New swim school serving families across Chicago’s northwestern suburbs slated to open May 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 7, 2026) – British Swim School, North America’s leading provider of water safety and survival programs, is proud to announce the upcoming opening of its newest location in Buffalo Grove, located at 900 W Lake Cook Rd, operating out of the Four Points by Sheraton at Buffalo Grove. The new franchise is owned and operated by Rajesh Desikan, a senior healthcare executive and parent of two British Swim School graduates. The school is slated to open in May, with a second location in Palatine scheduled for later this summer.

“I’ve been a British Swim School parent for more than six years,” said Desikan. “My daughters learned to swim through this program, and I’ve seen firsthand how effective and confidence-building it is. Water safety is something many people take for granted, but drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death. Being able to bring these lifesaving skills to my community is incredibly meaningful.”

Desikan’s passion for swimming began in childhood and later shaped his approach as a parent. After living abroad in Europe (where his daughters first learned to swim), he returned to the U.S. and enrolled them in British Swim School. What impressed him is British Swim School’s approach to water safety first and saving lives. This was reinforced during the COVID pandemic with British Swim School’s focus on safety and putting the swimmer first – this resonated strongly with his healthcare experience (“always putting the customer first”) and inspired him to become a franchise owner and expand the program in the Northwest Chicagoland area.

“Swimming is more than just a milestone in your childhood; it’s a lifelong skill,” said Desikan. “I would see adults swimming laps when I would drop off my daughters for class. You see toddlers learning to float and save themselves. It’s one of the few activities that truly spans every age and ability. That’s what excites me most: helping people become safe, confident swimmers for life.”

British Swim School’s curriculum emphasizes survival-first instruction, small lesson sizes, and gentle, child/adult-friendly teaching methods. Programs will be available for infants, toddlers, children, adults, and individuals with special needs. Desikan is also actively involved in other charitable / non-profit causes such as Blood Cancer United and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and plans to continue community-focused initiatives as the school grows.

The Buffalo Grove location is expected to open this May, with registration now underway. Families are encouraged to enroll early, as lesson availability is limited. Details about grand opening events and promotions will be announced soon.

For more information on hours of operations and pricing, visit:

britishswimschool.com/buffalo-grove/location/four-points-by-sheraton-buffalo-grove/

About British Swim School

 British Swim School is North America’s most established swim school franchise, with more than 45 years of experience delivering expert-led swim education. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to be safer and more confident in and around the water — at every age and every stage — British Swim School offers swim lessons for babies, children, young adults, adults, and those with special abilities. The British Swim School program is built on a survival-first approach, focusing on water competency and essential life-saving skills before progressing to stroke development and long-term confidence. This proven methodology gives families peace of mind while equipping swimmers with skills that support lifelong safety. As a purpose-driven franchise, British Swim School also provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to build a meaningful business rooted in safety, community impact, and a proven, scalable operating model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School operates more than 550 schools across the United States and Canada.

For more information, visit www.britishswimschool.com.