Swimming

Information on Children's Swimming activities in Glasgow.
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A swimming coach helping a child in the pool who is holding a float

Glasgow Life - Kids Swimming

Swimming is one of the most important skills you can learn.

The Learn to Swim programme is ideal for all abilities and a great introduction to the water.

Our pools are open for recreational swimming and you can find the information below.


Glasgow Life - Learn to Swim

Our Learn to Swim classes develop confidence and core skills in the water.

Our qualified teachers support every child as they learn to swim. We use the Scottish Swimming National Framework across all our pools.

We ask parents to consider the following prior to their child joining our lessons:

  • Their child's ability to take group instruction.
  • Their child's comfort within a group environment
  • Their child's safety working as an independent learner.

These are essential to their learning and progress within swimming lessons.

Our programme of pre-school swimming lessons is for children aged between 3 and 5 years old. 

This programme focuses on learners becoming water confident and developing core aquatic skills without adult help.

  • Introduce non-swimmers to water and establish an understanding of safety
  • Develop and progress water confidence
  • Establish an understanding of basic core aquatic skills
  • Encourage independent movement
  • Develop skills through enjoyment, fun and self-discovery

To book, please call the venue you wish to attend or drop in and speak to the team at reception. Lessons are available in the following venues:

Glasgow Club Gorbals (0141 276 1490):

Tuesday
Class 1: 12:10-12:50pm
Class 2: 12:55-1:35pm
Class 3: 1:40-2:20pm
Class 4: 2:25-3:05pm

We also offer some evening and weekend classes. Please contact our reception team for times and availability

Glasgow Club Scotstoun (0141 276 1620 - option 5):

Wednesday and Thursday
Class 1 11:40-12:20pm
Class 2 12:25-1:05pm
Class 3 1:10-1:50pm
Class 4 1:55-2:35pm

Glasgow Club Springburn (0141 276 1690):

Tuesday
Class 1 12:10-12:50pm
Class 2 12:55-1:35pm
Class 3 1:40-2:20pm
Class 4 2:25-3:05pm

We also offer some evening and weekend classes. Please contact our reception team for times and availability.

These lessons are for children who attend school. Children will work through the five different levels of the programme to become competent and confident swimmers.

New members are welcome, but spaces are limited and lessons are in high demand. You can book in person or by phone.

We are currently offering lessons in the following venues:

Glasgow Club Gorbals (0141 276 1490)

Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday

Glasgow Club Maryhill (0141 276 5300)
Monday, Friday, Sunday

Glasgow Club Pollok (0141 276 6878)
Tuesday

Glasgow Club Scotstoun (0141 276 1620 - option 5)

Wednesday, Thursday

Glasgow Club Springburn (0141 276 1690)
Tuesday, Saturday

Swim Skills 1

  • Develop confidence and ability to perform a wide range of core skills without buoyancy aids
  • Develop the basic technique of four strokes
  • Introduce the basic technique of sculling
  • Develop balance and buoyancy

Swim Skills 2

  • Introduce and progress new core aquatic skills
  • Develop stroke technique to include all four strokes
  • Introduction to diving
  • Develop awareness through a variety of core aquatic skills

Swim Skills 3

Introduce advanced stroke technique.

  • Further develop competency in all four strokes
  • Development of diving
  • Further develop butterfly and breaststroke aiming to achieve legal
    technique

Swim Skills 4

Improve the quality of stroke technique, introduce multi-aquatic skills/disciplines and basic lifesaving skills.

  • Show competent technique in all four strokes
  • Introduce lifesaving skills and basic aquatic discipline skills
  • Provide basic skills to enable progression into all aquatic disciplines including life-saving

Club Ready

Improve and maintain stroke technique over distance. Also develop basic training and race skills producing a swimmer who is ‘Club Ready’.

  • Advance swimming stamina in all four strokes while maintaining technique
  • Improve efficiency in all four strokes
  • Develop turn technique for all four strokes
  • Knowledge and understanding of club training practices
Notification

If your child would benefit from a more tailored learning environment, please contact our Disability Sport colleagues at disabilitysport@glasgowlife.org.uk

Joining our Learn to Swim programme

Joining our programme is easy. You can book at any point, subject to availability.

There are two simple payment methods described below.

If you have any issues please get in touch with one of our Swimming Coordinators. 

When you have joined the programme our online Home Portal system will let you view and manage your Childs’ progress as they advance through the designated levels.

Learn 2 Sign Up Information 

Spread the cost over the year with 12 monthly payments.

Benefits of Direct Debit include:

  • Pay for 45 lessons and we will deliver up to 48 lessons per year (up to 3 free lessons)
  • No queuing to re-book as your child will remain in their class until they are ready to progress to the next level
  • Access to our online Home Portal to keep track of your child's progress
  • Personalised certificate when your child progresses to the next level
  • Access to unlimited leisure swimming within any of pools for the Learn to Swim member

Price (per month)

  • Full Price: Child £26 / Adult £30
  • Concession: Child £19 / Adult £21

This option allows you to pay upfront for lessons. Lessons must be purchased in multiples of 10 and are also available as an annual payment (48 weeks).

Benefits of top-up include:

  • No queuing to re-book. Your child will remain in their class until they are ready to progress to the next level. This is so long as you have top-up credits on your account

  • Access to our online Home Portal to keep track of you/your child's progress

  • You can make top-ups at any time at reception or online through your Home Portal account

  • You can redeem top-up credits in consecutive weeks for the duration of the credits

  • You will receive a personalised certificate when your child progresses to the next level

Price (per 10 credits)

  • Full Price: Child £70 / Adult £80
  • Concession: Child £50 / Adult £55

Our dedicated Learn to Swim co-ordinators manage our swimming programmes. They can help with any enquiries about your membership, payments or lessons.

Venue

Swim Co-Ordinator

Email Address

   

GC Scotstoun

GC Gorbals

Andrew Wishart

andrew.wishart@glasgowlife.org.uk 

   

GC Bellahouston

GC Springburn

Jaclyn Duncan

Jaclyn.duncan@glasgowlife.org.uk 

   

GC Maryhill

GC Pollok

 

Andy Hepburn

andy.hepburn@glasgowlife.org.uk 

   

GC Tollcross

Jodie Wiseman

jodie.wiseman@glasgowlife.org.uk 

   
         
Notification

If you need more details on any of these classes, please contact our team by emailing

swimming@glasgowlife.org.uk

Glasgow Life - Sport Pool Parties

Why not make a splash with a pool party? You will be able to enjoy one hour in the water and an hour in a small room for food and to cut your cake.

Click below for more information and a list of venues that offer pool parties.
Glasgow Sport birthday parties

Adult Learn to Swim

We offer a small programme of adult beginner and improver lessons in selected venues in a group environment of between 8 and 12 adults (aged 16yrs+)

 

These are suitable for complete beginners who are looking to improve their skills in the water.

To book, please call the venue you wish to attend or drop in and speak to the team at reception. Lessons are available in the following venues:

Glasgow Club Springburn (0141 276 1690)
Tuesday 7:50-8:30pm

Glasgow Club Tollcross (0141 276 8282 - option 5)
Friday 7-7:40pm

Glasgow Club Maryhill (0141 276 5300)
Friday 7:10-7:40pm

Glasgow Club Gorbals (0141 276 1490):

Tuesday 12:10 – 12:50pm

3 kids at edge of swimming pool smiling

Free Family Swims

Free Family Swim sessions are fun for the full family.

These sessions are delivered, where possible, during the school holidays.

You can check the page below or follow us on social media to find out our next block of sessions.

Glasgow Life - Free Family Swims

Image gallery

Three children playing in the water of a swimming pool
Swimming at Glasgow Life
A swimming coach talking to two young children while in the pool
Swimming at Glasgow Life
Two children laughing and splashing a swimming coach while in the pool
Swimming at Glasgow Life
A parent and child during a swimming lesson
Swimming at Glasgow Life
Two children smiling while playing in a swimming pool together
Swimming at Glasgow Life
A swimming coach helping a parent put armbands on a child
Swimming at Glasgow Life

Find your Nearest Pool

Swimming is fun. It’s a life skill that helps you to be safe, fit, adventurous and confident in the water.

Whether training to swim competitively or want to splash about we have swimming pools across the city.

Glasgow Life - Swimming Pools

Keep in Touch with us

Contact Glasgow Life - Sport!

Do you need some help to find the right activity?

Or do you have a comment or suggestion about our services or website?

Get in touch with Glasgow Life - Sport and we will be happy to help.
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