About Alex Lawrence Swim School
I have always been passionate about swimming and water sports in general. Growing up I was more often in a swimming pool than out of it.
Having swum for both my schools and Sevenoaks I took a break from swimming other than leisure until I had my first child in 2009. It was when I took my daughter to parent and child classes I had a lightbulb moment that teaching swimming was very much what I wanted to do and the rest as they say is history.
I took my first qualification with Swim England in 2012 and set about working for a number of swim schools in Kent working alongside some great teachers and children. The more I did the more I enjoyed helping children and adults become the best swimmers they could be whilst having some fun in the pool too.
Alex
Swimming is the only sport that could potentially save a life but it’s imperative to me that all children or adults are safe in the water.
When I am not teaching; I have three children aged 5 to 12 who keep me fairly busy but I also enjoy yoga, baking and travel in my spare time!
- Swim England level 1 teaching
- Swim England level 2 teaching
- Swim England baby & preschool
- Swim England coaching assistant
- NRASTC (National Rescue Award Swim Teachers Certificate)
- Aquafit
- Safeguarding Children
- Breastroke CPD
- Diving fundamentals CPD
- Butterfly CPD
- STA CPD swimming with Cerebral Palsy
- Full DBS check
Alex is a great supportive, patient and encouraging teacher, she makes the lessons fun and built a great rapport with my son. He progressed really well with her and I’d highly recommend her!
Mike Allen
Mike and I have worked together for just over a year now. I am always impressed with Mike’s calm nature and the rapport he builds with each of his swimmers. Mike goes above and beyond to ensure those that swim with him always achieve their full potential.
Mike was a latecomer to swimming aged 9 until a brilliant teacher took him from being a non swimmer to a length swimmer in jus a few hours. From then on Mike was rarely out of the water catching up on lost time! As a child he loved swimming underwater usually collecting peoples dropped money at the local lido which brought him numerous ice creams when he finished his swimming. Mike holds his Swim England level 2 and parent and child qualification, which he loves to teach. Away from the pool Mike is a qualified sports massage therapist. In his spare time he enjoys running having completed distances from 5k to Ultras and is a member of Tonbridge Canoe Club.
- Swim England Level 1 teacher
- Swim England Level 2 teacher
- Swim England Parent and Child
- Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
- First Aid at work
- Mental Health Awareness for sport and physical activity
James Bell
James and I have worked together for over four years now. His unfailing dedication to swimming and the children he teaches is second to none. James brings a love of swimming and wealth of knowledge at all levels which is both infectious and enthusiastic but also gets great results for anyone who is taught by James, my own children included.
James started his life long passion at just 4 years old on holiday; with his father chasing him up to the deep end before jumping in. After a few frights for his parents they decided to get him lessons where he took to swimming like a fish to water. James worked his way through the different classes before joining Larkfield as a club swimmer going on to achieve county times and being selected as part of a Medway team to compete abroad. James started his teaching career as a volunteer coach at Larkfield swimming club before becoming fully qualified in 2017. James taught swimming alongside other jobs before concentrating on just teaching. James competes in the water regularly both in galas and open water, recent trips include swimming in Italy and he plans a swim through Paris next.
Away from the pool James enjoys music, dabbling with several instruments but chiefly the guitar.
- Swim England level 1 teaching assistant
- Swim England level 2 Swimming teacher
- Breaststroke CPD
- NPLQ
- Full DBS check
Donna Portman
Donna joins our team from February 2022 and brings a wealth of swimming teaching knowledge and experience with her. Donna has been teaching swimming to children and adults for just over 27 years and feels lucky to have such an enjoyable and rewarding vocation, likewise we are fortunate to have Donna on board.
I am very impressed with both the patience and the fun element that Donna brings to swimming lessons that really engages her pupils in the pool and gets results.
Alongside swim teaching Donna makes amazing mud kitchens which contrasts nicely to teaching swimming but also stems from a love of seeing children out in the fresh air learning through play.
Donna has four children of her own which keeps her busy but also means she brings a parent’s perspective on how to get the best from children in her lessons.
- Swim England level 1 Swimming assistant
- Swim England level 2 Swimming teacher
- Swim England parent and child
- NRASTC
- Introduction to Safeguarding
- Full DBS check
Steve Edwards
Steve is a welcome addition to our team from September 2022. Steve is especially kind and brings a great sense of humour to all his lessons, yet he is very methodical in his approach to his lesson planning helping each student reach their full potential in the pool.
Steve spent over seven years at a large leisure centre teaching a mixture of private lessons and adult non swimmer groups alongside marketing swim galas and holiday swim courses.
Alongside Steve’s swimming he has enjoyed a successful career in estate agency for twenty years, but remains passionate about teaching correct swim techniques and life saving skills. He is consistently continuing his professional development through study, developing and refining his teaching skills, which his swimmers all benefit from on a weekly basis.
Steve has taught many family members to swim, including his teenage daughter so understands first hand the requirement to have your child swimming safely and correctly..
- STA Level 2 Teaching Swimming
- Safeguarding children
- Full DBS check
How to Find Us
Hurst Green, Oxted, Surrey
*New for the Autumn term 2022*
We are operating out of Moor House School & College, Mill Lane, Oxted RH8 9AQ
This is a 25m 4 lane pool with diving.
There is plenty of parking on site in the school car park. Enter via the large green gates and you will see the sports hall. Changing rooms are on the left as you enter and access to poolside is via the changing areas. There is limited seating poolside to watch the lessons and also a viewing gallery upstairs.
Godstone, Surrey
We are operating out of the newly refurbished pool at St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School, Hunters Chase, South Godstone, Surrey RH9 8HR.
There is on road parking near the entrance to the pool site. We ask that you park considerately to those using the school for access and local residents.