News & Updates

STA is pleased to announce the launch of the new STA Open Water Safety qualification and updated STA Open Water Swimming Coaching qualification.

To ensure Safety Training Awards’ (STA)’ qualifications are robust, fit for purpose, informative, as well as meeting the regulatory requirements, there have been changes and redevelopment to the qualifications.

STA Award in Open Water Swimming Coaching

Following learner and tutor feedback, STA have updated the STA Award in Open Water Swimming Coaching resource manual. The manual has been slightly re-order and the open water environment section expanded to make it more user friendly. It is available now within the STA Swim Shop in e-manual or hard copy format.

The assessment method has also been updated from question portfolio to a Multiple-Choice Question Paper. Learners will still be issued with a small portfolio as they are still required to complete a risk assessment, session plans, session evaluation form as well as the open water practical coaching.

All resources have been updated to reflect these changes including the suggested timetable, PowerPoint and assessment strategy. Resources are available now within STA Online.

STA Award for Open Water Safety

The new qualification will replace STA’s current Open Water Safety qualification and is titled:

• STA Level 2 Award for Open Water Safety

There have been some significant changes to the technical content and structure of the qualification following research and feedback.

First aid skills are now included within the qualification to make it more consistent and transparent on what a learner has been assessed and deemed competent on within this qualification.

In order to deliver or assess the new STA Award for Open Water Safety qualification, tutors must complete the FREE online STA Open Water Safety Tutor Upskill programme. The upskill holds a CPD value of ½ point and includes information on the course content, changes and assessment requirements.

The qualification supporting resources have been updated and rebranded to reflect these changes and are available to download from STA Online following completion of the tutor upskill.

The new resources include:

• STA Open Water Safety Resource Manual
• Assessment Strategy
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Tutor Assessed Skills Sheet
• MCQ Assessment Papers
• Qualification Specification.

The resource manual has been updated into the high-quality book-bound printed manual featuring a vibrant new design and easy-to-follow chapter layout. The updated manual is available now within the STA Swim Shop in e-manual or hard copy format.

All registered courses until 30th April 2022 will be honoured however any course registered from 1st April 2022 or delivered after 1st May 2022 must be registered as the new qualification or use the new MCQ assessment for the STA Award in Open Water Swimming Coaching.

The new resources and assessment materials must be used when delivering the new STA Award for Open Water Safety or STA Award in Open Water Swimming Coaching qualification.

Any centre who wishes to transfer current registered courses to the new qualifications, will need to cancel their current course and register a new qualification.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.