Top marks for teenage swim teacher

Sixteen-year-old Ollie is already making his mark as a swim teacher and helping those in his community gain the skills to be safer and more confident in the water.

The Papamoa College student recently completed his Swimming New Zealand Swim Teacher Award and has already impressed with his abilities to help his students.

To gain his qualification Ollie has been assisting in learn to swim lessons at his local swim school as well as at his College.

He has been assisting alongside the teacher and teacher aides at the swim school with the special needs group who have one swim session every week.

Teacher Kelley Heron and the teacher aides have all been blown away with Ollie and the way he runs his lessons and the progress they have seen the students make in the water with Ollie guiding them along.

Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor Erin Fowler said “the structure and repetition of Ollies lessons coupled with his ability to inspire confidence in the students to try is absolutely fantastic.

“The students are motivated to achieve the skill and please Ollie which has seen their water skills improve on a large scale.”

Ollie said his biggest learning curve has been working on how to keep the students motivated and to keep them on task.

If you are interested in becoming a swim teacher visit the Swimming New Zealand website here or contact your nearest Education Advisor.