Instructor had to axe classes

Instructor had to axe classes

1 April 2015

A TEMPORARY stay of execution offered to private swimming schools operating from Down Leisure Centre will be of little consolation to Jonathan Hamilton-Cooper.

Mr Hamilton-Cooper has provided individual and group lessons through Ripples Aqua School at Down Leisure Centre for the past two years.

He has already cancelled classes after being mistakenly informed by a council official that changes, banning private group tuition, would come into effect on April 8 and that he could therefore no longer hire a pool lane for lessons.

Mr Hamilton-Cooper received a letter on Saturday from Down Council assistant director, Macartan Bryce, headlined ‘Changes to Private Tuition.’ The letter outlined a number of changes to the provision of private tuition to bring the Down Leisure Centre into line with practices at leisure centres in Newry and Kilkeel.

The letter says: Newry, Mourne and Down Council have taken the decision to cancel private lane hire lessons in the swimming pools. The only lessons permitted are private hire classes for age groups 0-4 years. This will become effective from 8th April, 2015.”

The council has since confirmed that this statement was made in error but the correction did not come before Mr Hamilton-Cooper had cancelled all his group lessons.

He said he was shocked by the decision and immediately contacted his clients, some of whom are children with special needs, because he was concerned they would be upset by the news and therefore wanted to tell them personally.

He said he was disgusted and sad about the impact the proposed changes would have, particularly on those with special needs who often require individualised lessons. He said many parents would be deterred from such lessons by prohibitive costs proposed by the council which seemed determined to “drive all private teachers out of the Downpatrick pool.”

Jonathan said this determination was unusual due to the huge demand for, and popularity of, both council and private lessons, with tutors experiencing one year waiting lists and the council enjoying a healthy revenue from the private industry.

“If it was not for private teachers being at the pool with their swimmers, and in many cases the rest of their family having a swim too, the pool would be empty,” he said.

“All private teachers in Down Leisure Centre are providing an individual service that Down Leisure Centre lessons cannot fulfil, hence we all have waiting lists. 

“We offer a quality service that is in demand, and many children and adults require a one-to-one or two-to-one service or small group lessons. 

“Down Leisure Centre only offers large group lessons, we offer a different service.”