The December Blog: A Time for Reflection and Celebration

The year is ending, with our last couple of weeks of term underway, and at this time of year we naturally take a moment to look back and reflect on our highlights.

This year has been an excellent one for Harrogate School of Swimming. We have continued to expand our programme and our offerings, while strengthening our ties with schools and the wider community.

We are really pleased to see an increase in overall membership from 686 swimmers to 735 over the final term of the year, representing a 7 percent uplift, with key additions across our three locations.

The introduction of Harrogate School of Baby Swimming in September 2025 ensures swimmers can now begin their aquatic journey from birth. We are offering 23 classes a week for different baby levels, all held at Willow Tree Primary School. With the addition of a changing table and baby mats, we have invested in making the environment as baby friendly as possible.

Our performance squad continues to go from strength to strength, with additional training days added and a squad that now has 25 dedicated members. We have also introduced pre squad classes to give younger swimmers a taste of a squad style session, supporting them on their journey into competitive swimming. We have a Performance Squad Gala planned for January, so look out for more news on these exciting plans.

We have also expanded our impact in the community by visiting 37 local nurseries to educate preschool children about water safety and how to enjoy swimming while staying safe.

We have a couple of weeks of sessions remaining until the end of term, followed by three days of intensives over the Christmas break. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our swimmers and families a fantastic Christmas and a well-deserved break.

I am proud of the team and what we are achieving. A big thank you to each teacher who goes above and beyond to make the swim school a success, and to each teacher who brings their individual flair and passion for teaching.