Swimming popularity leads to teacher shortage in Kirklees

KIRKLEES is asking swimming teachers to take the plunge and help with its Learn to Swim programme.

So many children have enrolled for swimming classes with Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) that there is now a shortage of teachers.

There are currently 3,187 youngsters taking swimming lessons at the nine pools across Kirklees. This is higher than the last two years.

In addition, there are a few hundred more children taking one-to-one lessons and over 500 adults learning to swim.

Holmfirth Pool has 554 children taking swimming lessons this month, which is a record for any pool in Kirklees.

With demand for lessons so high, the 80 swimming teachers are at full stretch and waiting lists are getting longer at some pools.

KAL’s Jane Donarski said: “We are thrilled that all our promotion and outreach work is attracting more and more children into our lessons, but we are getting desperate for more teachers.

“Our teachers work a variety of hours per week, so the hours can suit you. We can also provide training to upgrade teachers’ skills, and to be able to teach specialist classes, such as adult and child, synchronised swimming, disability swimming, water polo and even diving.”

KAL is looking for swimming teachers who are ASA level 2 or STA.

Anyone interested is asked to ring Jane on 01484 234127 or email kalswimmingdevelopment@kirklees.gov.uk