STA & ILAM WELCOME NEW POOL WATER QUALIFICATIONS
01.12.2005
STA and ILAM welcome new pool water qualifications as new benchmark for the leisure sector.
The STA and the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM) have welcomed the accreditation of the STA/ILAM Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment by the regulatory bodies for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Level 2 Certificate now joins the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). This is the first qualification of its type to get approval on NQF.
The accreditation of the Level 1 and Level 2 awards, is official recognition that the awards meet the stringent quality criteria set out by the regulatory bodies and that the awards meet the requirements of the National Occupational Standards for the sector as specified by the sector skills council for active leisure and learning, SkillsActive. The inclusion of the awards on the NQF also means that further and higher education colleges can access funding to deliver the courses that lead to the awards.
The Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment and the Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment have been devised and developed by the STA and ILAM in partnership. The accredited awarding body for both awards is Safety Training Awards, which is overseen by the STA.
Heather Lamb, ILAM head of professional development, commented, “I am delighted that the hard work of the members and staff of both ILAM and the STA has had such a successful outcome. The leisure sector now has a progression award for pool water treatment of the highest quality, allowing facility staff to build their knowledge, competencies and careers. The result will be staff who are more competent and confident in their roles and ultimately a better service for members of the public using the many thousands of leisure facilities across the country.”
Steve Franks, operations director with the STA, commented, “I am delighted that the two awards are now on the National Qualifications Framework. These new qualifications represent a raising of the bar for technical standards in the sector. The STA and ILAM now have a responsibility to deliver these awards on behalf of the sector and ensure that the objective of improved technical knowledge and competencies is met.”
Full details of the STA Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment and STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment are available from the STA – please telephone 01922 645097 or email sta@sta.co.uk.
