Swim school's the top

KELSEY FLETCHER

TOP JOB: From left: Teak McCully, Freida Joiner, swim coach Jen Campbell, Bianca Anderson and Carter Lovell at West Wave Aquatic Centre swim school.

Relevant offers

A swim school at the council's West Wave Aquatic Centre has been named No 1 across the nation.

It won the 2010 New Zealand Swim Coaches and Teachers Association Swim School of the Year Award in recognition of its continuing commitment to excellence this month.

Sarah Clarke thinks the honour is well deserved.

"The school at West Wave has a great programme and the commitment the team puts forward to it is amazing."

The award recognises management, staffing structures, customer service processes, professional development of staff and participation in the community.

Oratia mum Andrea Lovell takes her three-year-old Carter to the school and is among satisfied customers.

"We go sailing sometimes and if my children fall off the boat I know they've been taught what to do," she says.

The school provides classes for a wide range of ages and abilities from babies to adults with disabilities.

West Wave manager Mark Blake says it funds itself by putting profit back into new programmes for the community.

"It's clearly a profitable venture and I think the systems in place are great. It's all about having a qualified teacher and that's what we work on," he says.

Waitakere deputy mayor Penny Hulse says the school provides an important service to families, promoting water safety through swimming lessons to everyone.

"The award is well deserved and reflects West Wave's determined commitment to provide a consistent top quality, seven day-a-week service," she says.

- © Fairfax NZ News