SwimDesk analyses performance of Australian swim schools

August 5, 2019

SwimDesk has released the results of an analysis of accumulative data from swim schools around Australia.

Aiming to identify the performance indicators across a number of key metrics, the swim school management software provider’s study provides swim schools with a clearer understanding as to how they are performing against the industry averages for certain key performance metrics.

The analysis was over a full 12 month period from July 2018 to June 2019.

Key Findings included:

Assessments
The average number of students from swim schools included in the analysis was 2289. (SwimDesk focused on medium to large swim schools, ranging from 800 students to 4,500 students).

The average number of assessments completed on SwimDesk for the swim schools included in the analysis was 13747 over the 12-month period. This equated to an average of 5.76 assessments per student per year.

This average number of assessments equates to a student being assessed around every nine weeks.

SwimDesk advise “we consider the average number of assessments per child as a powerful indicator because assessments are the driver of two important elements of swim school success: communication and progression.

You cannot communicate progress if you are not assessing regularly enough, and children cannot move up a level if they are not being assessed.”

The range for this metric was 2.01 - to 15.79, with SwimDesk recommended 4.0 - 6.0 as the ideal range.

SwimDesk add “if your assessments per student are low, considering investing in more resources (i.e. deck supervisors) or investing in a program like SwimDesk that can speed up your assessment process.”

Progression
The average percentage of students who progressed and moved to their next level was 97.8% over the 12 month period. This means that the majority of children moved up at least one level.

This metric displayed a range from 42.78% to 191.8%.

Advising that progression has a close correlation to customer satisfaction and retention, SwimDesk recommend “a target progression percentage of 120% of your student base over 12 months. This will account for some students that move up twice during that 12 month period.

“If your progression percentage is low, consider increasing the number of assessments you conduct, staff training on teaching performance and reviewing the makeup of your levels.”

Attendance
Attendance is a key metric to track in your swim school as it typically drives other key indicators such as progression and retention. From the swim centres we analysed, the average attendance rate was 76.56.

SwimDesk’s recommended target for attendance rate over 12 months is 80%, advising “there will always be people away or sick, so the achievement of 100% attendance will never be a reality; however, the higher your attendance, the better.

“If your attendance is low considered strategies to improve this metric such as reminder SMS’s, parent education and reviewing your make up lesson policies.”

Click here to contact SwimDesk (GreeneDesk) via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

24th June 2019 - GreeneDesk to stage aquatic and recreation workshop in Sydney

20th May 2019 - Porirua City Council’s Dash Swim School introduces SwimDesk software

4th February 2019 - SwimDesk publishes news resource to help swim schools grow their businesses

19th September 2018 - SwimDesk provides ongoing information resources for swim schools

28th March 2018 - YMCA NSW introduces new swim school software

7th September 2017 - SwimDesk module cuts administration time for school based lessons

4th April 2017 - SwimDesk Software to help new Cockburn ARC engage and retain swim school customers

17th November 2015 - SwimDesk offers complimentary guide to improving swim school customer satisfaction

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