The Institute of Swimming has launched a free swimming teacher training initiative with Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) in a bid to increase its swimming teacher workforce ahead of the opening of the former 2022 Commonwealth Games venue, Sandwell Aquatic Centre, in Smethwick this summer.
Sandwell Aquatic Centre successfully hosted the swimming and diving events at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 and is currently is being transformed into a state-of-the art local leisure centre. It will be the largest and newest aquatic facility of its kind in the UK, and will include a 50-metre Olympic-size swimming pool, a 10-metre high competitive dive tower and a 25-metre dive pool, along with 1,000 spectator seats.
The Institute of Swimming’s Recruitment Academy aims to provide more opportunities for people in the West Midlands to learn how to swim. SLT is looking to train and recruit up to 30 new swimming teachers for its new Sandwell Aquatics Centre, as well as Haden Hill Leisure Centre, Wednesbury Leisure Centre, Portway Lifestyle Centre and Tipton Leisure Centre.
The Recruitment Academy will offer local people the chance to retrain for free (with only a one-off £85 administration fee) and embark on a career as a swimming teacher. Training historically cost individuals £1000. There are no educational requirements for applying, nor do you have to be an ‘elite’ swimmer.
Being a swimming teacher offers flexible hours, predominantly weekday evenings and weekends, with the possibility of some daytime hours to support wider school swimming/preschool lessons. The hours might suit someone who is looking for additional income, students and those with caring responsibilities. Swimming teachers usually work part-time hours, often for two to five hours in length. The role of a swimming teacher may require a mixture of working from poolside and from within the water. A uniform is provided and alternate adaptions to meet cultural or religious beliefs are welcomed.
Once qualified, Swimming Teachers can expect to be paid £16.75 per hour, plus many other employment benefits including further enhanced hourly rates for evenings and weekends, a local government pension scheme contribution of 16.2% and staff membership.
Mark Wildman, Business & Commercial Manager, SLT says: “Our centres are looking to recruit a diverse community-based workforce to help meet the local demand for our learn-to-swim programmes. We are looking for aspiring people who recognise the importance of learning this valuable lifesaving skill. We are currently providing swimming lessons to more than 5,000 local children and adults per week, plus thousands of children through school swimming lessons, but with our new centre opening and a commitment to further increase our aquatic programme across all our sites we need new teachers, and are delighted that the Sandwell Council Public Health team are funding the cost of training.
“We are passionate about delivering high-quality, inclusive swimming lessons for our community and, by offering free training opportunities through the recruitment academy, we aim to find enthusiastic people who wish to embrace a career in swimming teaching. It is our vision to be the swim school of choice for every parent looking for fun, inspiring and safety-focused swimming lessons for their children, and our swimming instructors are integral to us achieving this.”
Swim England’s data shows 96 per cent of UK swimming teachers love their job and love giving back to the community to support children in developing an essential life skill. Further data shows that more than half of swim teachers have previously held different careers and they are even more likely to agree that being on poolside gives them happiness, fulfilment and a good work/life balance.
The Academy gives people the chance to become a swimming teacher for free with just a £85 registration fee and takes them through the Swim England Level One Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level Two Teaching Swimming Qualification. The usual cost of these two courses is £1000. In addition to the training, applicants will also receive a one year membership to the Institute of Swimming and access to the online Introduction to Swimming Strokes – Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
SLT states that applicants do not need to be a high-level swimmer to become a swimming teacher; they just need a passion for teaching, basic water confidence and an enthusiastic approach, and an interest in wider roles within the sport and leisure sector, including lifeguard, gym instructor, duty manager etc. Flexibility to travel to multiple sites is preferred, but not essential.
Anyone interested should complete an online form by the closing date, 30th April 2023. To find out more or fill in the application form visit:
https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/sandwell-swimming-teacher-recruitment-academy/
