This month, Inverclyde Leisure will be launching as an official STA Swim Academy after signing a new partnership agreement with the STA.

The Swim Academy partnership will begin with the Inverclyde Leisure team introducing a standardised programme for teaching swimming through STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) – a fun, progressive learn to swim programme that will benefit the 1500 swimmers currently enrolled in lessons at the Waterfront Leisure Complex and Port Glasgow Swimming Pool by giving them a clear learn to swim pathway and colourful awards to aim for.

With the swim academy model, which has been designed by STA to raise standards through the delivery of one common teaching system and a standardised programme for swimming lessons, Inverclyde Leisure are also planning to increase the number of learners on their programmes and open up even more aquatic opportunities for the communities they serve.

A representative of Inverclyde Leisure, a registered charity which was established in 2001 for the purpose of delivering sport, leisure & health, said: “We are looking forward to working with Zoe and the team at STA as we continue in our quest to give as many children and adults as we can a valuable skill for life, ensuring they are better equipped to stay safe in and around water”.

Zoe Cooper, Commercial Director at STA, a registered charity and a national governing body for swimming, said: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Inverclyde Leisure to help them launch as an STA Swim Academy, expand their learn to swim programmes and create fun and exciting opportunities for their customers.”

“The Academy model, which has worked very successfully in many pools across the country for the last 14 years, is a proven formula that enables learn to swim providers to deliver a very high standard of teaching in a cost-effective way. We are sure it will positively help the Inverclyde team achieve their charity goals and provide even more opportunities for people in their communities to access quality swimming lessons – and importantly learn a key life skill,” confirmed Zoe.

In support of Inverclyde’s expansion plans, the second stage of the partnership with STA will also see them launch as an STA Approved Training Centre, which will enable the leisure management team to have full in-house control of all their swimming teacher training needs, based on the workforce requirements of their leisure centres.