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A small, independent swim school focused on enjoyable and memorable teaching.

South Oxfordshire & West Berkshire

Our story

A little about us

Aqua Blue is a small and friendly children's swim school based in Compton and Hermitage, near Newbury. We understand the importance of teaching children in a safe, structured but relaxed environment; no child will ever feel that they are pressured to complete a task until they are ready. We aim to deliver swimming lessons with a high activity level and a focus on fun and engaging learning.

Using the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme, our children work towards both stage badges and distance badges from Stage 1 to Stage 10. Within this framework we offer our highly popular parent and child lessons through to a one hour training session for our stage 7 and above swimmers—which is effectively a mini swim club with a structured programme of 30 minute length swimming including races, diving and personal survival.

At Brockhurst and Marlston House School School in Hermitage, there is also a fantastic adult session from 7-8pm.

Our goals

We aim to keep a consistency with our teachers who get to know the children well; they are skilled and experienced but most importantly they are kind and treat children as individuals. With only 2 classes run at any one time, only 6 children per class and up to 3 water assistants, we enable our teachers to provide a tailored learning experience for your child.

We also take pride in offering clear and constructive feedback on our pupils progress. Many of our swimmers progress through our beginner programme, through to training sessions and on to Newbury District swimming club when they leave us.

The Aqua Blue Swim School catchment area includes Newbury, Thatcham, Hermitage, Curridge, Streatley & Goring, Hagbourne, Didcot, Abingdon, Chieveley, Wantage and Wallingford.

Meet the team

Beth Bevan
Owner and teacher
Mobile: 07809694361

Having spent 15 years as the Head of Physical Education in a local secondary school, Beth has a wealth of knowledge and experience across a variety of sports. Passionate about swimming from an early age, Beth was the resident swimming teacher at Greenacres leisure centre when she realised a lifelong dream by forming Aqua Blue swim school in 2010.

She has since been working in local pools delivering both group and private lessons; with a focus on comprehensive, enjoyable and memorable lessons for her students. When not teaching classes, Beth can usually be found poolside with her own daughters, Charlotte and Olivia, who both swim competitively at regional and national level.

ASA qualified level 2 teacher
First aid trained
Rescue test for teachers
B Ed Hons degree

Kind comments from the Aqua Blue Family


"Beth’s attitude towards her lessons instils confidence in my children to the point they are so excited to go to “swim club” the lessons are so well structured and the group dynamics are perfect for the swimming ability of each child."

Michelle Richards, Berkshire


"I would just like to say what an absolute relief it was to find Aqua Blue! After using another local swim school for the entire term I can honestly say my two children progressed more in two weeks under Beth and her team than an entire term at another school!"

Beth Simmons, Newbury


"Would absolutely recommend Beth and her team to anyone looking for swimming schools and will with 100% confidence trust Beth and her team to create small human-shaped dolphins for me!! 10/10 A* swim school."

Denise Mills, Newbury

"Beth is a kind, perceptive and skilled teacher who sets a wonderfully upbeat and encouraging tone in lessons. She’s worked wonders with my Y2 child, who 3 months ago was a total non-swimmer. After just 9 lessons with Beth she is gliding, floating and swimming - unaided! Yea! Thank you. I’m SO very glad that google led me to your brilliant gem of a swim school."

Katy Arnold, Berkshire

"My daughter was extremely anxious to even get in the pool. She is now able to swim in the deep end! They kept me updated on her progress, and just generally put us both at ease. I'll be forever grateful to them for giving my daughter confidence in the water."

Clare Morris, West Berkshire


"Best swim school around, no pressure put on the children all done at their own pace."

Lisa Hutton, West Berkshire


"I would highly recommend this swimming school - such professional & great teaching - my older 2 daughters are now better swimmers than me & my 5 year old really looks forward to her lessons!"

Ruth Lambert, West Berkshire


"We've been really impressed with the teaching at Aqua Blue - small sized classes for lots of attention and patient teachers who really understand what they're talking about."

Marge Mac, West Berkshire