ISS has gained a strong reputation for being the best and most active swimming school on the island so much so that one of our students in year 8 has been awarded a Sports Scholarship (with Swimming as the main discipline) to attend Millfield Senior School in Somerset, UK.
Millfield School was the most-represented British boarding school at both the London and Rio Olympics with 9 and 6 athletes respectively representing GB, having been educated and coached at Millfield School. Incidentally, it is also the school which King Maha Vajiralongkorn attended from the age of 13 – 18 years and at which he excelled. It is an establishment with great history and great talent and at ISS we are so very proud that our students can access such a competitive environment through sheer hard-work, dedication supported by a fantastic team of teachers. At ISS you can be part of the School swim team (Samui Sharks) led by our swim coach, Mr Withers. Students from Reception to year 9 are taught one full hour swimming lesson every week. The Samui Sharks attend swim meets and galas throughout the year on the island and further afield. You can access group lessons for youngsters, beginners swimming lessons for both children and adults, fitness and stroke training for children and adolescents (Stingrays Club), private one-to-one tuition, progression swimming for the youngsters, adult swimming for fitness and technique as well as an open-water swim squad which meets weekly. The options are endless and if you would like to get into swimming please refer to the timetable or contact any of the 3 coaches to get more information. The coaching team behind this incredible training is so integral to the professionalism and smooth running of lessons. Our school teacher, Mr Withers, is a qualified swim coach focusing on curriculum lessons as well as the school squad with some occasional private tuition. Furthermore, the school is fortunate to work with Bianca Marnewick and Chris Viljoen who both hail from South Africa with competitive history in Open Water Swimming and High-Perfomance Competitive Swimming. Bianca swam competitively in Open Water swimming for many years as a youngster and is a great asset to our Beginners swimming program. Chris trained with the South African Olympic team as an adult, an experience which has given him the drive to coach his students to the highest level. Both coaches hold qualifications to teach swimming at all levels. Proficiency in swimming has so many benefits including health but also safety. The Amateur Swimming Association of England (ASA) acting CEO, Ashley Beaveridge, said: "Swimming isn't just a leisure activity or a way for young people to keep healthy, it's a life-saving skill that every child has the right to learn. ASA estimates (based on a survey of 900 primary schools in the UK) that 45% of seven- to 11-year-olds are unable to swim 25m (82ft) - the length of an average-sized pool - unaided (ie. requiring some means of floating device). At ISS this figure for the same age group is just 4.16% who cannot OR 95.8% who CAN swim unaided. This is a testament to the environment our students live in but also to the endless provision of swimming on offer together with parental support. Keep it up and we might see some future Olympians..... If you are interested in your child being involved in swimming, developing strokes, techniques, stamina and fitness either contact the school or the coaches directly.