TOP MARKS FOR GROVE LEISURE CENTRE
18.12.2007
The Grove Leisure Centre in Balderton is celebrating after just completing its first STAmark reassessment, in which the Swim Skool team achieved an impressive score of 86%, resulting in the centre being awarded a Distinction.
Two years ago, the Grove Leisure Centre was the first of all the leisure facilities in Newark & Sherwood District Council to achieve STAmark accreditation, and the increase in score from Merit to Distinction in that time period, clearly demonstrates that the recommendations of improvement made at the original accreditation have been embraced by the centre. By being first, the other 3 centres in the area, Southwell, Rainworth and Dukeries were also able to learn from the accreditation process, and they too achieved STAmark distinctions earlier this year.
Here, Paul Butler from The Grove Leisure Centre explains how STAmark has benefitted the management of their swimming programme, which currently teaches around 1,100 pupils every week: “The STAmark accreditation process has helped with the set procedures within the Swim Skool, and this has made a vast difference in the way we do things. It has given us guidance on what requirements we needed to run a good quality Swim Skool, i.e. safe procedures, business planning and training requirements, and provided goals and challenges for us to achieve. We are delighted that we have successfully improved from the original accreditation and achieved a distinction. It recognises all the hard work of the team here at Grove Leisure Centre.”
Steve Franks, STAmark Assessor said; “It was clear at the reassessment that the team at Grove Leisure Centre are committed to the principles of continuous improvement and wherever possible they have ensured that all those involved in the delivery of the swim programme maintain the highest possible standards in all areas. It is pleasing to see that the recommendations we made two years ago have been successfully adopted. The award of distinction means that the Swim Skool is operating to the benchmark standard of PAS81, and has demonstrated excellence in many other areas including swimming development, partnership working and employee development.”
“STAmark is very important to us. It is the only recognised quality accreditation for the management of Swim Schools, and it has, and will continue to help us to run very efficient and quality swimming programmes across all of our Council Sites. Furthermore it endorses the work we do, and assures customers that we provide a well managed and safe environment for our learn to swim programme,” Paul concluded.
As part of Newark & Sherwood District Council’s three year partnership agreement with the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA), the Grove Leisure Centre utilise all of the STA’s swimming teaching qualifications and Learn to Swim programmes and awards schemes. They have also successfully adopted the NaRS programme for all its lifeguarding and lifesaving requirements.
Martin Picker, Facilities Manager from Newark & Sherwood District Council added:
“As a local authority we are committed to providing a safe environment for swimmers, and delivering high standards of teaching through our partnership with the STA. We are therefore delighted to see the Grove Leisure Centre achieving such high quality standards, and being rewarded for their efforts with the STAmark award.”
