FAQs

My organisation has completed the former ASA Aquamark Scheme – how do I transfer across to the new programme?

Your organisation's Aquamark accreditation is valid for three years from initial assessment. The ASA will send you a copy of the new swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation criteria and when you are due to be re-assessed, this will be using the new system. You can transfer over to the new system sooner if you wish and all Aquamark accredited centres will be contacted directly in relation to this.  Many of the elements of the two schemes remain the same, but the content has been streamlined. Please familiarise yourself with the content of the new system at least six months before you are due to be re-assessed and update your improvement plan accordingly.

We have self assessed on the former Aquamark scheme – how do I transfer across to the new programme?

The process is very much the same, so there should not be too many problems in understanding the new model. The criteria for gaining accreditation have been streamlined, so instead of 150 elements there are now fewer than 60. We have also simplified the language and tried to make it more user-friendly. Please self assess on the new programme and update your improvement plan accordingly - many of the elements remain the same so you will still find your Aquamark Improvement Plan a useful document - but it is important for you to update your action plan to ensure you are in line with current thinking.

I am part of a teaching club – can the club apply for the swim21 Learn to Swim/School Swimming Accreditation?

The ASA swim21 Accreditation club development model is designed specifically for the voluntary sector and is the blue print of good practice recommended for clubs. It is therefore vital that a club undertakes this model to ensure they have the right infrastructure in place.
 
The learn to swim elements are mainly aligned between the Club Teaching model and the swim21 Learn to Swim model but the assessment process is different, to reflect the voluntary staffing of the majority of our teaching clubs.

The ASA Accreditation is not a competition, it is a model specifically designed as a self improvement tool for different organisations with the aim of raising the standard of swimming provision and the quality of our swimming programmes and participants. 

How do I apply for both swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation and School Swimming Accreditation?

The process, elements and scoring remain the same for both learn to swim and school swimming but you will be required to show different evidence for some of the sections. Please self assess both your learn to swim and school swimming programmes and ensure you have evidence to cover both sections. Depending on how your organisation operates, you may wish to have two different working groups. When you apply for accreditation, please highlight that you would like to be assessed for both programmes. You will be assigned one Assessor and charged one fee.

I run a swim school – should I apply for accreditation?

This programme is designed for organisations delivering learn to swim programmes and school swimming programmes and has been written in consultation with a number of swim schools. It is a blue print of good practice standards for any learn to swim operator and should be used to help you plan for the future and develop your swim school. Once you feel you have met the standard, swim schools can apply for either swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation or swim21 School Swimming Accreditation, or both. The ASA has swim21 Assessors from swim schools and has also trained all their swim21 Assessors on the needs of a swim school to help them understand the differences. 

What assessment fees are payable?

The ASA‘s swim21 Learn to Swim/School Swimming Accreditation programme is a development programme. The ASA believe it is important to offer resources and guidance to help support your programme. The fees for completing the assessment are used to cover the expenses of an external Assessor visiting your organisation venue(s) and writing a report of recommendations for the improvement of your programme.

The fee is a one-off payment which must be paid in advance and your accreditation will be valid for 4 years, this cost also covers the annual revalidation fee.

 • Single site assessment £500 + VAT
 • Dual site assessment (two centres) £900 + VAT
 • Multi site assessment (three or more centres) £1,300+ VAT

I am apprehensive about letting an ASA Accreditation Assessor visit my programme.  How will they work with me?

The ASA Accreditation Assessors have been specifically selected and trained to fulfil this role. They will visit your programme, be supportive and give you positive encouragement whilst at the same time identifying what you could do to improve the swimming provision at your centre. It is hoped you will meet the assessment criteria and achieve accreditation but at the same time we also hope you learn from the feedback and make positive improvements that support the swimmers and their development. If on the day you fail to meet some of the programme criteria to achieve swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation, your Assessor will discuss this with you and help develop an action plan of what needs completing prior to the final report being written.

What are the main differences between the ASA swim21 Club Accreditation, swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation and swim21 School Swimming Accreditation?

The ASA swim21 Club Accreditation is specifically designed for clubs and includes operational and organisational considerations for clubs and the voluntary sector. The standards are aligned as closely as possible in their criteria.
 
The process for swim21 clubs remains unchanged. As they are voluntary sector organisations, the assessment is largely based on self assessment, then an evidence based file submission, therefore easing the financial cost and time commitment to complete the accreditation. This is not to say we expect less from our Teaching Clubs but is an acknowledgement that these are voluntary sector organisations.

swim21 Club Accreditation reflects Sport England’s Clubmark model where the emphasis is primarily focused on ensuring clubs provide a safe, effective and child friendly environment.

swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation and swim21 School Swimming Accreditation, whilst aligned to swim21, follow the same process as Quest and Aquamark.  There is a self assessment and action planning stage but an Assessor visits the site to complete the process.  The ASA has conducted extensive consultations with learn to swim providers and school swimming providers whilst designing the content and process notes.  Feedback from this indicated that the assessment day was a favourite part of the process.

ASA Accreditation is not a competition. It is a model specifically designed as a self improvement tool for different organisations with the aim of raising the standard of swimming provision and raising the quality of our swimming programmes and participants. 

I would like to work with my club to gain swim21 Accreditation for all of our programmes - how can we help each other?

Clubs and organisations are encouraged to work together on their self assessment and improvement plans to share good practice and support each other in areas like workforce development and swimmer pathways.  This does not mean you have to do everything together, but does encourage you to recognise your joint aims and objectives and how you can support each other.

The new swim21 model has been designed to help you do this as the elements are more closely aligned, as are the improvement plan templates.

If your club is not committed towards achieving swim21 this year, that does not stop you achieving swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation. Your organisation will be awarded the appropriate logo and recognition for the relevant sections of the swimmer pathway/ organisation that are accredited.

Who are the ASA swim21 Accreditation Assessors?

The ASA swim21 Assessors are people with a proven history of working in learn to swim environments. We have recruited them specifically with the role of bringing their knowledge and experience to you in a supportive and positive way to enable you to learn from their experience and also offer guidance and suggestions on how you can implement your improvement plan.

We have recruited people with specific knowledge of school swimming, others with a good knowledge of running swim schools and some with a history of working within bigger leisure providers. We hope you find their input useful when they visit you.

If you have any concerns or queries about who your Assessor will be, please contact the ASA Awarding Body after you have submitted for accreditation.

If you have any specific queries relating to swim21 Learn to Swim Accreditation please contact your County Swimming Coordinator.  Alternatively, or for queries related to swim21 School Swimming Accreditation e-mail accreditation@swimming.org.