At the age of 14, Richard was a top swimmer at his local swimming club, where he helped out with some of the junior members. By 16 he had taken his assistant teacher qualification and at age 18 he took his full teaching qualifications. Richard continued to teach at his local club until he went to university and continued teaching during his further education.

After graduating Richard went to teach for Trafford Council at various swimming pools in the borough. This was where he discovered that teaching swimming was his vocation. In 1998 he responded to an advert in the Manchester Evening News about an opportunity to teach and setup his own swim school and on June 5th 1999 The Elite Swim School was born.

Richard continues to train at Trafford Metro Masters Club in Sale and actively competes at local, regional and national competitions. Richard primarily competes in middle distance events e.g. 200m and 400m. 

He has had opportunities to compete at World Master swimming events. In August 2014 he gained a bronze medal in his age range for 400m individual medley and 9^th place for 100m fly and 800m freestyle. 

Level 2 swimming qualification

NSPCC safeguarding in sport trained. 

Paediatric first aid trained

Gordon is an enthusiastic swimming teacher with 18 years of experience. He  has been involved with the Trafford Metro Swimming Club for many years, and he learned a lot from the coaches there. Gordon studied sports courses through college and university and gained a Bachelor of Science in Sports Performance from Edge Hill University. While gaining those qualifications he worked part time at Sale Leisure Centre for 5 years before joining The Elite Swim School in 2013. 

Gordon's skills and experience enable him to work with all ages and abilities; from beginners and children with special needs, through improvers to masters.

Level 2 swimming qualification

NPLQ Lifeguard qualification

Safeguarding trained. 

Conor was born and raised in Watford. He has been involved in swimming since about 3 years old, attending the same swim school up until his early teens when he joined Watford Swimming Club for a short time, before returning to his old swim school in the role of assistant swimming teacher when he reached the age of 16. In the summer of 2014 he completed his level 2 swim teaching qualification at Loughborough University.

Conor used teaching swimming as part time work while finishing studying for university. In 2015 he moved north to take up a place and the University of Manchester, however, after his first year he decided that university wasn't for him, but Manchester was! He turned his attention back to swimming,  joining The Elite Swim School in 2016.

Over the years he has worked at multiple different pools in Manchester, with all sorts of abilities, children and adults, developing his knowledge and skill-set.

Level 2 swimming qualification

Swim England safeguarding trained.

Reach and rescue trained.

Sheila has always enjoyed swimming as part of her fitness regime.

Sheila is a qualified teacher for children with severe and profound and complex learning difficulties and autism. For 33 years she taught a range of ages and abilities before leaving fulltime teaching in Summer 2023. She is now a support worker for a company supporting children who have been fostered.

Sheila met Richard in July 2006 and quickly became involved in the business and took her level 1 teaching qualification. She will often be found in the pool assisting with the non-swimming classes, working alongside a teacher supporting the children in gaining confidence and introducing early swimming skills. 

Level 1 swimming qualification

Safeguarding trained  

Paediatric first aid trained

Hannah started swimming at Elite Swim School when she was three years old with her two older brothers and five cousins. She soon had a love of breaststroke. Fourteen years later she completed her level 1 qualification. She became an assistant teacher in the same classes she was once a part of!



Hannah says “It was a great experience to learn to swim at Elite Swim School, it is even better that I now get to help teach children where I learnt to swim”.  Fifteen years later she is about to take her level 2 qualification.

Level 1 swimming qualification

Safeguarding trained  

Sue became involved with the Elite Swim School when she wanted her daughter to be able to swim from a young age. At that time Richard was the only swimming teacher so Sue offered to help with admin.

Twenty-five years, and many, many pupils later, Sue is now the Business Manager with responsibility for all aspects of admin, finance and public relations including complaints.