Students returning to Kent College in September after the summer break will have a new swimming pool waiting for them.

The impressive 25-metre, six-lane competition pool at the school in Pembury is scheduled to be completed this summer a year after construction began.

The school has reached a partnership deal with the RTW Monson Swimming Club which will deliver swimming instruction for the pupils.

Monson will also use the pool to provide lessons for the local community and to expand their squad structure.

Georgina Hughes, sports director at Kent College, said: “We are excited both about the development of our new pool and the partnership, which will give our pupils access to Monson’s expertise and many years of experience.

“We have designed the swimming programme to provide sport for everyone, enabling opportunities from learn-to-swim all the way through to catering for elite young swimmers.”

Karen Bradbury from Monson said: “With a waiting list for most of our own squads and our swim school, this partnership will enable Monson to expand, adding momentum to our club’s goal of promoting swimming and water-polo within the local area.”

Monson Swimming Club was established in 1901, originally in the Monson Road baths. The club now meets principally at the St John’s Road swimming pool in Tunbridge Wells.

The new pool replaces a previous one at the school site that was decommissioned in 2021. It become structurally unsound due to its age, and continued repair was considered economically unviable.

Kent College is an independent day and boarding school for girls. Its associated prep school is in the process of going co-educational.

For squad and swim school inquiries, readers can contact Monson by email to monson.swimschool@gmail.com.