Each World Schools Championship brings together young students from all over the globe, providing them with an enriching lifetime experience both in sport competitions and multicultural exchanges.

2^nd ISF U15 Gymnasiade School Summer Games: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. August 2023

Selection Policy

The selection policy is now available. It is primarily based on participation and performance in the Inter-Divisional Championships in March 2023 and requires an Expression of Interest form to be completed by swimmers (including Para swimmers) and coaches/Team Managers that wish to be considered for selection.

Expression of Interest

Swimmers (Including Para Swimmers): https://forms.office.com/e/m0FSeHMtNW Deadline: Form closes at Midnight Tuesday 14^th March 2023

Coaches: https://forms.office.com/e/NYvSSu6YjE Deadline: Form closes at 18:00 Friday 7^th April 2023

Team Managers: https://forms.office.com/e/5SXnCgen63 Deadline: Form closes at 18:00 Friday 7^th April 2023

19th ISF Gymnasiade School Summer Games: Normandy 2022

ESSA sent a team to the 19th ISF Gymnasiade School Summer Games that took place in Normandy, France, from May 14th until May 22nd 2022.
Team Staff
Tim Hartley Head Coach
Jackie Bedford Team Manager
Paul Simpson (Coach)
Becki McGuire (Coach)

Overall, a very successful event, there were many good swims during the course of the three days of competition as will be detailed below. All heat swims were converted to places in either the A or the B finals where over 90% of these produced improved times from the heat swim.
For the majority of the swimmers it was the first time competing at an outdoor competition which in itself gives major challenges. Weather being the main one the difference in mood that comes with sun or cloud. The effect of the wind especially on backstroke events as in the movement of the flags and the effect of the rain luckily on light during the competition on one day but at some points heavy during the warm ups.
The event overall had its normal problems for the athletes in the amount of time just spent waiting sometimes hours of just being there with no particular reason. Lack of communication as to what and when but nothing that out of the ordinary.
Location of the accommodation to the pool was approx. 45 mins to 1 hour traffic dependent then for the evenings and meals a two-coach trip back to Deauville the return to the accommodation. 1 hour plus and the 20 to 25 mins.
Day 1:
Outward journey, after meeting the day/night before at Ashford travel was very smooth started at 0930 coach via the tunnel arrived in Deauville 1600 ish accreditation obtained then onwards to the accommodation. Check in and sorting of lodges took its time but worked out well. Location not ideal but the swimmers had plenty of outdoor space which was well used. The one major issue was one of the swimmers testing positive for covid and being isolated for 5 days meaning he was unable to take part in the majority of the competition.
Day 2:
Opening ceremony A long day of sitting, teams paraded through the town which was a very nice experience from the leisure center back to the CID which was down by the beach there was a lot of locals and tourists that turned out for this
Day 3:
Organisied training day? On paper we had been allocated lanes and times for which I had organized sessions to work with all the different swimmers sprint, middle distance, and medley, this as you can imagine changed when we arrived at the pool into an open warm up so all plans out the window. Unfortunately, one swimmer was taken to hospital in the afternoon/evening where it was found she had a chest infection that ruled her out of the competition for the whole week on a course of antibiotics. She did perk up after a day or 2 with the aid of these.
Day 4:
First day of competition, swims in the session 20 individual and relays all swims making finals A or B finishes in the A finals 1 silver, 1 bronze, 2 x 4th, 2 x 5th, 1 x 7th, in the B finals 3 x 1st, 3 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th,
Day 5:
Educational day / rest day, After the late finishes on the previous day the opportunity was take to rest in the morning before the Nations event in the afternoon / evening, a very busy event the table for England being worked by Jackie and Paul who handled it all very well, the swimmers got the opportunity to look around all the nations tables and pick up a few souvenirs.
Day 6:
Second day of competition, swims in the session 18 and relays again all through to the A or B final with finishes as follows in the A finals, 1 x Gold, 3 x Bronze, 2 x 4th, 2 x 5th, 3 x 6th, 1 x 7th, B finals 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 3 x 3rd, 1 x 6th,
Day 7:
Third day of competition, once again good performances from the team swims in the session 20 plus relays, results from the A finals 1 x Silver, 1 x Bronze, 5 x 4th, 4 x 5th, 1 x 6th, 2 x 7th, B finals 3 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 6th, 1 x 8th,
Over the three days some very good swims worked well improving heat to finals and were a credit in the water to ESSA,
Day 8:
Educational visit, a day taken to visit the Monet gardens early coach travel and a bit of waiting for a change, the gardens were very beautiful to see and for sure the right time of year to do so. They had only just reopened so the numbers of people there was mad. There was though time for a quiet afternoon in the museum comfy seats.
Day 9:
Return trip, all went well left the accommodation at 0645 one stop enroute for a light breakfast on the train early and back at Ashford for 13:45.

A big thanks to the coaching staff and HOD for the work done and performances achieved form the team.

18^th ISF Gymnasiade School Summer Games: Jinjiang, China 2020 2022

This event has now officially been cancelled

Gymnasiade School Summer Games 2018

Team Staff
Tim Hartley Head Coach
Jackie Bedford Team Manager
James Clarke Coach (Girls)
Greg King Coach (Boys)

A very successful event from a swimming point of view; the team were a good balance in ability and overall gelled well together over the period of the games.
Head Coach Tim Hartley said "It was a pleasure to be able to work with the swimmers over the games and to have a great team staff around to help as well made the event an even better experience for all".

In total 22 medals, the largest number from any nation and 51 finalists (all these are listed below). A great number of PB’s and season best swims were produced.