International School Aberdeen (ISA), with support from Ian Wright, National Head Coach for Scottish Swimming, is to launch Scotland’s first school-based competitive swim club programme, a pioneering initiative to develop the next generation of home-grown athletes from ISA’s state-of-the-art Aberdeen campus.
Award-winning swim coach Laura Bowie has been appointed to the position of ISA Head Coach and will develop and lead the unique wrap-around programme combining performance level swim coaching, with land-based strength and conditioning training and an internationally recognised education.
ISA is home to the North-east’s most comprehensive on-site school sports facilities, including a 25m competition pool and high-performance gym. They will provide a comprehensive school swimming provision for local students as well as closing a specific gap for high-potential young Scottish swimmers who are often forced to head to boarding schools in England to access integrated performance training and education.
Laura, who was recently named Scottish Swimming’s Performance Development Coach of the Year and received the British Swimming Coaches Association (BSCA) 2025 Coaching Award of Excellence, will also maintain her current position as Head Coach of Aberdeen Dolphins, creating a seamless pathway for local athletes.
Laura Bowie and Ian Wright at ISA
Commenting on the new programme she said: “I’ve seen how competitive school swim programmes down south are able to support their swimmers, and I am excited to join ISA to bring that level of integrated support to Scotland.
“Having myself attended an international school in Thailand growing up, I also know first-hand the value of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which teaches resilience, discipline and a global outlook – attributes that are as vital in the pool as they are in the classroom.
“We have a unique opportunity here to create an environment in Scotland where academic and athletic ambition feed into one another, helping athletes succeed without compromising their education.”
ISA Aberdeen Swimming is also backed by Ian Wright, National Coach for Scottish Swimming. He said:
“I am delighted ISA is establishing Scotland's first school competitive swim club programme and am incredibly impressed by the quality of the school facilities and the passion and expertise of the staff who will facilitate the programme.
“I have been advocating for this approach for some time as I strongly believe it will complement our local swim club structure and help retain ‘age group’ and ‘junior performance’ talent in Scotland. ISA has my full support, and I hope their lead may pave the way for schools elsewhere in Scotland to follow suit.”
Nick Little, Laura Bowie, Ian Wright and Kevin Hawkins
The initiative was raised by Kevin Hawkins, ISA’s new Chief Operating Officer who recently joined ISA from Millfield School, one of England’s renowned independent sports schools that is home to specialist swim programmes alongside Mount Kelly, Plymouth College and Repton.
“We want to retain and develop Scottish performance swimmers in Scotland without them having to travel hundreds of miles away to boarding schools in England,” Kevin explained.
“Our goal is to help students become the best version of themselves – in the pool and on their education journey.”
Nick Little, Head of School at ISA, added: “We are fortunate to have world-class indoor and outdoor sports facilities entirely on-campus, making us perfectly positioned to support students and their swim aspirations.
“As an IB World School, a registered SAT testing centre, and offering the American High School Diploma alongside the International Baccalaureate qualifications, ISA offers a range of pathways for swimmers aiming to join a national training centre, or looking to obtain scholarships at US universities, as well as entry to Scottish, UK and other international universities.
“We are excited to become the school of choice for the North East’s aspiring swimmers and look forward to welcoming new students, whatever their passions, to our vibrant community.”
ISA Aberdeen Swimming is part of a broader programme of sports scholarships on offer at the school from August 2026. Further details available at http://www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk or by calling the admissions office.