Ice Skating Lessons

Learn To Skate

Learn to Skate is a programme designed to give you skills to become a better skater, whether you are new to it or already an advanced skater. These Ice Skating lessons are suitable for ages 5+ and will help you to develop through our nationally recognised British Ice Skating (BIS) programme. Join with the Learn to Skate membership for weekly classes with qualified instructors and become a skating pro with Better. Skate hire is included in the membership.

Lessons run weekly for 50 weeks a year, with a 2 weeks' break over the Christmas Holidays. Apart from those 2 weeks, lessons run through all half-terms, summer holidays and Bank holidays. Skaters can progress at their own pace and start the lessons at anytime since they are individually assessed during each lesson. You can track their progress via our online tool- HomePortal. 

As an added bonus, Learn to Skate pupils get a discounted ticket price for Public and Patch ice sessions (patch ice entry subject to level eligibility). The membership also gives discounted access to our Member-Only sessions on weekends.

Please note that our lessons are very popular. If no results appear after clicking the button below, this means that the programme is currently full. We aim to release spaces as often as possible so please regularly check the booking page for new available spaces.

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Lessons & courses

What You'll Learn (BIS Skate UK Level Pass Criteria)

Once you become proficient on the ice, you can then progress on to our advanced academy. You could also try different activities on ice such as figure skating, speed skating, synchro and ice hockey. Speak to a member of staff for more details on how you can get involved.

Snow Tots 3-5 Years

  • Level 1

Sit and Stand (off ice). Walk forwards 10 steps in skates (off ice). March on spot (on ice). Little man on spot (on ice).

  •  Level 2

 March forwards 10 steps on ice. Sit and stand on ice with help. March around on spot both directions. March forwards 10 steps and two foot glide. 

  •  Level 3

 March forwards and little man. March backwards 5 steps. Sit and stand on ice independently. March forwards and head, shoulders, knees and toes while gliding.

  •  Level 4

March forwards full width. March forwards half way, half turn (marching), march backwards to the end. March forwards 10 steps and 3 forward lemons. 2 foot jump standing still (from little man position).

BIS Levels 1-8

  • Level 1

You’ll learn to: move forwards, move forward (10 steps) & 2 foot glide (with dip), stand and sit independently, stationary snow plough stop, moving snow plough stop

  • Level 2

You’ll learn: moving forward (10 steps) & curve left/right, moving snowplough or T-stop, forward and backward lemons, two-foot turns on the spot (twisting action), moving backwards.

  • Level 3

You’ll learn: moving stroking (with correct push, glide, and free leg position), backward snowplough stop, forward to backward two-foot turns on a circle, forward moving one-foot glide on a circle (both directions), forward two-foot slalom.

  • Level 4

You’ll learn: forward open chasses, backward stroking, forward outside edges, forward inside edges, two-foot 3 turn.

  • Level 5

You’ll learn: forward crossovers, forward outside 3-turns, backward open chasses, stepping from backward inside to forward inside edge and backward two-foot slalom.

  • Level 6

You’ll learn: backward crossovers, backward outside edges, backward inside edges, forward inside 3-turn, stepping from backward outside to forward outside edge.

  • Level 7

You’ll learn: forward outside 3-turn with control, equal entry & exit edge plus backward crossover, forward outside continuous edges, forward inside continuous edges, forward inside Mohawk with control & equal entry & exit edge, bunnyhop & drag combo, or two-foot jump & drag combo (hockey).

  • Level 8

You’ll learn: backward outside or inside continuous curves, forward change of edge-outside to inside, forward inside Mohawk- backward crossover-step forward inside edge, forward crossover step wide & backwards crossover step wide, forward outside 3-turn, backward crossover with a sustained landing position.

 

Advance Free

  • Bronze Free

You’ll learn: three/waltz jump, single salchow, upright spin, forward spiral, backward inside pivot movement, forward perimeter stroking

  • Silver Free

You’ll learn: toe loop, back spin, forward spiral, forward inside pivot movement, skating exercise: serpentine forward inside Mohawk, landing position forward crossover, forward outside curves

  • Gold Free

You’ll learn: loop jump, upright spin, backward spiral, simple step sequence

  • Platinum Free

You’ll learn: flip jump, sit or camel spin, short routine

Figure Academy

Our brand new Figure Academy will be a great way to learn more technical skills, with a choice of both dance and free skating elements from the British Ice Skating criteria. Once launched, the Academy will be open to those who have passed Platinum on the Learn to Skate programme and have been approved by a coach to join. Further information will be released nearer to the launch of the Academy.

Meet our Ice Skating Coaches

Kevin Marshall

Kevin is a BIS Level 3 Performance coach. He has been teaching for the past 35 years and with it brings a huge amount of knowledge.

His pupils have won many national competitions and championships, as well as placing in international competitions. He can be found teaching first time skating toddlers through to adult learners who enjoy skating for fitness.

Kevin is also an ISU Technical Specialist in free skating. He has, and continues to judge ISU competitions, international and national competitions. Kevin is also part of the team that founded and currently run the Skate Southern national competitions.

Phone: 07949073408

Email: kwmarshall@me.com

Edward Barker

Edward Barker is a qualified Level 2 coach with British Ice Skating.

He began skating in 1992 initially as a free skater, but found his passion in ice dance after a hiatus at which he competed to senior level before retiring from competition in 2015.

Ed has been teaching for the past 10 years and in that time he has worked with all ages and abilities creating several British champions as well as working with world class coaches.

Phone: 07795325661

Email: iceskatinged@hotmail.com

James R Hunt

James is qualified level 2 coach with British Ice Skating.

His main achievements include performing lead roles with Disney On Ice for many years, competing at the 2012 European Championships in the pairs event and becoming British Champion across many age levels and for many years. More recently he has organised summer skating camps for all ages and abilities.

James has also played hockey (both ice and field) to a high standard amongst other sports and activities.

As well as his skating achievements, James was awarded with a National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science, now wanting to share his full knowledge of skating and sport specific attributes with all ages and abilities to help improve their skating skills.

Phone: 07599668106

Email: jrhicecoaching@gmail.com 

Lisa Nugent

Lisa first qualified as a Level 2 coach in 1998. Skating has been her passion in life and she trained in dance, figure and free, as well as playing ice hockey.

After finishing her academic studies with a Sport and Exercise diploma, Lisa took the opportunity to travel the world show skating with Holiday On Ice.

She has made TV appearances for the Disney channel and ITV as well as advertisement promotions.

Lisa finds that children need coaching that encourages them, makes them exercise and have fun. Adults enjoy the challenge that learning to skate brings, where the focus is fitness, both body and mind and social interaction.

Phone: 07841666904

Email: lisa.nugent@hotmail.com

Hannah Hetebrij

Hannah qualified to coach in 2010 and has been teaching ever since. In that time she has taught skaters from their first steps on the ice, up to national championships standard in ice dance, free skating and synchro; some of her past students have gone on to tour internationally with ice shows and even qualified as coaches themselves.

As a skater, Hannah competed successfully at national competitions in singles and both partnered and solo ice dance, including podium success at British senior championship level; over the years she has also performed in many exhibition events, charity galas and local ice shows.

Hannah is a qualified BIS Level 2 coach, a BIS Ice Dance Technical specialist and in 2023, she qualified to also be on national competition judging panels as a BIS Ice Dance Technical specialist.

Whatever your skating goal may be, or your past skating experience, if you are interested in learning and progressing in this sport, Hannah can help.

Phone: 07840905563

Email: hannah.ice@hotmail.co.uk

Patti Quinn

Patti is from Gdańsk, Poland and is a qualified Level 2 coach with BIS.

Patti trained as an ice dancer and has had a successful competitive career gaining the title of Polish Champion in ice dance.

Patti is best known for being a familiar face from the smash hit TV show Dancing On Ice all over the world. Patti has appeared on versions in Holland, France and 3 years on the ITV version here in the UK. Patti was crowned the champion of the French version with her celebrity in Paris.

Performing all over the world, Patti has appeared in Ice shows for Disney On Ice, Holiday On Ice & Royal Caribbean.

Patti is thrilled to be working here in Cambridge and is looking forward to creating future champions!

Phone: 07734904547

Email: pattiskater86@gmail.com

Fen Watson-Buck

Fenella is a British Ice Skating Level 2 coach available for one-to-one or group lessons.

Fenella has experience in synchro, free-skating and both solo and pairs ice dance.

She began skating in 2009 and quickly joined synchro where the team finished with a podium position at the British Championships.

Fenella's passion is ice dance and during her competitive career has had podium success, competed at national level in solos and went on to train with a partner abroad.

She is currently a professional show skater and looks forward to passing on her skills and knowledge to others.

Phone: 07468694451

Email: fenella.iceskating@gmail.com