24-05-2025
Taunton School to launch new swimming programme later this year
Taunton School is set to launch a new swimming programme in September.
The programme follows the appointment of a new director of swimming at the school.
Rachel Aldington, a lead swimming coach at Millfield School, will take on the role.
She is also a head coach in Somerset, working with young athletes who swim at regional, national, and international levels.
The school's new swimming programme will be aligned with best practice and tailored to athletes' ages and stages.
It will create a researched, transitional environment designed to nurture talent and support long-term potential.
A variety of training types and times will be available, working around students' academic commitments, alongside mentoring and mental skills coaching to enhance focus and resilience.
Students at Taunton School have achieved many swimming successes in recent years, including qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic swimming trials, attending international training camps and competitions, and winning multiple national finals each year.
Daniel Pettifer, director of sport at Taunton School, said: "We are very excited to have a coach of Rachel's reputation, qualifications and experience come in and drive our programme forward to create a highly competitive and nurturing swimming experience at Taunton School."
Rachel, who has led Swim England programmes at county, regional, and national levels, and was part of the Team England coaching staff for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago in 2023, is looking forward to guiding athletes at the school.
Taunton School's swimming provision utilises its two pools to support a variety of aquatic disciplines, including lessons, survival, and competitive swimming.
Each year, Taunton Prep School trains a group of pupils to swim the English Channel as part of its co-curricular offering.
