We are thrilled to share some exciting news about the future of swimming at Talbot Heath. Following a comprehensive 5-year review, we are launching the enhanced Talbot Heath School Swimming Club, a significant step forward that will provide unparalleled opportunities for new and existing pupils.
New Opportunities: Evolving from Our Partnership
Our previous partnership with Poole Swimming Club has served our pupils well and we are grateful for the opportunities and success that this partnership has fostered. However, we have identified areas for innovation and exciting opportunities for the future development of our swimming offer.
The Future: Talbot Heath School Swimming Club
We want Talbot Heath School to become a Swim Club in its own right. This means a dedicated, professional coaching team fully integrated into the life of the Junior and Senior schools. This will enhance our ability to:
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Create: Develop swimming talent from a young age in the Junior School.
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Retain: Keep pupils engaged in swimming throughout their education at Talbot Heath.
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Attract: Draw talented swimmers to our school.
This new structure will also improve timetabling, allowing pupils more sleep, study time, and additional lunchtime sessions, alongside increased Strength and Conditioning provision with GTC Conditioning. We are also committed to enhancing the Talbot Heath swimming brand when nationally performing at the highest levels.
A Leading Coach at the Helm
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Barry Alldrick as our full-time and exclusive Head of Swimming. Barry is a previous winner of the Swim England Coach of the Year Award and brings a wealth of experience and passion to Talbot Heath.
Barry is particularly excited to be at the forefront of female development in swimming, researching the most effective methods to nurture female swimming athletes emotionally, mentally, and physically. This will be done through a long-term, evidence-based study, with contributions from Swim England, Aquatics GB, the Adam Peaty Race Club, and female senior athletes globally. Barry is passionate about coaching and is excited to dedicate his full-time role to the success of our pupils and coaches, developing a programme that combines cutting-edge training with well-being.
What Pupils and Parents Can Be Excited For:
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Manageable Days: Our most committed swimmers start at 6:30 a.m. and finish at 6:00 p.m. (compared to the previous 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. schedule), promoting improved sleep, recovery, and overall well-being.
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More Study Time: Better balance between training and academics.
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Daytime Technical Sessions and Workshops: Integrating training seamlessly into the school day.
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Team Cohesion: All girls training together at the same venue, fostering a strong sense of belonging. Programmes will also support associated sports like Pentathlon, Triathlon, Biathlon, and Lifesaving.
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High-Level Coaching Commitment: Experienced, dedicated coaches focused on detail and a drive to achieve excellence. This will help attract higher-level swimmers and elevate standards.
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Year-Round Training: Consistent training opportunities, including during school holidays.
Introducing Four New Squads:
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Swimskills Squad: Focus on learning and developing competitive strokes, starts, turns, and mindset. Includes Progressive Awards and Lesson Structure, 2 hours per week, and Skills Camps in holidays.
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Development Squad: Focus on learning training techniques, progressing competitive skills, and developing stamina. Includes participation in competitions and setting progressive goals, 4.5 hours per week, year-round, and Skills Camps in holidays.
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Competition Squad: For pupils aspiring to or competing at County Level. Includes a progressive competition structure and cyclical training cycles, 11.5 hours per week of swimming and strength & conditioning, and bi-weekly technical sessions during the school day.
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Performance Squad: For pupils aspiring for regional, national, and international levels. Includes a progressive competition structure and cyclical training cycles, 17.5 hours per week of swimming and strength & conditioning, bi-weekly technical sessions during the school day, and further support as needed, along with individual development and testing.
Next Steps:
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We will be holding a parent information evening on Thursday 27 February at 4:00pm in the Hub where Barry Alldrick will share our plans.
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Following this event we will publish a FAQ on our website at Talbot Heath Swimming which will be updated regularly as further information becomes available.
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To welcome our new and returning swimmers, a membership guide, including fee structure, competition structure and training details, will be published at Easter.
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We have also begun the recruitment process for a second coach.
We are confident that the Talbot Heath School Swimming Club will provide an exceptional environment for our pupils to thrive both in and out of the pool. We look forward to sharing further updates with you soon.
