The ASA Annual Report and Accounts 2010-2011 Getting more people swimming more often and having more fun Contents Chairman’s Report 3 Chief Executive’s Report 4 Learn to Swim 5 Health and Participation 13 Athlete Development 20 Facilities 32 Workforce Development 36 Governance, Structures and Partnerships 42 Key Performance Indicators 48 Report and Financial Statements 50 OVER OVER WORK CLOSELY IN BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASA TO USE THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR TEACHING SWIMMINGswims have been taken 200200 as a result of the British ORGANISATIONS 2000LEARN TO SWIM PROVIDERS THOUSANDPOWERED BY BRITISHGas GASFree Family Swim promotion 2 | The ASA Annual Report and Accounts 2010 - 2011 Chairman | The first year of chairing the ASA Board has been very busy with some significant challenges and much success that you will read in this report. John Crowther Chairman The ASA Board takes its stewardship of English swimming seriously In the last year, much energy and time has been spent in pushing I would like to thank all the people in swimming and the ASA who and is engaged with the important issues. It has approved a strategy forward the boundaries of best practice in swimming development by work tirelessly and in particular to my colleagues on the Board who that is being implemented against a backdrop of strained national seeking input from the professionals in related areas and disciplines. provide the knowledge, experience and time selflessly to this end. finances. We have set ourselves the task of providing leadership to I am satisfied that the ASA is doing what it reasonably can within the all those who are involved with swimming from members, clubs, to resources it has and its efforts will be complemented by the launch of I am sure that the whole of swimming was delighted by the award of local authorities, pool operators and those promoting health through The Big Splash which will provide a very public campaign of bringing an OBE to David Sparkes in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and would physical activity. the benefits and enjoyment of swimming ‘into people’s front rooms’. wish to join me in congratulating him. In David’s acknowledgement, he said that he could not have achieved it without the unstinting With lower numbers participating in swimming as measured through Coupled with this campaign is a stronger focus of attracting new support of everyone who contributes to swimming in this country. the Active People Survey, the ASA has reorganised its workforce income into our sport so as to make the ASA less reliant on public to provide the resources and responsibility to the regions through funding over time. Finally, while there are tough financial times ahead, we have a lot to commissioning arrangements to grow the sport. This has re-energised look forward to in the next year leading up to the London Olympic the delivery network and underlined the importance of partnerships. Underpinning these efforts is a determination by the Board to ensure Games and I wish all of you involved in swimming at every level and As the new arrangements get bedded down, the Board is determined that the sport is administered within a framework of excellent discipline the very best of luck. to do whatever it can to nurture confidence and trust between the governance and we attract top quality people both as volunteers and regions and the centre. staff by being at the forefront of best practice. The ASA Annual Report and Accounts 2010 - 2011 | 3 | Chief Executive As we close another successful year for our sport and reflect on some triumphs for our athletes in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, it seems appropriate to consider the challenges and opportunities during the next 12 months whilst looking forward to the Olympics in London just beyond then. David Sparkes OBE Chief Executive The England Talent Programme continues to find and nurture talent do feel they have turned the corner as attendances have increased and Similarly, we need to build the skills in our workforce - both our across all our sports and the Beacon programme is starting to develop the financial performance of pools has improved despite the tough employees and those who volunteer through training as teachers into an extrusion press for talent for the future. Many leading figures economic climate. This may suggest less people are swimming more and coaches. We recognise that the cost of training is high and the within sport have complimented us on the success of this programme, often which could be a recognition that the pools are meeting the demands we put on our work force are increasing. However, whilst which brings talented athletes to talented coaches who have the time expectations of their regular customers, but if we are to achieve our the ASA does what it can to reduce training costs, particularly for and resources to develop them to their full potential. The challenge target of growing the number of people swimming, we now need to volunteers, we do feel that our clubs need to build a training cost into for us now is both to move these programmes on to be self-sustaining focus on acquiring new participants through engagement with the their annual budget. The beneficiaries of this improved training for our in order that new programmes can be established, and to ensure that emerging physical activity agenda driven through health initiatives. teachers and coaches are, after all, the athletes. we have a robust monitoring and evaluation process that ensures all programmes reach their full potential. The difficult financial situation at the moment and in particular within To conclude, we reflect with pride on our achievements but recognise local authorities will have its impact on swimming, with pools under that massive challenges remain in the year ahead as we get closer to One particular challenging aspect of the work of the ASA has been to threat of closure, refurbishment and rebuilding projects delayed and the arrival of the world’s best swimmers for the Olympics in 2012. increase or ‘grow’ the number of people swimming. Despite a growth inevitable increases in fees for pool hire. It is important, therefore, in male participation, this has been dwarfed by a fall in the number that the ASA works with its clubs at an early stage to support them in of women and consequently, the Active People Survey shows less finding solutions to these challenges, and our team stand ready people swimming overall. However, our partners, the pool operators, to help. 4 | The ASA Annual Report and Accounts 2010 - 2011 Learn to Swim | OVER Learn to Swim Vision: to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn to swim 10 THOUSAND PUPILS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE BRITISH GAS POOLS 4 SCHOOLS PROGRAMME The ASA Annual Report and Accounts 2010 - 2011 | 5 | Learn to Swim 95% OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS DELIVER SWIMMING AS PART OF THE PE CURRICULUM 6 | The ASA Annual Report and Accounts 2010 - 2011 Learn to Swim | THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS SPORT SURVEY FOR 2010 SHOWED AN INCREASE IN LINKS TO AQUATIC CLUBS TO 53% School Swimming Improvement School Swimming Interventions Outcomes Programme Swimming Improvement Grant During 2010-11, the School Swimming Improvement Programme For many young children, school is the first time they will be involved All School Sports Partnerships receive a flat rate grant based on the has continued to contribute to the Key Performance Indicator of in organised sport and often their first visit to a swimming pool will be number of primary age year six pupils within their partnerships. This 85 per cent of primary age pupils being able to achieve Key Stage through school swimming lessons. funding is used to implement the partnership’s School Swimming 2 attainment levels. Data collected as part of the audit process for Improvement Plan. We have continued to work with these School Sport Partnerships shows an attainment level of 83 per cent of During the 2010/11 period, two major changes took place with partnerships during times of uncertainty to ensure that this funding is pupils achieving Key Stage 2. regards to the School Swimming Improvement Programme. The used to develop school swimming. English Programmes restructuring saw the disbandment of the school The number of primary and secondary schools delivering swimming as swimming advisors team with some officers taking up regional and part of the PE Curriculum has remained 95 per cent and 75 per cent national roles and the announcement of the final year of funding for British Gas Pools 4 Schools respectively. The programme continues to impact on a considerable school swimming improvement. The other significant change was the The ASA continues to work in partnership with number of primary school pupils and deliverers of school swimming reduction in funding to the School Sports Partnerships infrastructure Total Swimming and British Gas in funding directly. With the cancellation of the National School Sports Survey, we that was key to the delivery of this programme. the installation of portable pools in areas of will be establishing our own School Swimming Survey to obtain key aquatic deprivation. Eight projects have been performance data relating to school swimming. The principles of the School Swimming Improvement Programme still delivered during 2010/11 and currently the Key Stage 2 attainment remain as the consistent guide to schools: achievements are around 75 per cent. With British Gas supporting School Club Links • Ensuring that teaching is of a high quality the Pools 4 Schools programme, it has enabled a more enhanced The School Club Links Programme is delivered through ASA regions. • Reducing the pupil to teacher ratios community access programme. Over 10,000 pupils have participated Regions have been encouraged to target specific schools and clubs to • Increasing the frequency of lessons in the programme by the end of the summer term (2010).