Learner swimmers in South Staffordshire are set to benefit from a new swim academy programme after four council-run leisure centres signed a partnership with STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association).

The STA South Staffordshire Swim Academy is to officially start this month at Penkridge, Cheslyn Hay, Wombourne and Codsall leisure centres, all of which are run by South Staffordshire Council.

The new academy programme, the seventh that STA has launched in England, aims to raise the standards of swim teaching by introducing a common internationally recognised teaching system and a standardised programme for swimming lessons through STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP).

To launch the new scheme, the STA South Staffordshire Swim Academy held an open day on January 4, 2014, at Wombourne Leisure Centre, which was attended by MP Gavin Williamson.

Theo Millward, STA’s Operations Director, said the new academy status for four South Staffordshire leisure centres means parents can be reassured about the high quality of swim lessons for their children.

“The Academy model has worked very well in local authority run pools across the country and we are delighted that it is now being launched in South Staffordshire,” he said.

“By operating as an academy, means the centres can provide a very high standard of teaching in a cost-effective way. Learning how to swim is a crucial life skill and through this partnership, the learners and the teachers will benefit hugely.”

Councillor Mary Bond, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services said: “This new academy will enable South Staffordshire Council to really build on the existing swimming classes, and it will assist us in providing a comprehensive aquatic programme. I am delighted that we can offer local people of all ages the opportunity to learn to swim for health, safety and for fun.”

STA already runs successful academy swimming programmes in Cornwall, Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Tewskesbury, London, and Rochdale and many more swim schools are planning to convert in 2014, including The Galleon Centre in Kilmarnock, Scotland and Castle Point Leisure.

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Photo Caption (from left to right): Theo Millward, STA’s Operations Director, Gavin Williamson MP, Cllr Rita Heseltine and Cllr Mary Bond – with STAnley, STA’s water safety mascot in the centre.