01-05-2025
Olympian opens first northern swim school in York
AN OLYMPIAN has opened his very own swim school in York.
Tom Dean, a triple gold medal winning Olympian and Strictly Come Dancing star, opened the doors on the first northern branch of his Swim School on Friday (April 25).
This follows a visit to York in February to the Mount School in April to meet potential students and introduce his innovative teaching style to the public.
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So far, 150 children and adults have signed up to the school's programme – which focuses on water safety and progression through the five different levels, known as 'rings of success'.
Tom said: 'I am so excited that the school has officially launched up at The Mount School. It's been so much work from the whole team across us and the school and we really wanted to make sure we got it right.
'We want to make sure the students at the school attending the swimming classes get the best possible lessons and quality of teaching and that's core to what we do. We want to make sure if it's in York or any of our other locations around the UK that the teaching quality is extremely high.
'It's such an amazing day and a combination of lots of hard work and excitement to finally be open.'
Speaking to The Press in February, Tom explained that York was chosen as the first northern city in part due to the team's personal connections with the city and its proximity to a large body of water – the River Ouse.
Tom with some of his students (Image: Provided) The school focuses its teaching on water safety and ensuring that all swimmers feel confident in both pools and open bodies of water with a focus on how the body feels, breathing, and how to self-rescue if stuck in an unsafe situation.
Tom added: 'Learning to swim is such an important skill all year round but even more so in the summer months as more and more people head towards bodies of water and we get the heatwaves that we're expecting each year.
'Having that knowledge and skill of being able to self-rescue, and most importantly how to be comfortable and confident in the water is important as an individual, but also as a parent/adult who has children, you want to make sure your children are safe. I think every person up and down the country would agree with me!
'Having that confidence in the water is vital and is the focus of lessons from day one. It's something that's instilled in all of our students and delivered by all of our teachers but of course, if the students want to progress on and pursue the sport of swimming, then we have the opportunities to build to the highest possible foundations of swimming technique and the basis of training that's going to hold them in good stead.
Tom with a potential student at The Mount (Image: Provided) 'Water safety is of course a priority regardless of which stage of the lessons and programme you're at, but ultimately we can cater to whatever people want from swimming!'
'Our lessons really instil water safety from early on and that's absolutely vital. Whether it's on holiday or in the warmer months at home, swimming down by the sea, this is a priority from as soon as the children join the school.'
Tom Dean Swim School has opened its doors at the Mount School with plans to expand across the area. There are still places available with further information at
