20 FAQs About Our Swimming Crash Courses in Wimbledon, Southwest London

1) What is a swimming crash course?

Swimming crash courses are 4-day or 5-day intensive courses run during the school holidays. Lessons take place every weekday morning, giving rapid progress through daily repetition.

2) Are crash courses the same as swimming intensive courses?

Yes. Both terms refer to our daily holiday programme, designed for fast-tracked learning and skill retention.

3) When do the crash courses run?

Our intensive courses run during the major school breaks:

• October Half-Term 2026: week commencing 26th October, at Wimbledon College, SW19
• February Half-Term
• Summer Holidays

4) Are the swimming crash courses just for children?

No. Because our lessons are 1:1, they suit all ages. We offer specialised 1:1 Adult Intensives and 1:1 SEND lessons tailored to individual learning needs.

5) Are crash courses just for beginners?

Not at all. We often help club-level swimmers refine their stroke technique for school squads, and triathletes who want to improve their freestyle efficiency and stamina.

6) I’m an adult beginner. Is an intensive course right for me?

Yes! A 1:1 adult intensive is the fastest way to build water confidence and breath control before a holiday or before starting a regular fitness routine.

7) How are 1:1 crash courses different from weekly lessons?

Daily lessons remove the “7-day gap” in which skills can be forgotten. This daily repetition often results in two terms’ worth of progress in just one week.

8) Which swimming pool is used for the October half-term course?

Our October half-term course runs at Wimbledon College in Wimbledon Village (SW19). It’s easily reached from Wimbledon, Putney, Fulham, Wandsworth and Kingston.

9) What time of day do the lessons take place?

Holiday lessons typically run in the morning, so families can finish early and enjoy the rest of the day.

10) How long is each session?

Standard sessions are 30 minutes. 60-minute “double sessions” can be arranged for older children and adults who want maximum impact.

11) Can lessons be longer than 60 minutes?

Technically yes, but we find that more than 60 minutes of intensive technical work a day can be counter-productive for skill retention.

12) What is the minimum booking?

The minimum booking is one full weekly block of 4 or 5 days, depending on bank holidays. The October half-term course runs for the full 5 days.

13) Can I book individual days or pay as I go?

No. Crash courses are booked as a full intensive week only. We don’t offer pay-as-you-go, ad-hoc or individual-day bookings, because daily repetition across the whole week is what delivers the rapid progress our courses are known for.

14) Where can I find current fees and availability?

Our current pricing and live availability are on our Dates and Fees page.

15) Do you offer group lessons during crash courses?

No. We specialise exclusively in 1:1 and semi-private 1:2/1:3 (siblings/friends) lessons, so every swimmer gets focused attention.

16) What happens if I miss a lesson?

Because slots are reserved exclusively for your child, we can’t offer refunds or make-up sessions for days missed during the intensive week.

17) Why do fees vary between swim schools?

Blue Wave provides a professional private pool and expert technical coaching. We don’t use small backyard pools or large, crowded groups.

18) Can crash courses replace my child’s weekly lessons?

They’re an excellent boost to jump to the next level, but we recommend regular weekly lessons for long-term technical progress.

19) Can a beginner learn to swim in just one week?

Every child is different, but a week of intensive lessons gives a big boost in confidence and foundational skills that would normally take months to build.

20) What will we focus on in one week?

We tailor the week to each swimmer:

• Beginners: confidence, breath control and independent buoyancy
• Intermediate: stroke correction and efficient freestyle technique
• Advanced: stamina, speed, and competitive starts and turns