An ASA Awarding Body Level 3 Coaching qualification has been formally accepted by the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and is now officially part of the national qualification framework.
Being accepted by the QCA means the ASA Level 3 Certificate for Coaching Swimming has reached its final stage of development and can move out of pilot phase.
The qualification is aligned to the national UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) standards and this month’s acceptance by the QCA marks the final step to endorsement by Sports Coach UK.
Endorsement also means the ASA Level 3 Certificate for Coaching Swimming will now be recognised by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which makes it easier for ASA Regions to access funding from external organisations, where available, to subsidise the cost of courses for their members.
The ASA Awarding Body holds the sole licence to award UKCC qualifications in England and Wales and is responsible for assessment, awarding and quality assurance.
ASA Coach Education Manager Spencer Moore is pleased to see the Level 3 Certificate for Coaching Swimming accepted by the QCA.
“It is great that the new British Swimming qualification has been accepted onto the QCA’s National Framework,” he said. “The team has been working hard to keep British Swimming at the forefront of teacher and coach education and by achieving this recognition people can be confident that they are gaining a nationally respected qualification.”
“We have 105 coaches already registered onto the programme and we have received positive feedback throughout the scheme, so we look forward to seeing even more people taking part in the coming months.”
For details of courses for all ASA UKCC qualifications log onto www.britishswimming.org and navigate to the Teachers and Coaches/Find a Course section of the site.
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Notes:
British Swimming
British Swimming represents the home countries of England, Scotland and Wales and holds the Coaching Standards Group licence to develop and award qualifications meeting UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) standards for all swimming disciplines.
British Swimming contracted the ASA Awarding Body to develop the qualifications and granted them the licence to award its qualifications in England and Wales. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has the licence to award qualifications in Scotland.
Amateur Swimming Association (ASA)
The ASA is the national governing body for swimming and its related disciplines in England. In order to comply with national education and training standards it has developed two separate and independent arms – the ASA Awarding Body and the Institute of Swimming (IoS) which represent the awarding and delivery channels for all ASA qualifications.
ASA Awarding Body
The ASA Awarding Body develops, assesses, awards and quality assures all ASA qualifications. It is the equivalent of other awarding bodies such as City & Guilds and OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations), The ASA Awarding Body is licensed by British Swimming to award qualifications in England and Wales. It also has the remit for quality assurance of all areas of UKCC standards.
Institute if Swimming (IoS)
The IoS is a licensed training provider, like a school or college. It is one of many ASA Awarding Body Approved Centres.
The IoS is also a membership body for qualified swimming teachers and coaches, providing insurance, advice and learning opportunities to its members.
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For more information contact ASA Media Assistant Gemma Field on 01509 632262, 07917 726431 or email gemma.field@swimming.org
The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
www.britishswimming.org
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