Plymouth College and Plymouth Leander Swimming Scholarship Scheme
In conjunction with the ASA Plymouth beacon programme
for Aspiring National and International Age and Youth Swimmers
Secondary School Education and Swimming Scholarships with the
UK's Leading Swimming Academy
Discover Your Future…
As Great Britain's leading age group and youth swimming
programme, ambitious athletes aged 11-18 years wishing to develop
their swimming with Plymouth Leander and the ASA Plymouth Beacon
Programme are able to do so whilst benefiting from a first class
senior school education with Plymouth College. The combined
programme offers many unique benefits which allow young athletes to
flourish both in the pool and in the classroom without one
compromising the other.
The Plymouth College/Plymouth Leander partnership commenced in
September 2001 to coincide with the opening of the College's pool.
Since this time, the scholarship scheme has welcomed many day and
boarding students who have developed into National champions and
medallists and ensured regular international selections for Great
Britain and home nations swim teams, as well as facilitating
international success for athletes from numerous overseas
nations.
"The Plymouth Leander swimming programme is a great facility
for up and coming talented youngsters. It was a programme like this
which helped me achieve my dreams and it's so important that other
children have this opportunity too." Mark Foster, Eight Time
World Record Holder
Background…
PlymouthCollegeis a co-educational school based in the maritime
city of Plymouth with the magnificent moorland, countryside and
coastal landscapes of Devon andCornwallclose to hand. The school
has been at the forefront of education in the South West of England
since 1877 and, whilst quietly conscious of its past and
traditions, it remains forward-looking and dynamic. The College
prides itself on successfully combining both academic and swimming
excellence. Conveniently placed in a quiet though central part of
Plymouth, the school is ½ a mile from the railway station, 1 mile
from the central bus station and 3½ miles from the airport. The
College is easily accessible from the M5 → A38 standard express
route intoPlymouth.
Great Britain National Youth Club Champions 2008, 2009 &
2010
Our Coaches…
- Led by Head Coach and Director of Swimming Jon Rudd, the
programme benefits from the leadership of one of Britain's most
celebrated and successful coaches
- Jon has worked for the British swim team in numerous Head Coach
capacities around the world, as well as leading countless camps and
development initiatives for our nation. Jon is one of a small
number of Great Britain National Squad Coaches and a TYR Advisory
Coach
- Lindsay Dunn is also a British swim team coach and an important
contributor to the consistently delivers on the pool deck and in
the gym as part of the England Talent ID programme. Lindsay also
has International Coaching experience with the Great Britain Junior
team
- Dwaine Bushell, Grace Parker, Matt Cross & Matt Bell
complete our fulltime professional coaching team, arguably making
this the most dynamic and exciting coaching group operating under
one roof in Great Britain today
- Full coaching profiles are available on both the Plymouth
Leander andPlymouthCollegewebsites
"As a former prep school coach I can identify with all of
the great things that a school environment can bring to a swimming
team. I can see the careful care and attention that you and your
staff bring to the children and I know what a great difference you
have made to their lives. In my mind you have perhaps the best set
up in theUKfor developing such swimmers and I know of your desire
to take your athletes through to the final step." Chris
Martin, Great Britain Development Coach 2008-2011
In The Water…
- Performance athletes are able to take advantage of weekday pool
sessions following their final lesson of the day. This facility is
available to both day and boarding students at the College
- Morning pool sessions run from 5.30am six days per week and
these become more civilised 7.30am starts on weekdays during half
term and full term vacation periods as the swimming programme
continues in full throughout this time
And On Land…
- Our Strength & Conditioning programme is an intrinsic part
of our coaching philosophy and is exemplary in both its content and
innovativeness
- Two specialist Strength & Conditioning coaches are employed
by the programme to deliver land work to reach the needs of the
individual, from the young age grouper in core development to the
senior sprint specialist on the Olympic lifting platform
Sports Science & Medicine…
- Led by Lindsay Dunn MSc, our programme is one of the few in the
country that can boast a comprehensive day by day sports science
support package for our athletes
- With a fully qualified Sports Physiologist and Nutrionist on
site throughout the week, advice and guidance for athletes and
coaches is always available
- Our Chartered Physiotherapist has a treatment room in the
College's medical centre and a further such facility in the
swimmer's boarding house, enabling quick and expert injury
treatment. Our Sport Massage Therapist also works under these
flexible conditions
- Our Performance Analysis Manager ensures that race models and
profiles are always on hand at key meets throughout the season
National Arena League Champions of England & Wales 2008,
2009 & 2010
Programme Focus & Direction…
- This is a British Swimming Development Club, a programme
supported by the ASA Club & Coach Funding Project, a Swim 21
Performance Programme and in receipt of the Sport England 'Club
Mark'. We are one of the few British swimming programmes recognised
for our work by the National Association for Gifted Children
- This programme runs over 75 hours of pool time per week in a
purpose built on-site pool and in satellite pools within the city
confines. Our coaching programme is structured in such a way that
it does not impact on academic attainment and achievement
- This programme guarantees that direction, focus and finance
will not be diluted by other distractions or disciplines of the
ASA. Performance competitive swimming is our sole motivator and
beneficiary
Boarding at the College…
- We believe that Captain's House, the boarding facility for our
swimming athletes, is the only swimming specific house of its kind
in the country
- Captain's House is organised and run by four staff who all hail
from a range of complimentary backgrounds, combining pastoral
expertise with elite sporting understanding, ensuring that high
performance needs and welfare are understood from the outset
- Three common rooms within the accommodation ensure a warm
social atmosphere within the house, along with a quiet study area
and a computer suite for daily use
- Athletes live in spacious twin rooms rather than dormitories.
All rooms are wi-fi connected, allowing them to double as private
study areas when required
- Athletes are transported to and from the accommodation by staff
each morning and afternoon, ensuring safety, security (and
protection from the elements!) in doing so
- For their own well-being and to maintain a link with their
original home programme, swimming scholars are encouraged to return
home on some of the weekends during term time. This is at each
athletes' discretion and, as such, are still able to stay at the
house over a weekend should they so desire
- Captain's House remains open at the end of both the Spring and
Summer terms to allow for effective taper and preparation into the
British Championships, National Age Championships and National
Youth Championships. This unique facility allows our athletes every
opportunity to perform at their peak at the highest levels of
domestic competition each and every year
- Captain's House is a stone's throw from the site of Plymouth's
new 10-lane 50m pool, opening in January 2012. Plymouth College and
Plymouth Leander have entered into a unique arrangement with the
ASA to manage the new ASA Beacon Programme to coincide with the
opening of the new facilites
"What you have is unique; it is the best of the school,
club, coach, parent, young person relationships. Like any
innovation it takes a few people to take the risk and to have the
faith. I have been very impressed and as a nation we can learn more
from our own backyard than we think." Guin Batten, Head of
Performance, Youth Sport Trust
The Learning Environment & Pastoral Care…
- The College is a vibrant and busy school with a successful
history. In the classroom, the College offers a full range of
subjects with setting where appropriate
- Teaching is based on the National Curriculum and is delivered
by a dedicated and talented staff
- The College has a non-selective intake, yet our typical pass
rate at GCSE (A* - C) is 94% and the typical pass rate at 'A' Level
is 98%. Over 90% of our students go on to study at University
- GCSE classes average 15 in number and 'A' Level classes an
average of 8 to ensure the highest level of care through these
crucial years
- The College is now running the International Baccalaureate
Diploma programme alongside 'A' Levels in the Sixth Form and IGCSE
courses at Key Stage 4
- Regular communication between boarding & pastoral staff,
parents, coaches and the athletes themselves ensures a
professionalism to our 'playground to podium' ethic that is second
to none when it comes to athlete welfare. Members of the academic
staff visit Captain's House each evening to assist the athletes
with their studies
- As well as day pupils from Plymouth and the surrounding area,
the College welcomes students (including many swimming athletes)
from all around the world
British Swimming Development Club Status 2008, 2009, 2010 &
2011
Swimming Programme Facilities…
- Plymouth Life Centre (50m) and Plymouth College (25m pool) with
Omega OSB11 starting blocks and anti-wave lane lines). White
Dolphin Power Rack units and iCool Sport Ice Bath systems based on
pool deck
- Fully equipped weights & fitness suites (including Olympic
Lifting platforms), at both facilities
- Sports conference room used for athlete briefings, target
setting sessions and parent meetings
Our Athletes…
- Our athletes are truly world class. In the last five years, our
athletes have won World, Commonwealth and European medals, competed
in World Championship finals & have broken over 70 British and
English records
- The number of our athletes with international experience is now
in excess of 40, with the majority of this number having been
selected for Great Britain and/or England
- Our athletes have held National records across eleven different
nations around the world
- The announcement of the Great Britain London 2012 Target Squad
saw more swimming athletes named from the Plymouth programme than
from any other swimming club or city in the country
- British Swimming's World Class programme and the England Talent
ID programme annually announces impressive numbers of Plymouth
athletes, coaches and team managers with whom they are
involved
"My six years as part of the Plymouth programme gave me the
best possible foundation to go on and win my Olympic medal. I can
fully recommend it for ambitious young swimmers" Cassandra
Patten, Bronze Medallist,Beijing Olympic Games 2008
Our Team…
- This programme produces both top male and female athletes as
well as high achieving age, youth & senior athletes - all
strokes, all distances
- In English Schools' swimming events, Plymouth College annually
leads the nation in all forms of ESSA competition
- We boast contemporary achievements rather than living off
historical glories. We can show you an intimacy to our programme
where success both in the pool and in the classroom is
inevitable
Swimming Scholarships at the College
Highly sought after and competitive swimming scholarships can be
offered by the Headmaster in consultation with the Director of
Swimming. To discuss this opportunity further and discover your
future, contact Jon Rudd (Director of Swimming):
Swim Office: 0044 1752 203243
Mobile: 0044
7792 052703
e-mail: swimming@plymouthcollege.com
Skype: jon-rudd
www.plymouthcollege.com and www.plymouthleander.co.uk
Performance Swim Office, Plymouth College, Ford Park, Plymouth
PL4 6RN, England