STA AND ILAM LEAD THE WAY
15.04.2005
The Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) and the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) have cemented their existing strong ‘partnership’ with the shared success of securing Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) accreditation and entry onto the National Qualifications Framework for their Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment.
This is a significant new award for the STA and ILAM. It is also a significant step forward for businesses looking to train personnel in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment, as this award will potentially attract funding through the Learning and Skills Council.
Steve Franks, Operations Director of the STA said: “We’re obviously delighted to be given formal approval from the QCA. Both the STA and ILAM are very aware of the need to be flexible and responsive to changes across the industry, and to maintaining and improving standards, and I believe that gaining QCA accreditation and support from SkillsActive is a major step forward in the development of vocational training for operators of Swimming Pools and Spas.”
Lloyd Conaway, ILAM’s Chief Executive, supported this view and added: “Part of our overall mission at ILAM is a real commitment to the provision of high quality education and training, which allows us to ensure that those working across all areas of leisure have access to quality education and training provision. We believe that this Foundation Certificate will certainly do that!”
The Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment is designed to provide basic information to staff, and to reinforce the training necessary to meet all these objectives, and assist in compliance with health and safety legislation. In addition to the new Foundation award, the STA and ILAM will be submitting a new higher-level joint award for approval onto the NQF, the Certificate in Technical Operations, which will provide a clear progression link from the Foundation level.
ILAM and the STA have a long standing relationship, having worked together on the National Rescue Standard (NaRS) qualifications, and the new certificate will be positioned as an optional unit within the ILAM Leisure Assistant Award, and jointly badged by both the STA and ILAM.
The STA will be responsible for the selection and approval of tutors for the course, as well as for the certification and administration, whilst ILAM will deliver the course manuals and co-promote the qualification within its portfolio of training opportunities. ILAM will also make provision for the course to be recognised within its Continuing Professional Development Scheme.
For further information please contact the STA on 01922 645097 or sta@sta.co.uk or ILAM on 01491 874800.
EDITORS’ NOTES
The STA
The STA has over 5,000 members and is the only awarding body to have Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) approval for both its NARS Lifeguarding / Lifesaving and First Aid awards, and Swimming Teaching Certificates.
ILAM
ILAM is the professional body for the leisure industry and represents the interests of leisure managers across all sectors and specialisms of leisure.
The QCA
The national qualifications framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland sets out the levels at which qualifications can be recognised. It helps learners make informed decisions on the qualifications they need, by comparing the levels of different qualifications and identifying clear progression routes to their chosen career.
It aims to:
- promote access, motivation and achievement in education and training, strengthening international competitiveness
- promote lifelong learning by helping people to understand clear progression routes
- avoid duplication and overlap of qualifications while making sure all learning needs are covered
- promote public and professional confidence in the integrity and relevance of national awards.
Only qualifications that have been accredited by the regulatory authorities are included in the NQF.
