About Us
Barefoot Surf School is very proud of the fact that we are first and foremost a family operation. We don’t have dozens of employees. In fact, te idea is the total antithesis of how we have built our reputation and client base. We try, whether our customers are a family, individual children or grown ups, even adult hen and stag parties, to make the learning experience fun, safe and perfectly suited to that group. From experience over many years, learning and teaching a variety of sports all over the world, we know that a personalised approach speeds up the process and encourages customers to come back to us in order to move onto the next stage. We are delighted that more than half of our bookings this year are from previous customers. This helps to confirm the ethos that we want our learners to experience; that they are relaxed and feeling that they are coming out surfing, having fun with mates. Nigel coaches every session, supported by BSA qualified friends with larger groups.

We are continually being told by customers that what makes us different is our enthusiasm and patience. The truth is, we love what we do - the buzz (or ‘stoke’ in surfer speak!) when someone stands and rides a wave in for the first time is contagious, and even after 12 years of coaching we still get as much pleasure sharing it with you.

As a B.S.A approved school, our equipment, teaching and safety procedures are rigorously checked by the British Surfing Association. In addition we integrate a number of approaches that we feel help our learners move on quickly. Most obvious of these is the use of ‘spotters’. As you may have seen in newspaper articles we believe that we are the only school in Europe to use ‘spotters’ with every group session. This is not a response to a governing body suggestion, nor is it anything other than an on-cost for us. However we started the practise more than 4 years ago and are convinced of the safety and teaching benefits.

The ‘spotters’ role is to follow the instructors direction, watching and relaying information from the better vantage point of the beach. In addition they can look after the learners sun  screen and valuables, and also help make the whole experience a fun session. Like all staff working with Barefoot, spotters are first aid qualified and have appropriate qualifications (for the spotter this is usually, NNEB, Welfare officer, Sport coach, and lifeguard awards). Every member of staff have CRB clearance and instructors are all BSA qualified with many years of experience; no beach bums trying to scam a summer on the beach.

Barefoot Surf School are also possibly the only centre in the UK with the experience, equipment and qualifications for teaching learners with learning disabilities. Both Nigel and Judith work year round, with young people with special needs: EBD, MLD, SLD, SpLD. Between them the have almost 30 years experience working in this field of learning.