Workforce Development Update

Edition 8: 7 March 2008

Hello everyone,

Preparations for the forthcoming OFSTED inspection of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme are continuing.  The visit, with the purpose of ensuring that the LSC investment in the programme is being used correctly and providing value for money, is scheduled for 11th-14th March.

The AASE programme has been in the news recently with a national celebration event jointly organised by SkillsActive and the Learning and Skills Council held at Twickenham Rugby Ground. Twelve of our apprentices attended with around 60 other athletes from across all sports to celebrate 18 months of success and recognise the importance of the programme in developing home grown athletes.  It was a high profile day attended by Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Sport, David Lammy MP, Minister for Skills and Steve Cram. Media attention also focused on two of our athletes Chris Rowley and Anna Jemility who were interviewed by BBC London News after cameras followed them for the day.  All apprentices enjoyed the workshops - media training by Sky Sports News, physiology by Faye Downey from the England Rugby fitness team, psychology from Olympic silver medallist rower Guin Batten and nutrition and careers after sport hosted by ex-professional footballer Don Goodman.

More cause for celebration for AASE this week with the news that two divers on the programme Sarah Barrow and Jodie McGroty have been selected for the Beijing Olympics.  

Also a successful camp for 18 AASE divers was held in Berlin to help them with their training and competition preparation.  They attended psychology workshops and had the chance to try out new dives on a hydraulic board not currently available in the UK.

You may have already read on the website that the Institute of Swimming have joined forces with cultural exchange programme providers Camp Leaders and Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry to offer applicants to Camp Leaders USA summer camps the chance to gain a Level 1 Teaching Aquatics qualification at half the usual price, before jetting off across the pond to an adventure-filled summer as an assistant swimming instructor. Courses cost £185 and are taking place at various UK locations throughout March.  For more information including how to register your interest click here.

The pilot for the revised National Curriculum Training Programme (NCTP) is due to take place early next month in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.  The programme is being restructured and streamlined in order to bring the content up to date with changes in the school environment particularly with regard to helpers and their level of responsibility, ensure continuity with the UKCC structure and to simplify the administration processes.  The plan is for the current modules to be divided into 3 hour units, similar to the continuing professional development type sessions used in other school curriculum areas.  We hope to introduce the revised syllabus in September this year.

New CPD seminars have been added to our training directory entitled 'RLSS UK Rookie Instructor Courses for ASA Teachers' and 'Effective Communication and Feedback for Swimming Teaching and Coaching'.  Click here for more details.

Please note that all ASA regions now have teaching and coaching courses available at all levels, with some IoS Approved Centres able to offer courses to candidates at a discounted rate through external funding and reductions in site-specific costs.  To find a course in your area click here.

Finally a reminder to look out for a feature on the Institute of Swimming’s Education Officers in the April edition of Swimming Times, published w/c 10th March.

Thanks for reading.

If you would like future editions of this update emailed straight to you as soon as they become available, please send your contact details to claire.freeman@swimming.org

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