The Institute of Swimming has launched a funded swimming teacher training initiative with Southwark Council. The initiative aims to increase its swimming teacher workforce ahead of the opening of a new leisure centre at Canada Water in early 2025.
The new look centre will include an eight-lane 25m swimming pool, a learner pool, a four-court sports hall, a 150+ station gym, two dance studios (one of which includes space for soft play) and an indoor cycle studio.
Southwark Council has committed to giving everyone in the borough the opportunity to learn to swim. However, this is only possible if there’s a swimming teacher work force to deliver the lessons. The Institute of Swimming’s 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. There are no educational requirements for application, nor do they have to be an elite swimmer.
Following the successful completion of the training programme the newly qualified swimming teachers will have the opportunity to work at the following pools in Southwark:
• The Castle Centre
• Seven Islands Leisure Centre
• Dulwich Leisure Centre
• Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre
• Camberwell Leisure Centre
• Canada Water Leisure Centre (opening in 2025)
Once qualified, Level One Swimming Teacher Assistants can expect to be paid £16.19 per hour and Level Two Swimming Teachers can expect to be paid between £18.20 and £19.10 per hour, plus many other employment benefits.
Rebecca Cox, Managing Director of the Institute of Swimming says: “Being a swimming teacher is a very rewarding job. The hours might suit someone who is looking for additional income, students or 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 in the water.
Roxanne Lee, Southwark Council says: “We are looking to recruit at least 15 local people to help meet the demand for our learn-to-swim programmes. We are looking for aspiring people who recognise the importance of teaching swimming as a valuable lifesaving skill. We are currently providing swimming lessons to more than 6200 local children and adults per week, plus thousands of children through the national curriculum school swimming lessons. With our new centre opening and a commitment to further increase our aquatic programme across all our sites, we need new teachers and are therefore funding the cost of this training.
“We are passionate about delivering high-quality, inclusive swimming lessons and our swimming instructors are integral to us achieving this. By offering free training opportunities through the Institute of Swimming’s recruitment academy, we aim to find enthusiastic people who wish to embrace a career in swim 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”
Swim England’s data shows 96 per cent of UK swimming teachers love giving back to the community by supporting children in developing an essential life skill and agree that being poolside gives them happiness, fulfilment and a good work/life balance. Further data shows that more than half of swim teachers have previously held different careers.
The Academy takes people through the Swim England Level One Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level Two Teaching Swimming Qualification. The usual cost of these two courses is £1,000. 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).
Anyone interested should complete an online application form by the closing date, 1 September 2024. To find out more or fill in the application form please visit: https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/southwark-swimming-teacher-community-recruitment-academy/
