New Plymouth’s first Gateway STA Course

Eight Taranaki high schools students are working towards becoming the first in their region to earn a swim teacher qualification through the partnership of Gateway and Swimming New Zealand.

In February this year Swimming New Zealand (SNZ) Education Advisor Cecilie Elliott held the first SNZ Swim Teacher Award course for Gateway students in New Plymouth. 

The group of students who attended the course came from four local high schools; Coastal Taranaki School, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Waitara High School and Spotswood College.

Having completed their course in February, which consisted of both theory and practical sessions, each of the students are now completing their training at a local swim school or club alongside qualified swim teachers to obtain their SNZ Swim Teacher Award and gain 20 of the 43 level three credits.

Each of these swim schools or clubs also has an experienced SNZ Evidence Gatherer, who will be overseeing the students’ progress and on-going training to complete the practical tasks. Cecilie will then assess the students to ensure they meet the required standards.

Cecilie said that each student who attended the course participated well in both the classroom and pool sessions and showed a keen desire to learn.

Some of the skills students will have to be able to display to earn their qualification and credits are creating a swim teaching environment that is supportive of learning, develop and maintain water confidence in non-swimmers, develop beginner swimmers techniques and help swimmers develop water safety and survival skills.

The Gateway programme enables schools to provide senior students (minimum age 16) with opportunities to access structured workplace learning.

This opportunity for students through the Gateway programme and Swimming New Zealand is proving popular with students throughout the country who are taking up this offer to gain the skills and knowledge to become competent swim teachers.

The swim schools and clubs hosting the Taranaki students are: Todd Energy Aquatic Centre Swim School, Coastal Aquatics, Highlands Swimming Club, Okato Swimming Club, Waitara and the New Plymouth School of Swimming.