Taunton School has appointed Rachel Aldington as its new Director of Swimming, signaling a bold move to elevate both the competitive edge and inclusivity of its aquatic programmes.
Rachel joins Taunton School from Millfield School, where she served as lead swimming coach, and currently heads coaching for Somerset. With a proven track record developing swimmers at regional, national, and international levels, she brings extensive expertise and passion for nurturing talent. Her previous roles include leading Clevedon Swimming Club’s development and revitalising Weston-super-Mare’s swimming programme, which achieved a top-three finish at the 2018 South West Regional Age Groups competition.
Armed with a degree in sports rehabilitation, Rachel’s career initially spanned rugby coaching with clubs in Manchester, Worcester, and Somerset, before returning full-time to swimming. Her influence reaches national prominence through leadership roles in Swim England programmes and her role as Team England coach at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Daniel Pettifer, Taunton School’s Director of Sport, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Aldington. Her expertise, credentials, and coaching philosophy will be instrumental in advancing our swimming programme to new heights, fostering a competitive yet supportive environment for our students.”
Rachel is dedicated to guiding each swimmer towards personal excellence by encouraging tailored approaches that align with individual strengths and goals. She aims to mentor students in both performance and personal development within the school’s progressive and nurturing setting.
Launching this September, the new swimming programme will integrate best practices and be carefully adapted for athletes’ developmental stages. It will offer flexible training schedules to balance athletic and academic commitments, alongside mentoring and mental skills coaching to enhance focus, resilience, and overall well-being.
Taunton School boasts two on-site pools supporting a diverse range of aquatic activities — from foundational lessons and water safety to elite competition preparation. Unique to the school, Taunton Prep School students annually undertake training exercises preparing them for challenges such as swimming the English Channel, highlighting the school’s commitment to ambitious co-curricular opportunities.
The school’s swimming pedigree is strong, with students qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic trials, excelling at The Bath Cup, participating in international training camps, and consistently achieving national final appearances and victories.
Taunton School also offers sports scholarships aimed at motivated and talented athletes eager to thrive academically and athletically.
