Bedford School has further defended its decision to change how swimming clubs can use its pool after Bedford Swim Squad (BSS), formerly Modernians, said they may now face closure if they don’t find another pool for their lessons and coaching.
BSS, a not-for-profit that will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, is well known in the Borough for providing swimming lessons and coaching a squad that has turned out some of the area’s best swimmers in recent years.
But Bedford School has defended its decision saying that, despite only one swimming lesson provider being granted the majority of pool time for their lessons, there will still be time for others to use their pool.
The school informed users that it would be raising pool hire charges and making other changes to the pool hire terms and conditions, such as no longer providing lifeguards, earlier this year and criticism of the plans escalated last month.
This was when another club using their pool announced they would have to close as they would no longer be able to afford to run classes without doubling what they charged parents.
Read: Popular swimming school forced to close due to rising prices of swimming pool hire
While that club pulled out early, three other current users and four outside providers submitted proposals to use the pool for lessons while satisfying the school’s new charges.
BSS’s proposal increased the hours they would hire the pool and added initiatives that they said would increase revenue for the school even more.
This included swim camps and galas that they believe “would have provided financial benefits to the school and much greater benefit to pupils and the wider community”.
However, in a generic email seen by the Bedford Independent and issued to the clubs on 11 November, the school’s director of operations said the school had decided to ‘concentrate on working with one learn to swim provider’ from 1 January 2025.
Richard Cole, chairman of Bedford Swim Squad, which has hired the pool for 15 years, says the news has hit them hard.
“The impact on our lessons programme could certainly restrict residents from accessing such a vital skill, though no doubt the new swimming lesson provider would claim they will now offer this ability,” he said.
“The school has not engaged with us at all following the submission of our detailed proposal. This was positioned as a starting point to enable further discussion and negotiation, we have followed up on this several times but did not receive any response whatsoever.
“I would have expected to have at least received some questions, and an invitation to provide any additional clarification required, but was surprised by the complete lack of communication.”
Medal haul
Bedford School denied that they had treated anyone unfairly, with a spokesperson stating that BSS had provided “an extremely clear proposal which required no further clarification”.
However, Mr Cole says the lack of communication has left them on the back foot in being able to find a new home.
“Unless we can continue to run our lessons programme through an alternative provider,” he said, “We are likely to have to reduce our squad timetable and coaching hours significantly, otherwise the club could fold within 12-18 months.
“Furthermore, we fear this could create an adverse knock-on impact across the club with those seeking to continually improve and develop potentially considering alternative options outside of the town.”
This has led to concerns that young up-and-coming swimmers may now be unable to train in Bedford and continue adding to the Borough’s sporting success in the water.
Swimmers, like Eloise Cole who brought home gold from the World School Games in Rio last year and gold in the British Championships 15s age group in Sheffield.
Read: Swimmer Cole wins big at World School Games in Rio de Janeiro
And Charlie Duce, who won gold, silver and bronze in a variety of events at the British Championships.
Collectively, BSS also won 20 medals at the Eastern Regional Championships in May this year and 120 medals, including 49 golds, across multiple ages and grades at this year’s ASA County Championships.
Read: Bedford Swim Squad win twenty medals at Eastern Region Championships
Read: Bedford Swim Squad win big at ASA County Championships in Luton
However, Mr Cole says they are already in advanced discussions with another operator and are looking at other fundraising initiatives.
He adds they are “determined to ensure we can continue to deliver an exceptional programme that so many local swimmers benefit from”.
Pool use
Despite this, Mr Cole is still concerned the school’s decision may “prohibit many from affording to learn a valuable life skill” and that the free places they have offered to children from disadvantaged backgrounds may now no longer be available.
However, a spokesperson for Bedford School said that the new swimming lesson provider will be able to offer 800 swimming places for local children and that their prices are “competitive and reflect class sizes”.
They say they will also discuss remaining pool availability with other clubs and swimming lesson providers from 13 December.
“Other clubs and organisations will still have access to Bedford School Swimming Pool, including primary schools and charities to whom we offer the hours at either extremely reduced rates or for free,” added the spokesperson.
“As such, we will continue to support families from all backgrounds as far as possible.
“Our partnership with our local community extends well beyond the use of our facilities and includes direct input from our boys into many different groups, schools and charities through our Community Partnership Programme.
“Our extensive bursary programme also ensures that a Bedford School education is open to all boys, regardless of their economic background,” they added.
The Harpur Trust has also defended the changes from afar saying its schools are “run as their own entities”.
However, they added that their facilities will still be managed with local people in mind.
“Maximising the use of our [schools’] facilities can mean making difficult decisions with some of our long-term hirers,” said a Harpur Trust spokesperson.
“But [the new club] is projected to provide lessons to upwards of 800 local children per week, benefiting even more local families and providing life-saving skills to many more children of all backgrounds.”
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