About STA

Founded in 1932, STA is a registered charity whose objective is:

“The preservation of human life by the teaching of swimming, lifesaving and survival techniques.”

Today with more than 7,000 members, STA is the world’s largest independent swimming teaching and lifesaving organisation, and delivers the highest quality training across four key business areas – Swimming Teaching, Lifesaving, First Aid and Leisure Management.

STA is internationally recognised and is uniquely positioned as the only awarding organisation in the UK that can deliver multi-aquatic programmes – Swimming Teaching, Lifesaving and Pool Plant qualifications – that are:

  • Approved by Ofqual (UK Government licensed regulator), and sit on the QCF Register at Level 2
  • Accredited by SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)
  • Accredited on the Register of Aquatic Professionals (RAPs) – the new single qualifications framework structure that has been launched by SkillsActive.

All STA Qualifications are registered under Safety Training Awards, the awarding body for STA.

STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) also supports STA’s swimming teaching qualifications. The incentive based learn to swim programme, which promotes the importance of water safety, consists of 5 levels to provide people of all ages, from babies to adults, with a structured, progressive and transparent swimming and water scheme. It is supported with a range of colourful badges and certificates.

Importantly, STA is committed to representing the needs of the leisure industry and continues to advanceits range of learning programmes, improve member services and innovate via its digital portfolio of leisure management and training services.

Key Facts:

  • STA’s qualifications have been adopted in over 22 countries worldwide.
  • STA trained over 23,000 Swimming Teachers, Lifeguards/Lifesavers, First Aiders and Pool Plant Operatives in 2012.
  • STA awards over 250,000 children with their first ‘Learn to Swim’ badge each year.
  • STA is the founder member of IFSTA (International Federation of Swimming Teachers Associations), which has 1,020,000 members worldwide.