Talbot Heath Swimming Academy: The Destination for Aspiring Female Swimmers

Find out more and register your interest. Contact our Head of Admissions Mrs R Campbell-McLean, today.

A New Era for Female Swimming

Talbot Heath School is set to become the UK’s leading destination for young female swimmers. Building on the success of its renowned Tennis Academy and Swimming Academy, the school in Bournemouth, Dorset is now launching its own Talbot Heath Swimming Club in late 2025. With world-class coaching and a training programme designed to fit seamlessly into the school day, Talbot Heath offers the ultimate dual school and training experience for both local and boarding students.

A Dedicated Swim England Club

After a successful five-year partnership with Poole Swimming Club, Talbot Heath is taking a bold step forward by establishing itself as an official Swim England Swimming Club. Following an in-depth review that included feedback from parents, pupils, and staff, this change ensures a bespoke training programme designed specifically for the needs of Talbot Heath swimmers.

Expert Coaching & Athlete Development

Talbot Heath’s new Head of Swimming, Barry Alldrick, brings international-level coaching expertise and a reputation for developing high-performance athletes. Joining him is Strength & Conditioning expert Jack Phillips from GTC Conditioning, ensuring that every swimmer receives specialist physical training to enhance their performance. Further physiotherapy support and an additional swim coach will also be announced soon.

Pioneering Research in Female Athlete Development

Talbot Heath is committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by female swimmers. Under Barry Alldrick’s leadership, the school is undertaking a long-term study, supported by Swim England, Aquatics GB, top female athletes, and leading coaches. This research aims to develop effective strategies that support female swimmers’ physical, emotional, social, and mental development—ensuring they thrive in sport and life.

Alldrick shared his enthusiasm, saying:
“To be given the space and time to expand my coaching and research in this area is an incredible opportunity. With the support of experts and successful female athletes, I look forward to sharing findings that will make a real difference in the swimming community.”

Tailored Training for Every Swimmer

Talbot Heath Swimming Club will offer four squad levels, catering to a range of abilities and aspirations:

Swim Skills Squad – Focused on developing a love for swimming and foundational techniques.
Development Squad – Teaching advanced training techniques and competitive skills.
Competition Squad – Designed for pupils competing at County Level.
Performance Squad – For swimmers aiming for Regional, National, and International competitions.

The programme will also support students in multi-discipline sports such as triathlon and pentathlon.

Join the Future of Female Swimming – competitive offers

If you’re passionate about swimming, determined to achieve academic success, and eager to be coached by top-level professionals, Talbot Heath is the place for you.

The future of female swimming starts here.

Find out more and register your interest. Contact our Head of Admissions Mrs R Campbell-McLean, today.

Achievements

Recent Talbot Heath Swimming Academy achievements include:

Double World School Games Champions 2024 (year 5/6 and Year 9/10)
World School Games U13 Female Champions 2022
ESSA Senior School Relay Finalists
ESSA Primary School Relay Finalists
Good School Guide Top 6 Swimming School

Testimonials

Fiona Hardie – Former TH pupil
PSC member, National Competing Swimmer

“I fully believe that it was the combination of all the ways Talbot Heath supported me, the academic work ethic that was installed in me, as well as the passion, quality of coaching, and atmosphere at Poole Swimming Club that kept me in the sport.”

I started competitive swimming because of Talbot Heath, I wanted to make a school sports team, and swimming was something that I not only enjoyed but I realised, after our summer term lessons and the annual school gala, I had a chance of making the team.

I soon represented TH at the schools competitions. We raced in the Bournemouth and Dorset championships, and later to the national championships. I will never forget that first trip that I made to Sheffield in the school minibus. While we didn’t win that weekend, but we did exceed our own expectations by making a final, and perhaps more significantly for my swimming career, I left knowing that I wasn’t going to let that be my only time racing at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.

My swimming commitments grew exponentially. I started training more sessions each week, both before and after school for 2 hours each time and was away at competition most weekends. TH helped me out with these commitments – I was able to eat breakfast at the boarding house after morning training, and spend PE lessons in the library working on my academic work, not to mention the support the teachers and staff gave me. This support heavily contributed to me reaching my first long term goal as I revisited Ponds Forge in lower 4, then started my 12 year streak of competing at the British National Championships.

When I was studying for my GCSE’s, I was selected to compete at the UK School Games, as well being a candidate for the 2 year Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).

As a member of Poole Swimming Club, I completed the prestigious AASE program and then attained a full sports scholarship to NCAA Division 1 Universities in America. I attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania where I was given the opportunity to continue my swimming career with the support of a respected academic institution.

It was because of both Talbot Heath and Poole Swimming Club that I was able to compete at a national level for so many years, have the amazing opportunity to live, study, and compete nationally in America for 4 years. And ultimately, it is because of these 2 institutions that I now have a masters degree from Southampton University, a professional career that I am proud of at Arup, and still get in the water when I can and compete in relays for Poole, where it all began.

The Swim Academy is a wonderful addition to Talbot Heath, and with Barry at the helm, will go from strength to strength – if his protégé Jacob Peters is anything to go by, as he’s off to the Olympics!