Courses & Workshops
Beyond everyday swimming, our courses and workshops offer unique chances to learn, achieve and celebrate progress. Whether it’s an intensive crash course, earning your next distance badge, or training as a lifeguard, there’s a challenge here waiting for you.
RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
12-17 July 2026, 9am - 5pm
Candidates must be able to:
Jump/dive into deep water
Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back
In deep water, tread water for 30 seconds
Surface dive to the floor of the pool
Climb out unaided without a ladder/steps and where the pool design permits.
Course Price: £300
Book your place by email - sportscentre@stmargarets-school.org.uk
Stage 1
Learners will develop basic safety awareness, learn basic movement skills and water confidence skills.
27 – 31 July: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
3 - 7 August: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
10 - 14 August: 9:30-10:00
17 - 21 August: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
24 - 28 August: 9:30-10:00
Stage 2
Swimmers are introduced to aquatic breathing and taught to make safe entries into the water, including jumping.
27 – 31 July: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
3 - 7 August: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
10 - 14 August: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
17 - 21 August: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
24 - 28 August: 9:30-10:00 / 10:00-10:30
Stage 3
Swimmers will develop their kicks, on both their front and their back. They streamline through push and glides, whilst also swimming underwater.
27 – 31 July: 10:00-10:30
3 - 7 August: 10:00-10:30
10 -14 August: 10:00-10:30
17 - 21 August: 10:00-10:30
24 - 28 August: 10:00-10:30
Stage 4
Swimmers perfect their leg kicks for all four strokes and further develop push and glides, while also being introduced to sculling.
27 – 31 July: 9:30-10:00
3 - 7 August: 9:30-10:00
10 - 14 August: 10:00-10:30
17 - 21 August: 9:30-10:00
24 - 28 August: 10:00-10:30
Stage 5/6
Swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes and learn how to do handstands and somersaults.
27 – 31 July: 9:30-10:00
3 - 7 August: 9:30-10:00
10 - 14 August: 9:30-10:00
17 - 21 August: 9:30-10:00
24 - 28 August: 9:30-10:00
Dives & Turns / Distance Swim
Dives & Turns:
27 – 31 July: 10:00-10:30
Distance Swim:
3 - 7 August: 10:00-10:45
17 - 21 August: 10:00-10:45
3+ Crash Courses
Run during the school holidays, this is a great way to introduce your child to swimming lessons, improve technique and learn new skills.
Distance Badge Day
These sessions give children the opportunity to achieve the ASA Rainbow Distance Awards. Badges and certificates will be awarded upon completion of chosen distance. It is recommended that parents/guardians speak to their child’s swimming teacher prior to registering to be sure of the distance they are capable of achieving. Available for 5m (with armbands), 5m, 10m, 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m.
NPLQ
The RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in the UK and Ireland that complies with industry guidance. Generally, the NPLQ is a recruitment requirement for a number of jobs from pool lifeguard to general manager within the leisure industry.
Candidates must be at least 16 years old; be able to swim 100 metres on front and back; be able to swim 50 metres in less than 1 minute; be able to retrieve an object from the deepest part of the pool.
Rookie Lifeguard
Available for children aged 8+, the Rookie Lifeguard programme teaches children important water safety skills, personal survival and rescue techniques through fun, engaging activities. Starting with Stage 1 of the Bronze Award and progressing through to Stage 3 of the Gold Award, Rookie Lifeguard begins at an ability level suitable for swimmers who are able to swim 25 metres competently without goggles.