Chelsea and Westminster swimming club- opinion?

12 replies

MarVal1 · 06/09/2021 22:01

Hi there,
I am wondering if anyone has a view on this club? I am trying to find a swimming club for my 11 years old daughter which could provide at least 2 hours / week swimming lessons. It does not seem to be easy to fond a good club around. Any view? Thanks a lot

OP posts:

mylesta · 09/09/2021 17:02

It is a strong club in terms of competitive results. But I would ask them first whether they will provide lessons for an 11 year old. You might be better off looking for a leisure centre or swim school for lessons, as in many swimming clubs the teaching section is for much younger children and they move into competitive squads around age 7 to 9.

KittenKong · 09/09/2021 17:05

It’s very competitive and I’m not quite sure what the criteria is. DS tried for it and didn’t get in - his coach (he was swimming 4x a week back then and swam for the school) was pretty gobsmacked and said that there were far less strong swimmers in the club. Hey ho, what can you do, life lessons and all that.

He was swimming in the local pool clubs, with the school and had a coach.

sanam2019 · 19/09/2021 21:47

where are you based exactly? I had a look at lots of clubs when I was looking for a club for my 10 year old...

Theo690 · 01/09/2022 15:56

AVOID this club!!! They don't give a damn about their swimmers; if a swimmer reaches the age of 13 and is unable to join their regional squad due to space restrictions, they are dumped into another squad at a lower level cutting their weekly training time from 11 hours to just 4 hours.

Swimmers are then forced to quit the club
and, if they're lucky, find a position in another club, or, in the worst case scenario, give up on the sport altogether because it is impossible to be a competitive swimmer with only a few hours of training each week.
There was no regard for the swimmers, who spent two hours every day practising and forming bonds with one another, or for the parents(the clients), who had been paying fees and support the club
for many years.

Swim England should investigate the club for mistreating and mismanaging their swimmers.

sylwia12 · 06/11/2023 17:49

horrible teachers My daughter move from another club to CWSC and she went backwards.They put her in the baby swimming pool, the teachers were different each week,no progress
I have to move her back to the previous group, who were running classes in the bigger swimming pool . It is a total waste of money, the teachers do not teach for children how to progress,they will keep your deposit if you withdraw earlier, Tottaly, they stole me the money.

ece123 · 16/01/2024 22:21

I am really suprised with the comments here. My DD (7) joined the club in September and her technique has improved enormously in only 4 months. I cannot comment on the advanced stages but the coaches are really good in early stages.

Glittertwins · 06/02/2024 18:20

Just wait until she reaches the competitive stages, it all changes then! It is a strongly competitive club, we've swum against them a lot, their younger ones are very good too.

NewToLondon18 · 27/06/2024 13:32

Hello,
Do you have any other swimming club recommendations? My daughter already swims for school and competitively. We will be in London this summer and I would like her to maintain her skills.
Thanks

2activekids · 07/09/2024 19:10

Hello,
I'm looking for advice on a suitable swimming club for the kids, age 11 and 5.
We live in K&C . The 5 year old has had lessons for 2 years and is ready to start in a club. The 11 year old is a good swimmer but has not swam for about 6 months due to health reasons. She recently had a trial with another club but was not successful and we were surprised by the very high standard of the other kids on the trial with her. Does anyone know of less competitive clubs locally ? or how to get her to an improved performance locally?

Thanks

Glittertwins · 07/09/2024 19:34

I'd look at the Swim England website to find your nearest club.
Five years old is very young to be ready for a club, most won't take them that young. what stage have they reached in swim classes?
11 is a tricky age as by then, a performance club will be looking at them being county championship qualifiers if not finalists. C&W would be looking for that as a minimum.

NewToLondon18 · 08/09/2024 00:36

Hello, so we tried CWSC over summer with my 9 year old and were really impressed. They did maintain her skills and were understanding that we could only join for the summer. I even had my 5 year old join a very junior "squad" where the coaches really differentiated for her as although she has had swimming lessons at school and beginners lessons, she had never trained in a squad before. If we stayed in London, I would definitely have continued both children with CWSC. If you are looking for a less competitive environment, I understand that they also had an option for that (I forgot what they called it? Bronze or something?). Just sharing our experiences here from the summer. Thanks

Qsbcnm · 20/11/2025 08:17

The club mainly recruits swimmers who are already high-level and competitive( that’s why they always showed great race results), rather than developing athletes from within their own programme. As a result, most of the top swimmers end up concentrated in that club.

There are also concerns about discriminatory behaviour from some coaches. They appear to treat swimmers from immigrant or low-income families unfairly, while providing preferential treatment to wealthier families.

In addition, the administration has set up automatic bank deductions for fees, and money continues to be taken without clear notification. Even after swimmers leave the club, their accounts are not properly closed, and charges continue. Some families have had to contact their bank and replace their card to stop the withdrawals. This behaviour is very concerning.

Flip