Bedfordshire-based Swift Training Academy celebrates significant milestone

A Bedfordshire-based Swim England Qualifications Approved Training Centre (ATC) is celebrating a significant milestone.

Swift Training Academy in Luton has successfully delivered its first Swim England Qualifications (SEQ) Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teacher) course, just a few months after becoming fully accredited to do so by the national governing body.

Swift became an Approved Training Centre earlier this year and were granted approval to deliver SEQ qualifications.

Approved Training Centres are able to deliver Ofqual and Qualification Wales regulated Swim England qualifications, as well as a host of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) seminars.

Learners undertaking Swim England qualifications embark on a journey that equips them with all essential skills and knowledge to become a certified Swim England qualified swimming teacher.

Six people took part in the first Swift course and their co-founder and director, Luke Davis, is hoping that by becoming an ATC, they will help to drive change in the aquatics industry.

Earlier this year, Swim England research revealed that an instructor shortage may deprive an estimated 667,000 children across the UK of swim lessons.

Wanted to be part of the change

Davis said: “We wanted to become a Swim England Qualifications ATC due to the shortage of swimming teachers in the industry and we wanted to be part of the change.

“We also feel that the Swim England qualification produces high quality teachers, which also interlinks with our swim school – Swift Swimmers Ltd. We also wanted to ensure that swimming teacher qualifications are accessible to smaller swim schools and organisations.

“Our first course was a huge success; we managed to book six learners on the course within a four-week window. It was fantastic to see the learners in the pool thriving. A huge thank you to Rachel, our Swim England Licensed Educator, who tutored the course for us.

“The learners all gave us some brilliant feedback and it was a real proud moment to see all of our hard work come together. Another great thing that I loved is that during the first course, even when we had questions, we picked up the phone to either course admin or to compliance and it was no hassle.’’

One of the Swift learners, Rachel, added: “I completed my SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) course with Swift Training Academy and it was brilliant. From booking onto the delivery of the course, the team were so helpful and supportive. I would 100 per cent recommend to take your swimming teacher qualifications and would definitely recommend Swift Training Academy.”

Sarah Green, head of workforce education at Swim England, said: “It has been great working with Swift Training Academy in the delivery of their first SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teacher) course and wonderful to see more highly skilled swimming assistants joining our industry.

“We look forward to developing our partnership and further increasing the number of swimming teachers qualifying to deliver Swim England’s Learn to Swim Programme.

To find out more about becoming a swimming teacher or accessing Swim England’s suite of qualifications/CPDs, please click HERE or visit the Swim England Qualifications website.