A COUNCIL is hoping to tackle a shortage of swimming teachers with a new free academy - and there are 35 jobs up for grabs.

The Institute of Swimming has launched the Swimming Teachers’ Academy with Wiltshire Council in a bid to increase its swimming teacher workforce. 

It said the shortage has caused a growing list of children waiting for places for swimming lessons. 

It said it is part of a nationwide crisis, with the national governing body, Swim England, warning that half a million children in England are currently missing out on learning to swim due to staff shortages, which have been exacerbated through Covid and Brexit.

Rebecca Cox, managing director of the Institute of Swimming and business engagement director for Swim England, said: “Teaching swimming is a very rewarding career, with flexible hours, that might suit someone who wants to supplement their existing income or to work around their caring or studying responsibilities.

"We are looking to attract new people into the sector who may not have considered teaching swimming as a career opportunity.”

The Institute of Swimming is working with more than 80 leisure operators and swim schools across England, including Wiltshire Council, to provide free training to combat the crisis.

Wiltshire Council is looking to hire up to 35 new teachers across its 16 pools. 

The council said it currently has a significant number of children on its swimming lesson waiting lists, which at some points has been in excess of 2,000. 

It said that due to staff shortages, it cannot expand its learn to swim programme or its national curriculum school swimming programme, and also struggles to cover existing staff holidays and sickness. 

It said an additional 35 teachers would enable quicker movement from the waiting lists into swimming lesson programmes and would also help reduce the number of cancelled classes due to staff absence.

The academy will offer people the chance to retrain for free (with only a one-off £85 administration fee) and embark on a career as a swimming teacher - something which historically costs £1,000. 

There are no educational requirements for applying, nor do you have to be an ‘elite’ swimmer.

Once fully qualified, swimming teachers can expect to earn between £15.59 – £16.79 per hour.

Anyone interested should complete an online form by June 28. Click here to find out more or fill in the application form.