British Swim School Splashes Down in Leon Valley

The Nation’s Premier “Learn to Swim” Franchise Expands with San Antonio Location

British Swim School, the nation’s leading “learn to swim” franchise company, is continuing to make waves across North America with the opening of its newest franchise location in San Antonio. British Swim School of Leon Valley is owned and operated by Sharon and Dewey Barber, and lessons are held at the L.A. Fitness at 522 West Loop 1604 N. Lessons take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The husband-and-wife duo are both proud Army veterans. The Barbers moved to San Antonio and were recently looking for a business opportunity for their next chapter in life. Sharon was a competitive swimmer in high school, and after searching through several options the couple realized that British Swim School was a perfect fit. Sharon currently runs most of the day-to-day operations, while Dewey oversees marketing and logistics.

“We just fell in love with the concept of being able to give everyone the chance to be safe around the water,” Sharon said. “Especially in South Texas, it seems like there’s an outdoor pool everywhere. We saw this as a chance to give back to the community and spread water safety awareness.”

For more than 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children, and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival, and stroke development. Its mission — ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer.

Across the nation, eleven people die every day from unintentional drownings, with nearly 4,000 deaths occurring each year. Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning. However, the risk of drowning isn’t limited to children: a Red Cross survey found that more than half of all Americans (54%) either can’t swim or don’t have the basic swimming skills needed to save themselves in the event of a water emergency.

“Sharon and Dewey are excellent examples of what makes veterans perfect for a franchise like British Swim School,” said Ashley Gundlach, President of British Swim School. “They are diligent, detail-oriented and it’s clear they care about their community. We’re excited to have them grow the British Swim School brand in Texas and look forward to seeing the impact they make in Leon Valley.”

For more information about British Swim School, visit www.britishswimschool.com/leon-valley.

To learn more about the benefits of British Swim School’s franchising opportunities, click here.