Swimming teacher

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• an apprenticeship
• training with a professional body

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job by doing a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

As part of this apprenticeship you will be able to gain one of the following qualifications:

• Swim England Level 2 in Teaching Swimming
• Swimming Teachers' Association Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

OtherRoutes

You can qualify as a swimming teacher by doing Level 1 and Level 2 teaching qualifications awarded by Swim England or the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) .

These qualifications will allow you to teach non-swimmers, improvers and people looking to learn advanced swimming skills.

You may be able to train on the job and become qualified while you work. This would depend on your employer.

Courses are often flexible so you can fit them around other commitments you may have.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• leadership skills
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• customer service skills
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to work on your own
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to read English
• knowledge of media production and communication
• active listening skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• concentration skills
• a good memory
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

Swimming teachers help people learn how to swim, improve their swimming skills and exercise in water.

As a swimming teacher, you'll:

• plan lessons for beginners, improvers and advanced swimmers
• teach or coach one-to-one or in groups
• make sure safety standards are followed
• check life-saving equipment is in working order
• identify ways to improve swimmers' performance
• give first aid for minor injuries or accidents

Location : You could work at a fitness centre or at a school.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically demanding and humid.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £18,000
Experienced : £30,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

18 - 37 hours variable

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays as customers demand

Career Path:

With experience, you could be a swim co-ordinator or lead swimming teacher for a region, checking the quality of other swimming teachers.

With further training, you could widen your skills to work with:

• babies and pre-schoolers
• people with disabilities
• open water swimmers

You could work as the head coach of a swimming club, or senior coach with a regional or national team. You might also wish to move into elite sports coaching, sports development or fitness training.