As one of the UK’s first independent swim schools to help shape STA’s Swim Star Swim School programme, Aquarius Swim School has spent more than two decades building a reputation for quality, care, and innovation. Founder Lisa Boustead shares how her passion for child-centred teaching led to both the creation of Aquarius and the very foundations of the Swim Star programme itself.

The beginnings of Aquarius – what inspired your journey into swim teaching?

After taking my eldest daughter to swimming lessons, I trained as a swimming teacher and soon discovered a real passion for the job. When I returned home to Devon after several years in Bedfordshire, I founded Aquarius Swim School-now over 25 years ago. I saw a gap in the local market for a more personalised and nurturing approach to swimming lessons. I wanted to create a swim school where each swimmer is valued as an individual, with lessons tailored to their unique needs and pace, rather than focusing solely on class progression. Running my own swim school also gave me the flexibility I needed as a mother of four, but most importantly, it has been an incredibly rewarding journey watching swimmers grow in confidence and ability.

You played a pivotal role in the launch of the Swim Star programme – how did that come about?

At the time, corporate leisure centres and council-run pools could achieve STA Academy status, but there was no equivalent recognition for independent swim schools. I saw this as a gap in the accreditation process and felt strongly that private swim schools also needed a way to demonstrate professionalism and accountability. Parents entrust us with their most precious gift-their child-and I wanted reassurance for them that Aquarius was a safe, credible, and professionally run swim school.

This led me to approach the STA to discuss creating a framework for independent schools. After several meetings and collaborative discussions, including with Zoe, the Swim Star Swim School Programme was developed.

Looking back on your 10 years as a Swim Star, how has the industry changed?

Over the past 10-15 years, the swim school industry has evolved significantly, with many more independent schools now operating. When I first started, my only competition was the local leisure centre, so I knew I had to offer something different. I focused on a child-led approach rather than a goal-driven one, and to strengthen this, I completed a degree in Early Childhood Studies to integrate land-based learning and a deeper understanding of child development into my teaching. I still believe there is more to learn and as child development theory evolves and we begin to learn more and more, I seek to pass this knowledge onto my employees and think best about how to utilise this practice, creating a more holistic approach with our swim school experience. The market today is far more diverse, which is a positive change-it gives parents the opportunity to choose a swim school that aligns with their values and their child’s learning style. The STAR accreditation also helps to signpost parents to a swim school that upholds certain standards and expectations.

Why does independent-school accreditation still matter so much today?

Ten years ago, independent swim schools needed a programme like Swim Star to demonstrate credibility and professionalism within an industry largely dominated by corporate and council-run facilities. It provided recognition for schools that upheld high teaching, safety, and customer care standards, helping to build trust with parents who were choosing private providers for the first time.

Today, that recognition is just as important. With so many new independent swim schools emerging, the Swim Star Programme continues to act as a benchmark of quality and accountability, showing that a school is committed to best practice, child safety, and ongoing professional development. For example, at Aquarius, being a Swim Star school has reassured parents that we meet the highest standards-something that has always been at the heart of what we do.

What difference has Swim Star made for your team and your customers?

Being a Swim Star Swim School has given both parents and staff a strong sense of confidence in the quality and safety of our lessons. For parents, it provides visible reassurance that we meet nationally recognised standards and that their children are learning in a safe, professional, and nurturing environment. For my team, the accreditation reinforces our shared commitment to maintaining those high standards through ongoing training, safety procedures, and consistent quality assurance. It’s something we’re all proud of. We also use our Swim Star status as a marketing tool, highlighting it across our communications to demonstrate our credibility and set us apart from other providers. It’s more than a logo-it reflects the trust and professionalism behind everything we do at Aquarius.

How has the framework helped you uphold and improve your standards?

Being part of the Swim Star Programme over the past decade has been instrumental in helping us maintain and continually raise our teaching and business standards. The framework encourages regular reflection, staff development, and adherence to best practice, ensuring that quality and safety remain at the heart of everything we do. When we took the next step and opened our own facility – the SMART Swim Centre – it was important to carry forward the same high standards we had built at Aquarius. Gaining Swim Star accreditation for SMART Swim School was a real business highlight and a proud moment for our team. It reinforced that, even as we expanded, our commitment to excellence, professionalism, and swimmer wellbeing remained exactly the same.

From a business perspective, what tangible benefits have you seen?

From a business perspective, being recognised as a Swim Star Swim School has had a lasting and tangible impact on our success. The accreditation has strengthened our reputation for quality, safety, and professionalism, helping us build a strong base of trust within the community. That reputation has been vital – we would not have been able to withstand the economic challenges of the past decade without it. Parents value the assurance that comes with the Swim Star status, and as a result, we continue to be one of the most recommended swim schools in our area. Our unique selling points-including our highly qualified, nurturing teachers and our commitment to maintaining accredited standards-have set us apart and driven both business growth and long-term customer loyalty.

Which parts of the Swim Star benefits package have been most valuable?

The resources and ongoing support from STA have been invaluable. Having access to up-to-date training materials and advice has really helped us keep our teaching fresh and in line with best practice. The discounts on training and qualifications have made a big difference too, allowing us to keep investing in our staff. But above all, it’s the sense of support and community that’s been most valuable – knowing we’re part of a network of like-minded swim schools who share ideas, challenges, and successes.

After 10 years, what stands out as the biggest value of being part of Swim Star?

The most valuable aspect of being part of the Swim Star programme has been the credibility, support, and sense of community it provides. Being part of an established and respected programme like Swim Star has given our swim school added trust and recognition within our local community. Beyond that, the ongoing professional development opportunities, shared values, and collaboration within the network have been invaluable. It has encouraged us to continually reflect, grow, and maintain the highest possible standards in both teaching and child development.

Finally, what advice would you give to new or aspiring swim schools?

My advice to new or aspiring swim schools considering joining the Swim Star programme is to begin by defining your unique approach – not just to teaching swimming, but to how you view child development and learning as a whole. It’s important to ground your teaching methods in solid child development theory and to research both practical teaching strategies and the theory behind how children learn best. Use this knowledge to shape your swim school into something that reflects your own philosophy and values – every swim school will have its own unique identity, and that’s a strength.

Equally, it’s vital to stay humble. Even after decades of experience, I’ve learned that there’s always more to discover – from academic research, from colleagues, and even from the children themselves. We should never be too protective of our own methods to learn from others. Ultimately, we’re all united by a common goal: to give every child the opportunity to learn a life-saving skill and, hopefully, to enjoy the process of doing so.

Now proudly recognised as one of STA’s first Gold Swim Star Swim Schools, Aquarius continues to champion excellence and nurture every swimmer’s potential.

From its beginnings in Colchester in 2003 to becoming one of STA’s first Gold Swim Star Swim Schools, Swim-With-Me has grown from a local family venture into a trusted name across Hertfordshire, London, and Essex. Founder Tracie Jack reflects on 10 years of accreditation, quality teaching, and the values that have guided the business from day one.

How did Swim-With-Me begin, and what inspired you to start your own swim school?

Swim-With-Me was born in 2003, when myself and my husband, Jean-Michel, opened our first pool in Colchester. We were driven by a passion not just for swimming, but for helping people – especially children – to feel confident, safe, and joyful in the water. From the beginning, quality mattered. I had been working with other swimming companies that I felt just treated the customer as a number and not a person/family, which included poor standards of teaching and customer service. This was not what I wanted to be part of. So we started with just a couple of hours a week and recruited well-trained instructors and emphasised high teaching standards and before long we were fully booked and opening more classes. In those early years, one of our biggest challenges was getting known – making sure parents trusted Swim-With-Me to deliver more than just basic swimming, but lessons that are fun, supportive and meet safety benchmarks. Word of mouth helped, particularly in Colchester where the first pool was, and as demand grew, we were able to expand into Hertfordshire, London and Essex. Even as the business grew, the core values set at the start – instructor training, caring teaching, understanding individual learners – stayed central.

Thinking back over a decade as a Swim Star, what do you remember most about those early years?

Looking back over 10 years since becoming a Swim Star, what stands out most for me are the early connections with families and the sense of building something meaningful from the ground up. In those days, running the swim school was very hands-on – I was in the pool, on the poolside, and in the office all in one day. It was challenging but incredibly rewarding to see children progress, gain confidence, and for parents to put their trust in us week after week. The market 10 years ago was quite different to what it is now. There were fewer independent schools, and parents didn’t have the same range of choice they do today. Pricing and payment structures were more straightforward, but there was also less flexibility. Today, parents expect not only high-quality teaching but also convenience – online bookings, monthly payment options, digital progress tracking – and of course, competition has grown. What hasn’t changed, though, is the heart of what we do: creating a safe, supportive environment where children can learn a life skill that stays with them forever. That’s what I remember most and what continues to inspire me today.

Why do you believe programmes like Swim Star are essential for independent schools?

We feel independent swim schools often faced the challenge of proving their credibility in a market where larger organisations or council-run programmes were the norm. Having a programme like Swim Star was important because it gave schools like ours a recognised framework that reassured parents about safety, teaching quality, and professionalism. It allowed us to show that although we were independent, we were operating at the highest industry standards. That’s just as important today, perhaps even more so, because parents are much more discerning. They compare swim schools not only on cost but also on quality, safety, and outcomes. Programmes like Swim Star highlight those standards and give families confidence in choosing an independent provider. For us at Swim-With-Me, Swim Star has also motivated our instructors. It gives them a sense of pride that the quality of their teaching is being recognised externally, not just internally. For example, when we expanded into new venues, being able to demonstrate that we were already operating to Swim Star standards helped us gain trust quickly with both leisure providers and parents. In short, Swim Star creates a badge of trust for parents and instructors. Ten years ago it gave independent swim schools a voice in a competitive market, which still today continues to raise the bar and ensure families receive the very best.

How has your Swim Star status supported confidence among parents and staff?

Having the Swim Star give us a real source of confidence in what we do both for our team and of course the parents. Those parents that know about it know that it is a recognition that we are continually meeting the best standards and industry standards. Yes, we do use it as a marketing tool – although probably not as much as we should – in the mindfield of advertising there are so many things that we want to bring to parents’ attention, but realistically, we should be shouting about this all the time.

In what ways has being part of the programme encouraged continuous improvement?

Having the programme has given us a framework for us to meet continuous improvement and not just have a one-time recognition. It sets a benchmark for us to meet and measure ourselves against and keeps us focused on both teaching quality and business standards. On the teaching side of things, it has encouraged us to invest in teacher training, ensuring regular assessments and the consistency of lesson structures. On the business side of things it has reaffirmed the importance of strong policies, clear communication with families and high standards in health and safety

Have you seen tangible business benefits from being a Swim Star school?

I feel that it has helped with strengthening our reputation in the community and allowed parents to know that they are choosing a swim school with proven quality and safety standards. Parents know that we are not just saying we deliver high-quality lessons, but that we are independently recognised for it.

Which elements of the evolving benefits package have helped you most?

Well of course discounts are brilliant – we always welcome those. Having discounts on training and resources has made it easier to keep our instructors’ skills up to date and having access to ready-made resources has just saved us such valuable time which allows us to focus on other areas of the business. The support from the STA is second to none – having that expert guidance on industry standards, health and safety and of course best practice instils confidence in us as a business. It’s good to know that you have our back.

Looking back, what has been the most valuable aspect overall?

The combination of external recognition and internal pride has been priceless for us. Having that credibility and trust that the programme brings creates structure to rely on in business.

What advice would you give to swim schools considering joining the programme?

My advice to new or aspiring swim schools is simple: don’t see Swim Star as just a badge, see it as a framework to build your whole business around. From my 10 years of experience, the accreditation gives you credibility from day one, which is invaluable when you’re trying to establish trust with parents and venues. Make the most of the wider benefits. The resources, discounts, and STA support are there to help you grow, so lean on them.

After a decade of excellence, Swim-With-Me proudly joins the ranks of STA’s Gold Swim Star Swim Schools, continuing to inspire confidence in every swimmer it teaches.