Burnham-On-Sea’s new Swim & Sports Academy is to hold a swimming lesson enrolment day later this month when swimmers of all ages will be able to sign up for tuition and find out more about the classes and activities on offer.
The event will be held on Saturday June 21st at the Princess Hall in Princess Street. Open enrolment will be held between 12pm – 2pm, and preferential sign-ups (for those swimmers already enrolled in swimming classes at the pool) will be welcomed from 10am to 12pm. Classes will then begin at the new-look pool on Monday July 21st.
News of the event comes after the pool’s new bosses announced on Thursday (June 12th) that they had agreed to implement the Amateur Swimming Association’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS).
A five-year deal will see the Burnham pool working in partnership with the national governing body until 2013. The agreement to use the NPTS, a template for ‘learn-to-swim’ schemes, means the Academy will use the highest quality syllabus and awards system. The plan is a comprehensive and progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles.
The National Plan will run alongside the ASA Kellogg’s Awards Scheme and looks set to benefit the 350 students that currently receive swimming lessons at Burnham pool. It will be launched in conjunction with the re-opening of Burnham Pool as the Burnham-On-Sea Swim & Sports Academy in July.
As part of the deal, the Academy will also receive additional support and advice from the ASA and will work towards Aquamark accreditation – the ASA’s quality seal of approval for leisure providers.
The pool was managed by Sedgemoor District Council until late last year when spending constraints threatened closure, but Sara Cox-Conklin and her husband Mark (who are pictured on the right with Sports Academy Manager Martin Rogers) stepped in and successfully acquired the pool’s lease in April 2008.
Since that time, the new owners have instigated a modernisation programme to ensure the pool both caters for community needs and develops as a centre of sporting excellence through its new role as a swimming academy.
New owner and former World Triathlon Champion and UK Modern Pentathlon Champion Sara says she is excited about working closely with the ASA.
She told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Thursday: “We are looking forward to implementing the ASA’s highly structured programme, which is based on years of research, planning and implementation.”
“The National Plan offers exceptional value, has standardised swimming lessons and made seamless the implementation of a high quality learn to swim scheme for all leisure providers.”
“The reason we chose to work with the ASA was their worldwide recognition and professionalism and we welcome the support of their business team who we have found to be extremely efficient, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about our business”.
The ASA’s Business Team Manager, Mandy Mason, welcomed Burnham Pool onboard, saying: “The ASA is committed to providing our partners with the support they need to deliver quality learn to swim programmes,” she said. “We are pleased to welcome Burnham Pool and congratulate the new management on their re-launch as the Swim & Sports Academy. Our Business Team will be working closely with them to ensure they build on their current success whilst using the National Plan for Teaching Swimming and the ASA Kellogg’s Awards Scheme.”
The ASA 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.
