STA PILOTS STUDENT TEACHERS CERTIFICATE
05.10.2004
Following the launch of the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) Student Teachers Certificate (STC) earlier this year, the Gryphon School in Sherborne, Dorset has successfully undertaken a pilot scheme with some of its Year Nine students.
The course duration is 20 hours and is split into four sections – Theoretical Support, Teaching and Learning, Practical Teaching of Swimming and the NARS Bronze Cross Award. For students who already hold the NARS Bronze Cross Award, the course time is reduced to 16 hours - the NARS Cross series is a set of three awards (Bronze, Silver and Gold) that teaches and tests swimming, survival, rescue and first aid skills.
The STC also provides educational links to English, History, Science, PE and Citizenship, with the aim of building student confidence, self-esteem and community awareness / responsibility.
Mr Chris Shepperd, head teacher at The Gryphon School sees the introduction of the course as a cross-curricular success: “The STC has made a positive impact on all the participating students. Its success can be attributed to the quality of the teaching and the relevance of the course content. Students are able to use the facilities available them to gain a valuable qualification that will allow them to put something back into the school. In addition, it gives those who are interested in furthering their swimming skills and knowledge, a platform to become Lifeguards or fully qualified swimming teachers.”
The Student Teachers Certificate has also helped to heighten awareness of water safety and the needs of the local community. Lynne Robshaw, STA Tutor, said: “The STC programme is fun, educational and most importantly, a potential life saver. I hope that our student programme will become available to the majority of young people and thus save lives.
“Accidents will happen but if we are able to teach basic lifesaving and personal safety skills, we may at least give more people a chance to survive.”
The STA has specifically developed the STC award, to provide teenagers and young adults with the knowledge and the necessary skills to act as assistants to qualified swimming teachers. It is primarily aimed at schools, 6th form colleges, swimming clubs, youth organisations and Duke of Edinburgh award candidates.
Roger Millward, the Chief Executive of the STA adds; “It is important that the teaching of swimming is only done by people who have had training in the proper techniques, but it is always useful for the qualified swimming teacher to have another knowledgeable person to help with the lesson. The Swimming Teachers Certificate provides the knowledge to enable young persons to act as assistants to qualified swimming teachers.”
“Teaching children to swim can be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience, but it is also a very responsible job. Helping to teach swimming is one way that young people can give something back to the community in which they live. The Student Teachers Certificate provides that focus, and enables the students to gain a credible qualification at the same time, which could be the stepping-stone to a successful career in teaching or leisure management,” concludes Mr Millward.
