The Lakeland Swim School is a local family business who have an experienced team of instructors with a shared passion for helping swimmers make progress whilst developing good technique and a strong affinity with swimming.
Swimming is a life skill that everyone should possess and more so from a young age. The skill they will acquire today will give them the ability and confidence to enjoy the water for a lifetime.
The swim school is for all ages and abilities – We start at 3 months old through to adults. Our class sizes are small and ensures we deliver engaging and effective lessons aimed at individual ability and learning through fun.
All swimmers will learn front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly as well as developing aquatic skills like floating, diving, treading water, sculling, starts and turns and much more. Our Advanced and Rookie programme includes, lifesaving skills (both in water and on land), water polo and an introduction to artistic swimming.
We are always excited to find out how we can help you or your children become stronger and safer in the water. Please use our Contact Us page to get in touch!
We are a local and family-run private swim school situated at Embleton Spa Hotel, Embleton, Cockermouth (off the A66) providing swimming lessons which follow the STA and RLSS Rookie Programme from the ages of 12 weeks (babies) to adults.
The swim school is unique in that it accommodates children of many personal needs (including SEN) within a group lesson and runs bespoke lessons through structured and play orientated plans. There is always a qualified teacher and assistant to a class of no more than 5 children ensuring we can meet the diverse requirements of our swimmers.
Based on many years of experience our swim school has developed a teaching system that makes learning to swim easier, safer and excellent value for money. Our pupils learn at their pace and in their way due to our ability to adapt to the individual needs of our pupils, through engaging fun activities that gently introduce good technique and identifying strengths and areas for improvement in our swimmers.
With Swim England, RLSS, Birthlight and STA qualified teachers present in the water your child can learn in a relaxed safe environment; while learning a life skill. Your child will build water confidence, co-ordination, stamina, muscle and motor skills.
We are an STA Swim STAR School, so you can be assured that we work to the highest industry standards. To help you follow your children’s progression we use the STA Award Programme showing each of the skills as they develop them.
Swimming is for everyone and an essential life skill for which there should be no barriers. We live in/near the Lake District and not short of waterways, tarns, lakes, rivers and streams.
Intermediate (6 years plus)
Meet the Team
At The Lakeland Swim School, we put a huge emphasis on ensuring you have the best teachers and assistants of which we are incredibly proud. We understand the importance of the bond between the instructor and student, especially for young children.
We are continually evolving our teaching methods which helps us to improve our own methodology.
DBS checks are updated regularly, as well as insurance and qualifications. We also provide Health & Safety training before the start of every term. This training is consistently supervised and monitored throughout the year by the qualified teachers.
Louise Watson
Louise Watson
As owner and teacher of the swim school I have been here from the very start. It has been a dream since my late teens to open my own swim school. In my spare time I go walking in the Lake District with the family, tread the boards with CADS and do adult Cheerleading (who knew!!!). I am an STA Tutor, have an STA Baby and Pre-School Level 3 Diploma, STA Disability Swimming, Swim England (ASA) Level 2 Teaching Aquatics, STA Pool Lifeguard, RLSS N.R.A.S.T.C Award, Birthlight Level 1 Baby and Parent.
Chris Watson
Chris Watson
As owner and teacher of the swim school I have been working at the swim school since October 21. My favourite stroke to teach is Old English Backstroke and I enjoy walking, paddleboarding, working on the allotment, swimming in the lakes and going to exercise classes. I currently have my STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming and STA Rescue Award and working towards my Certificate in Teaching Award and Open Water Swimming Coaching.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
I have been with the swim school for 4 years and qualified as a teacher in 2024. My favourite stroke to teach is breaststroke and I enjoy creating digital drawings and going to the gym in my spare time. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate, STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming and STA Rescue Award.
Samuel
Samuel
I have been with the swim school for 4 years and qualified as a teacher in 2024. My favourite stroke to teach is front crawl and I enjoy playing rugby, gaming and going to the gym in my spare time. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate, STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming and STA Pool Lifeguard Award.
Emily
Emily
I have been with the swim school for 2 years. My favourite stroke to teach is front crawl and I enjoy doing Cheerleading and reading in my spare time. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate and STA Rescue Award.
Charlotte
Charlotte
I have been with the swim school since March 25. My favourite swim activity to teach is push and glide and I enjoy doing Cheerleading and walking in my spare time.
Yehor
Yehor
I have been with the swim school since October 23 and I am working towards my teaching qualification. My favourite stroke to teach is front crawl and in my spare time I love playing football and going to the gym. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate.
Millie
Millie
I have been with the swim school for 3 years, I have my STA Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding and I am working towards my teaching qualification. My favourite stroke to teach is breaststroke and in my spare time I love to bake and walk my dog. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate and STA Pool Lifeguard Award.
Noah
Noah
I have been with the swim school for 2 years and I am working towards my teaching qualification. My favourite stroke to teach is breaststroke and in my spare time I love playing badminton and doing photography. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate.
Jess
Jess
I have been with the swim school since September 24 and my favourite stroke to teach is breaststroke. I have completed my DofE bronze award and placed first for u15 girls relay at Cumbria League Athletics. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate.
Ruth
Ruth
I have been with the swim school for 2 years and working towards my teaching qualification. My favourite stroke to teach is back stroke and in my spare time I love running, orienteering and walking in the lakes. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate.
Esme
Esme
I have been with the swim school for 2 years and my favourite stroke to teach is front crawl and in my spare time I enjoy my theatre classes and walking in the lakes. I have my Aquatic Helper’s Certificate.
Esme
Chrissy
I’ve been working at the swim school since April 25 and my favourite stroke to teach is back stroke. In my spare time I like listening to music, painting and going on walks.
Book Swimming Classes
Booking your next 10-week course with us is simple and quick via our online booking system.
Everyone at The Lakeland Swim School is looking forward to seeing you at your next lesson and being with you on your swimming journey.
Babies from 3 months to reception aged children (4 years).
Parent & Child Water Development (4-6 yr)
Parent & Child Water Development (4-6 yr)
For children unsure of the pool or haven't been in a pool much. This stage will develop water confidence, balance and buoyancy, the essential skills for swimming.
Non-Swimmer (4-6yrs)
Non-Swimmer (4-6yrs)
For children unsure of the pool or haven't been in a pool much. This stage will develop water confidence, balance and buoyancy, the essential skills for swimming.
Non- Swimmer (6 years and above)
Non-Swimmer (6 years and above)
For children unsure of the pool or haven't been in a pool much. This stage will develop water confidence, balance and buoyancy, the essential skills for swimming.
Water confident (4-12yr)
Water confident (4-12yr)
Swimmers who are happy to move in the water with aids, float and put their faces in, blow bubbles and pour water over their face.
Beginner (4-12yr)
Beginner (4-12yr)
Swimmers can move in the water without aids for a minimum of 5 meters and have water confidence skills.
Improver (5-12yr)
Improver (5-12yr)
Swimmers can confidently swim 5 meters across the pool using front crawl arms and aquatic breathing, backstroke arms and legs, knowledge of breaststroke leg action and butterfly although technique will still need to be worked on.
Intermediate (6 years plus)
Intermediate (6 years plus)
Swimmers can swim 10m of the pool using all four strokes, technique stills needs to be worked on.
Advanced (6yrs plus)
Advanced (6yrs plus)
Swimmers can confidently swim 4 lengths of the pool without stopping and with good technique that only needs fine tuning. They need to work on stamina and advanced aquatic skills such as starts and turns, side stroke and lifesaving backstroke.
Rookie Lifeguard (8 years plus)
Rookie Lifeguard (8 years plus)
Swimmers can confidently swim 4 lengths of the pool and as a rough guide have completed Shark 3 of the STA Award scheme.
Louise started as a lifeguard and swimming teacher in Enfield, London in 1991 and continued teaching whilst studying at university. She progressed through the levels to Advanced Teacher Status when the teaching qualifications changed and completed the New Teachers Award in 1995.
History
2007
Louise took a break from swimming teaching to concentrate on an alternative career and decided to return to the industry and qualified as a baby swimming teacher following the birth of her eldest child in 2007. She worked in Leeds over an eight-year period teaching baby swimming.
History
2013
In 2013, the aquatic swimming qualifications changed, and Louise completed the Swim England (ASA) Level 2 Teaching Aquatics.
History
2016
When the move to Cockermouth happened in 2016 Louise set up as self-employed offering a full baby and toddler swimming programme to Changes Pool and Gym, and ran school swimming lessons at Braithwaite, whilst volunteering at Cockermouth Swimming Club.
History
2021
In May 2021, The Lakeland Swim School and Watsons’ Waders Baby Swimming was formed and lessons commenced at Embleton Spa Hotel 7th June 2021.
History
2021
Chris (Louise’s husband) qualified as a swimming teacher in October 2021 to provide cover and lessons at the swimming school and now teaches full time.
History
2025
There were 140 school children and 80 baby swimmers being taught by Louise in the first week and now the school has over 470 children taught by 4 qualified teachers and 8 assistants a week.
Contact The Lakeland Swim School
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