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Statistics: Swim teacher qualification data in the UK

Feb 27, 2022

STATISTICAL BULLETIN

This statistical bulletin includes data on the number of swimming teaching-related qualifications awarded in England, Wales, and Scotland. Significant inconsistencies exist between awarding organisations' annual and impact reporting from the data produced by Ofqual, SQA and Qualification Wales.

Unfortunately, neither awarding organisation nor data from the three regional regulators can be considered to be comprehensive. Steps should be taken to improve the accuracy of aquatic workforce datasets to improve aquatic safety and drowning prevention impact measurement.

Below is the data published by the three regional regulators. 

 

Table 1: Swim teacher-related qualifications awarded in Great Britain 2017-2020 as reported by OfQual, SQA, and Qualification Wales

Qualification  2017   2018   2019   2020   Total 
STA 8,327 7,822 6,967 3,875 26,514
SEQ/ASA 465 365 445 155 1,430
Total 8,792 8,187 7,412 4,030 27,944

 

Table 2: Swim teacher-related qualifications awarded in England 2012-2020 as reported by OfQual

Qualification  2012   2013   2014   2015   2016   2017   2018   2019   2020   Total 
SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) -   -   -   -   3,780 5,365 5,055 5,005 1,770 20,975
SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   2,480 2,990 1,035 6,505
STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Teaching 360 660 940 925 1,125 1,195 1,360 1,495 750 8,810
STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Teaching  285 360 400 365 375 415 440 555 185 3,380
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching- Baby and Pre-School -   175 335 375 430 500 480 460 220 2,975
STA Level 2 Award in Open Water Swimming Coaching -   25 15 5 10 -   85 100 130 370
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching - People with Disabilities -   -   50 45 5 50 45 50 5 250
STA Level 2 Award in Open Water Safety  -   -   -   -   35 50 15 10 10 120
STA Level 1 Award for Pool to Open Water Swimming Coaching -   -   10 10 20 -   -   -   -   40
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching Mermaid and Mono Fin Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   35 35
Active IQ Level 2 Award in Instructing Water-based Exercise -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
STA Level 2 Award in Instructing Synchro Fitness -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
Total 645 1,220 1,750 1,725 5,780 7,575 9,960 10,665 4,140 43,460

 

Table 3: Swim teacher qualifications awarded in Wales 2015-2021 as reported by Qualifications Wales

Qualification  2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Total
SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) 295 310 285 220 290 100 180 1680
STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming 90 135 140 185 160 75 245 1030
SEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher 0 120 160 125 155 55 70 685
STA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming 15 0 20 40 45 0 40 160
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Swimming 160 90 0 0 0 0 0 250
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching- Baby and Pre-School 35 45 45 30 40 0 0 195
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics 95 25 0 0 0 0 0 120
SEQ Level 2 Award In Coaching Aquatic Pre-Fundamentals 25 25 20 0 0 0 0 70
STA Level 2 Award in Open Water Swimming Coaching 0 0 0 0 5 10 35 50
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Swimming 0 35 0 0 0 0 0 35
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Water Polo 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 25
SEQ Level 2 Teaching Pre-School Swimming 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 20
SEQ Level 2 Coaching Open Water Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 15
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Diving 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching - People with Disabilities 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 10
STA Level 3 Diploma in Aquatic Teaching- Baby and Pre-School 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5
SEQ Level 2 Water Polo Coach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Synchronised Swimming Coach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Certificate for Teaching (Aquatics) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 3 Award in Adapting Water Based Exercise for Ante and Post Natal Clients 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Diving Assistant (Coaching) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Water Polo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Diploma in Coaching Learn to Swim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Diving 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Coaching Games for Understanding 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 3 Aquatic Activity for Health 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 3 Teaching Pre-School Swimming (Advanced) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Certificate in Coaching 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Diving Coach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Synchronised Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Certificate for Teaching Aquatics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 3 Certificate in Coaching 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Water Based Exercise) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Water Polo Assistant (Coaching) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Certificate for Teaching Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Extended Diploma in Coaching Learn to Swim (Pre-Fundamentals) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Certificate in Preparation for Event Volunteering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Certificate for Coaching 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 3 Senior Diving Coach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASA Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Certificate for Teaching Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 3 Senior Diving Coach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 1 Synchronised Swimming Assistant (Coaching) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Award in British Open Water Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Synchronised Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Award in Instructing SynchroFitness 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Award for BISHTA Hot Tub Surveyor  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Certificate for the National Rescue Standard - Poolside Helper 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 1 Award for Pool to Open Water Swimming Coaching 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Award in Open Water Safety 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 1 Award in Teaching Aquatics 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Level 2 Award for Open Water Swimming Coaching 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 750 790 670 625 695 245 585 4,360

 

Table 4: Swim teacher qualifications awarded in Scotland 2017-2021 as reported by Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)

Qualification   2017   2018   2019   2020  2021  Total 
STA Professional Award in Teaching Swimming at SCQF Level 6 0 72 31 0 10 113
STA Award in Teaching Swimming at SCQF Level 6 80 0 0 0 0 80
STA Professional Certificate in Teaching Swimming 4 20 19 0 0 43
STA Professional Award in Aquatic Teaching - Baby and Pre-School at SCQF Level 6 13 14 6 0 0 33
STA Certificate in Teaching Swimming at SCQF Level 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
STA Award in Aquatic Teaching - Baby and Pre-School Swimming at SCQF Level 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
 Total 97 106 56 0 10 269

 

Table 5: Swim teacher qualifications awarded in Northern Ireland 2012-2020 as reported by CCEA

Qualification 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total
STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming 6 36 70 56 41 92 102 80 -   125
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching- Baby and Pre-School -   12 29 12 18 21 9 14 -   115
STA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming 25 37 52 21 20 36 44 37 -   74
STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching - People with Disabilities -   8 19 -   -   6 6 9 -   48
STA Level 1 Award for Pool to Open Water Swimming Coaching -   -   5 -   -   -   -   -   -   5
STA Level 2 Award for Open Water Swimming Coaching -   -   5 -   -   -   -   -   -   5
STA Level 3 Diploma in Aquatic Teaching- Baby and Pre-School -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Diving -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Synchronised Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Award in Coaching Water Polo -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Award in Teaching Aquatics -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Certificate for Coaching -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Certificate for Teaching Aquatics -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Certificate in Preparation for Event Volunteering -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Diving Assistant Coach -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Synchronised Swimming Assistant Coach -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 1 Water Polo Assistant Coach -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Swimming Teacher -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Diving -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Synchronised Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Water Polo -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing Water Based Exercise -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 2 Coaching Games for Understanding -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 3 Award in Adapting Water Based Exercise for Ante and Post Natal Clients -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 3 Senior Diving Coach -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 3 Senior Synchronised Swimming Coach -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
ASA Level 3 Senior Water Polo Coach -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
SEQ Level 1 Swimming Teaching Assistant -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
SEQ Level 2 Award in British Open Water Swimming -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
SEQ Level 2 Award In Coaching Aquatic Pre-Fundamentals -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
SEQ Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Aquatics -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
SEQ Level 2 Diploma in Coaching Learn to Swim -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
SEQ Level 2 Extended Diploma in Coaching Learn to Swim (Pre-Fundamentals) -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -  
Total 31 93 180 89 79 155 161 140 -   928

 

References 

CCEA. (2022). Technical and professional qualification bulletins Q3 2021 full dataset. Available at: https://ccea.org.uk/regulation/reports-statistics/technical-and-professional-qualification-bulletins/browse-all accessed 26th February 2022. 

SQA. (2022). Quarterly and Annual Statistics Reports. Available at: https://accreditation.sqa.org.uk/accreditation/Research_and_Statistics/Quarterly_and_Annual_Statistics_Reports accessed 26th February 2022. 

OfQual. (2022). Statistics. Data on vocational and other qualifications. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-vocational-qualifications accessed 26th February 2022. 

Qualifications Wales. (2022). Vocational and Other Qualifications. Available at: https://qualificationswales.org/english/publications/vocational-and-other-qualifications-quarterly-quarter-4-october---december-2021-for-wales/ accessed 26th February 2022. 

 

Citation. Jacklin, D. (2022). Swim teacher qualification data in the UK. (Leisure Litigation Blog, 26th February). 

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