swim England Qualification (SEQ)Level 2 in Teaching Swimming has undergone a landmark transformation. Designed as a streamlined, single-qualification pathway, it replaces the traditional two-step process to get new swimming teachers poolside-ready faster and with far more practical confidence.

By shifting the emphasis away from pages of written assignments towards hands-on learning, the new pathway makes qualifying much more accessible, inclusive and engaging for trainees from all backgrounds.

Meet Lizzie - an Institute of Swimming tutor

Southampton-based Institute of Swimming tutor Lizzie, 43, brings three decades of swimming teaching experience to her tutoring. Her aquatics journey wasn’t straightforward though. She explains:

I didn't learn to swim until I was about eight; I was terrified of the water! However, with lessons and time I overcame my fear and learnt to love it. I joined a swimming club and played water polo. I was about 13 years old when I began to help at my club. It’s crazy to think that was the start of my lifelong career in swimming.

For Lizzie, the single greatest win of the new SEQ Level 2 structure is its heavy focus on practical application rather than excessive written paperwork.

Lizzie says:

Teaching swimming is a practical job. I’ve always told my learners that I’d much rather they are amazing at the practical aspects, as we can always support them with the paperwork. So the strong push towards the hands-on side of things in this new qualification has been a brilliant step forward for the sector.

One of the standout successes of the new qualification is the initial face-to-face peer day, which takes place before trainees even begin diving into learning or lesson planning. Trainees gather at the pool and get straight into the water, they experience strokes and skills first hand, watch real lessons and explore the physical teaching environment together.

Every time I get feedback at the end of the new course, learners say the peer day is amazing because it sets them up so well. It acts as a great team-building exercise too. The courses run best when learners gel together and form a little supportive team.

This practical focus extends directly into lesson planning and theoretical assessment. Rather than spending hours writing complex plans that are rarely used once qualified, trainees now work with flexible skeleton plans designed for actual poolside use. Additionally, replacing dozens of long written essay questions with a straightforward, multiple-choice assessment has drastically reduced student anxiety while keeping learning outcomes sharp and direct.

Inclusivity and fun!

The emphasis on practical learning has also made the qualification far more welcoming for neurodivergent trainees, particularly those with dyslexia or Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Lizzie says:

I’m dyslexic myself, so from my standpoint this is a much better way of learning. The written questions on the old courses were an awful lot of work for anyone and especially tricky for someone learning difficulties. Now, with the format and extra time adjustments available, my learners are reporting back to me that the questions are straightforward and not there to trick you. It’s a much more inclusive approach.

As an organisation, we’ve really embraced that children need fun in their lessons and the new qualification reflects this. Years ago, warm-ups were just ‘kick across front crawl, kick across backstroke’ – it was boring! Now everything is much more vibrant and play based.

I always tell my trainees when they finish, you need to spread the word to teachers who may have qualified a long time ago, that lessons need to be much more fun! These new teachers coming through have the fresh training and energy to inject life into lessons and inspire everyone on poolside.

Find out more about the Level 2 Qualification HEREand who knows...maybe you too can start a lifelong journey in Aquatics.