Johnsons Swimming School, located in Darwen, was founded in 1971 by John Johnson. Initially, the swimming school was housed in a converted Co-op building, which John himself had constructed. This venture was considered unique at the time, but John's risk paid off, and the school has been successful ever since. Now, 48 years later, the school is run by husband and wife team, Ged and Maria, along with their eldest son, Ben.
The Johnson family has been a consistent presence in the school's teaching staff for over four decades. John, Ged, and now grandsons Ben and Matt have all dedicated themselves to teaching children the art of swimming. The school takes pride in this continuity of teaching methods and instructors, which has contributed to their success in teaching thousands of children to swim over the years.
The primary objective of Johnsons Swimming School is to ensure that all students feel comfortable and happy in the water. From this foundation, the school then focuses on teaching various swimming strokes and techniques, with an emphasis on competence and good form. The school has built a reputation for its commitment to providing quality instruction, and as a result, they now find themselves teaching the children and even grandchildren of individuals who were once their students. This speaks to the trust and satisfaction that previous generations of students and their families have placed in Johnsons Swimming School.
The school offers classes for both pre-school children (3-4 years old) and school-aged children (4–11 years old). Pre-school classes consist of small groups, with eight children and one instructor in the water. These classes are held on Mondays at 1:30 pm and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am. The goal of these classes is to help young children develop happiness and confidence in the water, ultimately leading to the ability to swim unaided.
The school acknowledges that pre-school children have different social and educational skills, and the teaching approach is tailored to accommodate these differences.
Typically, a pre-school class involves approximately 20 minutes of actual teaching time, with the remaining 5 minutes allocated for playtime. Playtime allows children the opportunity to relax and explore water skills in a less structured environment. Many pre-school students are able to swim without aids before they even start school. This achievement usually involves swimming either 5 or 10 metres, which serves as an initial step on the award scheme ladder utilised by the school.
For school-aged children aged 4-11, class sizes typically consist of 8 students, and lessons last approximately 25 minutes. The focus remains on ensuring that children feel comfortable and confident in the water. While most teaching is done from the poolside, instructors will join students in the water during their first lesson to ensure that everyone feels safe and secure. The school teaches all swimming strokes and water skills, always striving for proper technique.
Classes for school-aged children are held from Monday to Friday, starting at 4 pm and ending at 6:30 pm. Additionally, there are classes on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm and Sunday mornings from 10 am to 12:30 pm. The scheduling takes into account various abilities, and if instructors believe that a child may benefit from moving to a different class, they have the flexibility to make that change quickly.
Johnsons Swimming School utilises the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) distance awards, which are given for swimming a specified distance without the use of armbands. The awards start at 5 metres and continue to higher distances.
For additional information or to get in touch with Johnsons Swimming School, interested individuals can visit their facility at Anchor Baths, 299 Blackburn Road, Darwen, or contact them via phone at 01254 704488 or mobile at 07912 224204. The school strives to respond to all emails and encourages individuals to check their spam folder if they do not receive a response.