Dive into a new career as a swim teacher
Aspiring swim teachers can dive into a new career, learn new skills and support the next generation of swimmers, with a new swim teacher course, starting on 5 June 2024.
Article Source: East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure
Last Updated: 22 May 2024 11:27
East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure works in partnership with Scottish Swimming to deliver the Scottish Swimming Teaching Qualification (SSTQ) course, which combines online training with practical learning. Candidates shadow qualified teachers in the swimming pool and support children during East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's Learn to Swim lessons.
The course supports the high demand for children's swimming lessons in the area, with around 3,200 children currently participating in East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Trust swimming lesson programme, offered at their four pools in the region.
The course will be led by Danielle Brayson, who was awarded the UK Coaching Performance Development Coach of the Year in 2019, head coach of the City of Glasgow swim team, training junior international swimmers and has worked with Commonwealth Games medallists.
“Our vocational course allows participants to work alongside qualified ERCL swim teachers and they gain experience working with children in the pool from day one, preparing lesson plans to develop the four strokes and teach water safety. The SSTQ qualification is the equivalent of an advanced Higher (SCQF Level 7) and counts towards university applications, too.
“It's fantastic to see our participants developing their confidence and skills throughout the course and working towards becoming fully qualified swim teachers, before progressing to paid employment.”
Swimming has opened up many opportunities for Ruari Laskey, who has travelled all over the country competing in triathlons. He completed the swim teacher training course in February and said: “I wanted to support kids learning how to swim, so they have the opportunity to have the same experiences as I've had.
“I've really enjoyed the course and I would 100% recommend it to others. I've learned a lot in a really short space of time, I'm more confident now and it's been a great experience. Everyone is friendly and you get to see the kids' progress, from being able to barely float at first into really confident swimmers.”
Wenda Crawford decided to dive into a new career as a swim teacher, having worked as a nurse for 27 years, and travelled from Greenock to join East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's swim teacher training course sessions. Wenda said: “I used to swim competitively as a child and have always been a swimmer - I taught my own kids to swim and do lots of open water and pool swimming. I want to see the next generation swimming, pass on skills and teach them how to be safe in the water.”
Robert Hammond from East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure added: “Swimming is a life skill and we're delighted to train our future swim teachers who support young swimmers in developing confidence, skills and competence in the water.
“We look forward to working with our next group and providing them with the support they need to complete the course and progress to paid employment with our Swimming Development team, which is guaranteed on completion of the course.”
The next SSTQ course takes place online and at Barrhead and Neilston Leisure Centre swimming pools from 5-30 June 2024: www.ercultureandleisure.org
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