❊ About Us
A swim school built on 40 years of trust.
PWSG has been teaching children and adults to swim safely and confidently since 1982. Community-run, safety-first, and proud of every swimmer who has come through our doors.
1982
Year founded
1,000s
Swimmers taught
40+
Years teaching
5 ★
Google rating
❊ The Team
The people behind PWSG
Every member of our team shares the same values — patience, consistency and a genuine commitment to helping every swimmer reach their potential.
Rebecca
Owner & Head Teacher
Rebecca learned to swim at PWSG as a child, earned all her awards here, and became a helper in 2007. She trained under Wendy and Brian for over 13 years before taking ownership of the school in 2020. She holds her Swim England teaching qualification and leads the school with the same dedication Wendy and Brian instilled in her.
Swim England qualified
PWSG since 2007
Owner since 2020
Vicky
Teacher
Vicky also swam at PWSG as a child before joining as a helper in 2012. Like Rebecca, she learned her craft directly from Wendy and Brian over many years. She completed her Swim England teaching qualification and brings warmth, patience and high standards to every session she teaches. Vicky teaches all of the non-swimmer groups.
Swim England qualified
PWSG since 2012
Ben
Teacher
Since joining us in 2022, Ben is a fantastic teacher. His sessions are lively, engaging, with lots of swimming, all while keeping technique to a high standard. He’s a true credit to PWSG.
Swim England qualified
PWSG since 2022
Jess
Teacher
Jess became part of the team in 2022 and is a fantastic teacher. She brings fun and energy to every lesson, making sure the children build great technique and do lots of swimming. We’re lucky to have her at PWSG.
Swim England qualified
PWSG since 2022
A team that grows from within
Many of our helpers and teachers started as swimmers here. Older swimmers aged 13+ who hold their Silver award or above can become helpers — learning the ropes alongside our qualified teachers. It's how Wendy and Brian built the school, and it's how we continue to do it today.
❊ Our Story
40 years in the making
1982
PWSG is founded
Wendy and Brian Barrett establish Patcham Water Survival Group at Patcham High School pool, bringing a safety-first approach to swimming lessons in the local community.
2007
Rebecca joins as a helper
Rebecca — who had learned to swim at PWSG as a child and earned all her awards there — joins the school as a helper, learning directly from Wendy and Brian.
2012
Vicky joins the team
Rebecca's sister Vicky, also a former PWSG swimmer, joins as a helper and begins her own journey learning the school's teaching methods from Wendy and Brian.
2020
A new chapter begins
After 38 remarkable years, Wendy and Brian step back. Rebecca takes ownership of PWSG, committed to carrying forward everything Wendy and Brian built — with Vicky by her side.
Today
Still going strong
PWSG continues to thrive, supporting the same community it has served for over 40 years. The same pool, the same values, the same commitment to teaching children and adults to swim with confidence and stay safe in the water.
❊ Our History
Where it all began
PWSG was founded in 1982 by Wendy Barrett and her husband Brian. Wendy had begun her teaching journey with East Sussex County Council, delivering swimming sessions three times a week. As demand for lessons grew, she took the leap to create her own swim school — and PWSG was born.
It quickly flourished. Over nearly four decades, Wendy and Brian taught thousands of children to swim, to stay safe in the water, and to respect it. Their dedication established PWSG as one of the most trusted and highly regarded swim schools in Brighton.
When Covid-19 brought activities to a halt in 2020, Wendy and Brian decided it was the right moment to step back after an incredible 38 years of running the school.
Their legacy didn't stop there. PWSG is now owned and run by Rebecca, with her sister Vicky working alongside her — both of whom were taught by Wendy and Brian as children. The same values, the same framework, the same care. Just a new generation carrying it forward.
Wendy Barrett
Founder · PWSG 1982–2020
Wendy founded PWSG in 1982 after recognising a growing demand for quality swimming lessons in the community. Over 38 years she built a school defined by patience, high standards and genuine care for every swimmer. Her teaching philosophy continues to guide everything PWSG does today.
❊ Our Mission
Why we do this
A life skill has three qualities: it keeps you safe, it builds independence, and it opens opportunities. Swimming does all three.
At PWSG our mission is simple — to teach every swimmer to feel safe, capable and confident in the water. Not just to complete lengths, but to truly understand the water and how to handle themselves in it.
We believe swimming is one of the most important skills a child can learn. It protects them around pools, beaches, rivers and on holiday. It gives them independence. And it opens up a lifetime of activity and enjoyment.
That's why every lesson at PWSG goes beyond strokes. Water survival skills — cold water awareness, floating, self-rescue — are woven into our teaching from day one.
Safety first 🛟
Every child learns essential water survival skills in a calm, controlled environment. Safety isn't an add-on — it's the foundation of everything we teach.
Progress with purpose 📈
Our structured award pathway gives every swimmer clear goals and genuine milestones. Children know what they're working towards and feel proud when they get there.
Community and care 🧡
PWSG is not a commercial chain. Parents know the teachers, children feel recognised, and our team shares a genuine commitment to every swimmer in our care.
❊ How We Teach
Our Approach
We follow a structured, proven teaching framework developed over 40 years. Every session is purposeful, every group is small, and every swimmer is known by name.
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A maximum of nine children per group means every swimmer gets the attention they need. Teachers can spot what's holding a child back and adjust their approach accordingly.
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All our teachers follow the same lesson plans and framework. If your child ever attends a different evening, the quality and approach will be exactly the same.
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Nervous swimmers are supported, not rushed. Confident swimmers are challenged appropriately. We meet every child where they are and help them move forward at their own pace.
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Many swim schools focus on one or the other. We blend both — giving swimmers strong stroke technique and the real-world safety skills that keep them safe around any water.
Our standard
Swim England aligned
All teaching at PWSG is delivered to Swim England (ASA) standards. Our teachers hold Swim England teaching qualifications and our award pathway follows the Swim England framework — so every certificate your child earns is a recognised, meaningful achievement.
Max 9 children per group
3 ability lanes per slot
Mon-Fri sessions available
4.5yrs+ youngest age taught
Trusted by Patcham families for over 40 years
❊ Join PWSG ❊
Come and see for yourself
We'd love to welcome your family to PWSG. Enrol online in a few minutes, or get in touch first if you'd like to find out more.