Following today’s announcement confirming that STA membership fees will remain frozen for a thirteenth consecutive year, STA is pleased to make a further, separate announcement – prices for STA’s Learn to Swim Awards will also remain frozen for 2026.

This includes the full Learn to Swim pathway, incorporating the International Learn to Swim (ILSW) programme and the LSP Grade Awards. As a result, the cost of a badge and certificate will remain at £1.44 (ex VAT) for STA members, with no increase applied.

By maintaining award prices at this level, STA is supporting swim schools and leisure operators to continue delivering swimming lessons at affordable prices, helping to ensure swimming remains accessible to all. Crucially, it also means children can continue to be recognised and rewarded for their swimming achievements without placing additional financial pressure on parents or operators.

Awards and incentives play a vital role in motivating children to progress, build confidence, and remain engaged in swimming. By keeping prices fair and consistent, swim schools can either include awards within lesson fees or offer them as an affordable optional extra, without compromising accessibility.

Dave Candler, STA’s CEO, said: “As a charitable organisation, our priority is always participation, progression and motivation – not profit. By freezing the price of our Learn to Swim Awards once again, we are helping swim schools and operators keep lesson costs affordable while ensuring children continue to be recognised for their achievements. Incentives play a crucial role in keeping young swimmers engaged and confident, and we believe cost should never be a barrier to that.”

The price freeze applies across all STA Award Groups, including:

• LSP Grade Awards
• SpongeBob SquarePants Awards
• PAW Patrol Awards
• STArfish Awards
• STArfish Series
• STAnley First Steps Series
• Octopus Series
• Goldfish Series
• Angelfish Series
• Shark Series
• Advanced Skills
• Distance Series
• Miscellaneous Awards
• Supporting Awards
• Additional Programmes
• Disabilities Awards
• Welsh–English Bilingual Awards
• Junior Lifeguard Awards
• Open Water Swimming Awards

By freezing both membership fees and award prices for 2026, STA continues to support swim schools, operators, teachers, and families – helping to ensure swimming remains affordable, inclusive, and rewarding for everyone in line with its charitable objectives.

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