Successful Ofsted inspection for AASE programme

Institute of Swimming - 07/05/2008

The report of the inspection, carried out in March 2008, has now been formally released and highlights the key strengths of the programme: very good skills development in a variety of aquatic sports; high retention rates; good quality resources to promote learning; very good coaching to develop excellence in sports performance and good use of residential camps and workshops to develop learner's social, academic and aquatic skills.

The report also details how the programme has improved and developed since its introduction just under two years ago to ensure that the 210 current learners receive the necessary skills and support to become champions while continuing with their education.

AASE is a Government funded initiative designed to meet the needs of young people, aged 16-18, who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal, whilst continuing their education.  As part of the programme, athletes learn about such key subjects as time management, career planning, nutrition, training, and communications. This valuable experience will go towards preparing them for international competition.

The IoS contracts with Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council for the delivery of the AASE programme, for which the framework has been developed in partnership with SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning.

ASA's Head of Workforce Development Spencer Moore is delighted at the achievement:

"It is unusual for a training provider to be inspected by Ofsted so early in a programme's development - AASE is a two-year apprenticeship plan which has been in operation since 2006, so we don't have any athletes who have completed the full schedule of learning yet.  The successful report is a testament to the quality of our provision and the hard work and dedication of everyone involved."

Steve Mitchell, AASE Programme Manager at Skills Active, was closely involved with the inspection process in helping the government representatives understand the complexities of the AASE framework.

"SkillsActive's role is to set the framework for the AASE programme and broker the funding - we then hand over to the IoS to recruit the athletes and manage the whole process.  The outcome of the report is very encouraging - without having a full cohort of apprentices finish their programme the grade achieved is a credit to the expertise, enthusiasm and knowledge of the whole team."

He added: "The report has also provided some excellent feedback which can be used to develop the programme even further."