Introducing the STA Swim Scheme

STA Swim SchemeFor many years we have operated an incentive based swimming skills scheme - The STA International Awards - and millions of children worldwide have learned to swim using this system. Now, as part of our commitment to improving the standards of swimming teaching and water safety worldwide we have, after consultation with our members and experts within the industry, developed the International Swimming & Water Safety Standards (ISWSS).

The ISWSS recognises that pupils learn to swim at many different ages and progress at varying paces. It also appreciates that swimming teachers use different techniques and have different levels of experience and that pool managers have diverse requirements. Click here to download information on facility constraints. But at the same time, both parties recognise that at no stage should safety, quality standards or consistency be compromised. Thus the ISWSS consists of seven different progressive schemes, five of which are interlinked. The sixth scheme - Special Needs - is a separate, stand-alone, but complimentary scheme. All of the schemes - or series - are carefully planned and structured to introduce new skills, reinforce those learned in previous awards, and develop new techniques, stamina and understanding. Click here to download our water safety questions.

All levels of the ISWSS have clearly defined standards, teaching objectives and learning outcomes. Click here to download a list of definitions. This ensures a consistent level of achievement from a high quality programme. The progressive and interlinked nature of the scheme provides for continuity but also flexibility when used in conjunction with the ISWSS Resource Manual. Whilst the ISWSS is a complete and comprehensive scheme it also recognises that many organisations may already have their own scheme or have adopted the ASA National Plan. With this in mind, the ISWSS has been designed to overlay other schemes. For example, it is easy to transfer onto the ISWSS from the ASA National Plan.

A set of Tick sheets for the ISWSS schemes is available to download here (1.4Mb). Links to download individual Tick sheets can be found with the details of each badge. Please note that Tick sheets for STARFISH will be available shortly.

Best Value

We believe that ISWSS will quickly become established as the 'best value' package available to the industry.

For pool managers, it provides:

  • High QA (Quality Assurance) standards
  • The highest swimming and safety standards
  • A greater range of awards - potentially providing more customers
  • Excellent customer satisfaction
  • And all this, at a lower cost than any other nationally recognised scheme.

For the swimming teacher, ISWSS offers:

  • A well structured, off-the-shelf resource pack
  • The ability to use experience already gained to provide added variety without loss of standards

ISWSS will also be more appealing to the pupil, as it provides:

  • A scheme that is designed for all ages and abilities.
  • An attractive badge and certificate as an incentive.
  • Further challenges, thus retaining their interest for longer, including additional options to undertake further STA awards such as:
    • NaRS Cross series of lifesaving awards.
    • Student Teachers Certificate - an introduction to swimming teacher training.