STA MAKES A SPLASH WITH THREE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK
29.03.2006
STA has celebrated the announcement of an exciting three-year partnership arrangement with Newark and Sherwood District Council, with an official presentation ceremony.
The event on March 20th was attended by local dignitaries and invited guests, and saw STA President Dee Gladden present the Council with the prestigious STAmark certificate, in recognition of the leisure service’s high standards, quality service and good industry practice.
Steve Franks, Operations Director of STA, explained the partnership arrangement. He said: “Newark and Sherwood District Council has been using NaRS Pool Lifeguard qualifications for the past two years, and has NaRS Recognised Centre status for their leisure centres. They extended this relationship with STA by working with us to gain the STAmark, a quality accreditation which is fully aligned with the BSi PAS 81: 2005 specification for the management and operation of swimming schools.”
“During our work with them, we began discussions about ways they could deliver an even higher quality swimming package for customers of their Leisure Service, and eventually agreed a partnership arrangement to run until 2009 which will see the Council use STA Learn to Swim programme and award schemes.”
At the presentation, Newark and Sherwood District Council launched their new SwimSkool programme, in conjunction with STA, which will run across all of the leisure centres in the district
Councillor Mrs Nora Armstrong, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment, Health and Amenities, explained the aims of the SwimSkool programme and the benefits of joining in partnership with STA. “Not only will STA work with us to improve lesson delivery and standardise the quality of our swimming programme, but they will help us to introduce rigorous quality audits to improve the performance measurement of our swimming lessons” she said.
“We’re also working with STA to increase the number of qualified swimming teachers across the district, and we’re ultimately hoping that the introduction of the SwimSkool scheme will improve the experience for our customers; providing fun and exciting lessons, which offer incentives and recognise individual swimmers’ progress.”
The Council will be offering introductory incentives to all children joining the SwimSkool scheme, by offering a free ‘practice what you’ve learned’ swim session.
