The Institute of Swimming has launched a Swimming Teachers’ Academy with Lampton Leisure in a bid to solve a national swimming teacher shortage, which is leading to local children missing out on learning to swim.

The Academy will offer local people the chance to retrain and embark on a career as a swimming teacher for just £79 – a fraction of the usual £1,000 cost.

Lampton Leisure, which manages all leisure facilities on behalf of the London Borough of Hounslow, is looking to train and recruit 12 new swimming teachers across its leisure centres; Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre & Library, Isleworth Leisure Centre & Library, Heston Pools & Fitness and New Chiswick Pool.

The Academy hopes to address the stark warning from the national governing body, Swim England, that half a million children in England are currently missing out on learning to swim due to staff shortages, which have been exasperated through lockdowns and Brexit. A Swim England survey of swimming pool operators, owners and swim schools found more than four in five are still struggling to meet the demand for swimming lessons – almost 12 months after pools reopened.

Natasha Stevens, Head of Swimming at Lampton Leisure, says: “Lampton Leisure is currently running at 91% capacity, and we are unable to move children from our waiting list into the program due to limited space in the programme. The Institute of Swimming’s revolutionary academy will help find and train new swimming teachers, allowing Lampton Leisure to expand its Learn to Swim programme, cover staff sickness, and relieve pressure by reducing the occupancy levels in our swimming lessons to 85% per class, per stage, allowing for easier movement.

“We are passionate about delivering high-quality swimming lessons for our community and, by offering funded training opportunities through the recruitment academy, we aim to find passionate people who wish to embrace a career in swimming teaching. It is our vision to be the swim school of choice for every parent looking for fun, inspiring swimming lessons for their children and our swimming instructors are integral to us achieving this.

“We value our exceptionally high standards and want swimming instructors on board that share our vision. Following training, the right candidates have the opportunity to earn up to £18.08 per hour for contracted employment, we look forward to helping kick start our trainees’ journey into this aspiring career.”

Rebecca Cox, Managing Director, Institute of Swimming says: “Teaching swimming is a very rewarding career, with flexible hours, that might suit someone who wants to supplement their existing income or to work around their caring or studying responsibilities. We are looking to attract new people into the sector who may not have considered teaching swimming as a career opportunity. There are no educational restrictions to entering the training, and you don’t need to be an expert swimmer either. The recruitment academy seeks to offer the opportunity to become a swimming instructor to enthusiastic, local people who can offer their time and commitment in exchange for this funded training opportunity.”

The Academy gives people the chance to become a swimming teacher for just £79 and takes them through the Swim England Level One Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level Two Teaching Swimming Qualification. The usual cost of these two courses is £1,000. In addition to the training, applicants will also receive a years’ membership to the Institute of Swimming and access to the online Introduction to Swimming Strokes – Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

To find out more or fill in the application form visit https://www.swimming.org/ios/course-information/hounslow-swimming-teacher-recruitment-academy/