General Information

KATE WALKER

Abacus Swim School is run by myself, Kate Walker. I have been an ASA Level 2 teacher for 20 years. In this time I have taught children and adults, 1:1 and groups, privately and for the council.

For the last 10 years I have worked for myself running this private school in that time it has gone from strength to strength and is a constant source of enjoyment and immense satisfaction to me.

One of the jobs I have most enjoyed was coaching for the Oxford City development Squad. I still actively encourage children to use their swimming to go on to a competitive environment if that will suit them.

Generally though, as my first love is water sports, I feel that swimming is a really could basis for all sorts of sports such as rowing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, diving etc etc. I like to think that children who don’t want to carry on with swimming per se, leave us as confident swimmers and have the door opened to world of fun and enjoyment in any number of other water sports.

ABACUS SWIM SCHOOL

We operate as a private swim school based at the beautiful pool at the Dragon School in North Oxford. We run lessons for boys and girls, from the age of 4, with small group sizes and the instructor in the water for the beginners and on up to Stage 5.

ENROLMENT

We run three terms in line with the school academic year.

Enrolment is conducted on site at the end of each term.

For new customers, enrollment registration and payment can be done over the phone on or after the date advertised. We don’t run a waiting list as such but new customers are only allowed to join the lessons upto week 2 of term. After this week we ask that you wait until the next intake.

1:1 LESSONS

Abacus Swim School can't offer lessons on a 1:1 basis.

Kate Walker is available for intensive 1:1 lessons in the holidays. Particularly if you have a private pool - we can arrange for me to come to you.

FUN AND LEARNING

It is my firm belief that lessons should be fun and fast moving. While children are happy, comfortable and enjoying themselves they will be learning. Nervous children are encouraged to be in the water with the instructor from the outset and we then bring them on at their pace only doing whatever they comfortable with.

We start by teaching the children to swim, play and float under water. This is an essential building block to being confident and happy in the water and allows children to move on easily to more complex skills as they go up through the groups.

ASSESSMENTS

Children are assessed at the end of each term against the pre-requisite outcomes for each level. These are available to view ( link ). We give a badge and certificate to each child. For those who haven’t quite achieved the skills for the stage they are working on, and it is not the intention that they would do this every term, then the children can do the next appropriate distance badge.

INSTRUCTORS

All of our instructors are qualified through the Amateur Swimming Association. Swimming Instructors, at any centre, are required to have the following qualifications, training and paperwork :

  • ASA Level 2 Teachers Certificate
  • Swim Teacher Pool Rescue First Aid - Renewed every 2 years.
  • Enhanced CRB check - Police Record.
  • Continuing Professional development - Courses and Workshops designed to keep learning and knowledge current.

All of the instructors at Abacus Swim School fulfil these requirements and are friendly, professional and love teaching swimming.

FEEDBACK

We welcome feedback from the customers on any aspect of your experience at Abacus Swim School. Please feel free to contact me either by phone or e mail if there is anything you would like to comment on or anything I can help you with.