Meet the Team
"We believe that it’s not enough just to learn to swim, we want to inspire our swimmers to love the water."

Penny Watkins
Founder and Swimming Instructor
I’ve always felt more at home in the water than on the land and for me, swimming was a skill that came naturally. As a child, I swam competitively for many years and my passion for the water stayed with me into adulthood.
I first experienced the joy of teaching others about the wonder of water and the aquatic world when I managed a Scuba Diving centre in the Canary Islands. I gained a wealth of experience in teaching diving and snorkelling skills to people of all ages, nationalities and abilities.
When I returned the UK, I decided to follow my heart and pursue a career in swimming teaching.
In 2012 I was offered the opportunity to take over the running of a small local swimming school and Aqualife Swimming was born.
Five years on, I am proud to work with a passionate and talented group of swimming teachers to deliver swimming lessons to hundreds of individuals every week. I am now also a STA Tutor and absolutely love helping people to become swimming instructors and introducing them to this amazing career.
Qualifications:
STA Tutor
STA Level 2 Swim Instructor
STA Junior Lifeguard Instructor
STA Baby & Pre-School Instructor
STA Antenatal Swimming Instructor
STA/ PADI Snorkelling Instructor
Water Fitness Aquacade Instructor
Aqua Stretch Instructor
RLSS Life Guard
PADI Diver
Safeguarding Children & Adults Certification Makaton User (Foundation level course for professionals)
Reiki Level 2
Fin2Fit Mermaid Instructor
Enhanced DBS Check

Anna Hodges
Partner & Instructor
I remember swimming lessons fondly as a child, starting in beginner classes and working my way through to the Personal Survival Badges. I always felt very comfortable in the water, but it was during my pregnancies and early experiences in Adult and Child lessons with my little ones that a passion in me ignited for swimming teaching.
I have been working with Penny at Aqualife since leaving London, I joined as an ASA Level 2 Qualified Teacher with ASA Pre-Fundamentals Qualifications enabling me to teach Adult and Child lessons. Since then my own Aquatic Journey has continued, obtaining further qualifications as an STA Tutor, STA Junior Lifeguard Programme, Adult Lessons, STA Aquacise, and STA Antenatal Swimming Instructor.
Qualifications:
STA Aquatic Tutor
ASA UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics (QCF)
ASA UKCC Level 1 Award in Teaching Aquatics (QCF)
ASA Level 2 Award in Coaching Aquatic Pre-Fundamentals (QCF) – Teaching Baby and Pre-School
STA Level 2 Aquatics - People with Disablities
STA Aquatic Teaching: Aquacise Instructor
STA Antenatal Swimming Instructor
STA Teaching Adults Instructor
STA Junior Lifeguard Instructor including Diving, Starts and Turns specifications
STA Internal Quality Assurance Assesor
Member of STA & IOS (Institute of Swimming)
National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable adults Programme
Fin2Fit Mermaid Instructor
Enhanced DBS Check

Emilly Sanderson
Swimming Instructor
I have been swimming teaching for 7 years and absolutely love it; it is no surprise that my favorite Disney princess’s are Moana and the little mermaid!
My passion for swimming stems from my childhood mainly due to the positive role models I had. As a swimming teacher I aim to be the positive role model that I had for the children or adults that I am teaching. There is no better feeling than the fulfillment of seeing swimmers (at any level) overcoming hurdles, improving confidence and seeing a smile on their face.
Over the last 7 years I have gained experience teaching all ages and abilities from 2 years old to adults and from complete beginners all the way to national level swimmers. For 8 years I swam competitively for the London Borough of Chelsea and Westminster reaching national championship level.
As a PE teacher I am able to combine my vast knowledge of swimming with theories of how children learn, to improve my teaching.
Qualifications:
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Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
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BSc (Hons) First Class Degree in Sports Science
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ASA level 1 Award in Teaching Aquatics
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ASA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics
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STA Level 2 Award in Safety Award for Teachers
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Enhanced DBS Check
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STA Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Sheryl Knott
Swimming Instructor
My love for the water came very early, as a small child my mother would call me her little mermaid. I spent my teenage years working as a lifeguard at a lido in South London but it wasn’t until I had children of my own and my son was diagnosed with ASD that I found my passion for teaching, I became a specialised teacher of visual impairment and SEN 9 years ago and loved teaching with a passion ever since, when I was asked by the head teacher of the school I work if I would be interested in training to become our in-house swimming instructor I jumped at the opportunity to combined my love of teaching and swimming. Since I have for the last 4 years been running my own swimming school within the primary school I work for, teaching children from nursery within adult and baby classes to year 6 and it has been an absolute joy to watch the confidence, ability and love for swimming grow.
I’ve worked for Aqualife swimming for the past 18 months and it’s been a delight to work with a team of teachers that share the same passion and enthrallment I have.
Qualifications:
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ASA UKCC Level 1 Award in Teaching Aquatics (QCF)
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ASA UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics (QCF)
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STA Baby and Preschool instructor
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NRASTC Life Guards Certificate
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Safety award for teachers Up-Skill levels 1 and 2
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Safe Guarding Children, Adults and Vulnerable People
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Enhanced DBS Check

Becky Blake
Swimming Instructor
I have always been very sporty, and swam competitively from the age of seven until I was a teenager. My favourite race was 800m front crawl!
I then moved on to first work as a lifeguard, then a swimming teacher. I now have fifteen years experience, and have taught babies to adults, beginners to competitors, and everything in between!
I have always adored teaching swimming, I enjoy watching the confidence and progression in learners grow.
Having four children of my own; two with additional needs, has really enhanced my passion of teaching this wonderful life skill while being safe in water.
I can honestly say that I love teaching, and aim to get to know each learner as an individual to support and help them on their swimming journey.
Qualifications:
STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Teaching (QCF)
ASA Learn to Swim- Competitive Swimming
ASA Learn to Swim- Adult and Child
Enhanced DBS check
STA Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Jake Osborne
Swimming Instructor
I have always loved being involved in physical activities, such as swimming, my mum and dad were very supportive and encouraged me to swim because it was one of my favourite things to do.
Therefore, it was very natural to train as a swimming teacher and take pride in not only sharing my love of the water but encouraging students to improve and become competent swimmers as a life skill.
Qualifications:
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STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming
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STA Safety Award for Teachers
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Safe Guarding Children, Adults and Vulnerable People
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Enhanced DBS checked

Gosia (Malgorzata) Zielinska-Dagostin
Swimming Instructor
As a child, I was always surrounded by all kinds of sports as both my parents used to teach PE. It was no surprise when I followed their steps and got my Masters in Academy of Physical Education in my home country of Poland.
Since becoming a mum of two children my mission to teach has become stronger than ever. In 15 years of swim teaching I can certainly say that it is not only a life skill but a great way to spend free time, have fun and enjoy aquatics.
Qualifications:
STA Level 2 Swim instructor
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching Baby & Pre-School
STA Baby and Pre-School safety training awards
STA Antenatal Swimming Instructor
STA Teaching Adults Instructor
STA Junior Lifeguard Instructor including Diving, Starts and Turns specifications
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable adults Programme
National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches
STA Baby and Pre-school submersions
STA Baby and Pre-school Diploma Up-skill
Swim England Aquatic Skills Framework stages 8/9/10 Synchro
Enhanced DBS Check