Amateur Swimming Association : AASE: About

Skills Active in partnership with a number of governing bodies of sport, industry experts and other partnership organisation, has developed the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) framework. Skills Active is the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning and has been established by employers in Sport and Recreation, Health and Fitness. The AASE programme is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC are responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

What is AASE?

AASE is a Government funded initiative that has been 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 with their education. Notionally taking two years to complete, the AASE framework will provide for the first time a structured national training and development route, across all sports, for talented young athletes, many of who may go to represent their country on the world stage.

The apprenticeship is the first to offer elite and potentially elite athletes to get a proper recognition of the skills, knowledge and understanding they are developing/gaining in their quest for excellence.

AASE Framework

The AASE programme is a two-year programme and consists of three components:

1. National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 (sports specific): The qualification recognises excellence in a specific sport. The NVQ is made up of 8 sport specific units: To gain the full NVQ all eight mandatory units must be achieved. The NVQ Level 3 is delivered by the ASA and awarded by Edexcel. The NVQ will be delivered at training, competitions, AASE Camps and Online.

· Plan, develop and apply your technical skills

· Plan and develop your physical conditioning

· Plan, develop and apply your tactical skills

· Develop the attitudes and mental skills necessary for excellent performance

· Plan and manage your own lifestyle

· Plan and manage your career

· Communicate and work effectively with others

· Maintain the health and safety of yourself and others

2. Technical Certificate: Is made up of a minimum of 780 guided learning hours in academic, professional qualifications such as GCSE’s, AS/A-Levels, BTEC Awards, Coaching Qualifications etc. Apprentices will undertake their technical certificate at their chosen school, college or with an employer. These are just the normal qualifications athletes would take after they have finished school.

3. Key Skills: Application of Number Level 2 and Communication Level 2. Athletes will do these at school or college and would be built into their normal academic timetable. Athletes who have achieved Grade C or above in GCSE English and Maths will be exempt from this component.

The overall apprenticeship will be awarded by Skills Active after all 3 components have been completed.

Employers and Universities such as Loughborough, Bath, Manchester Metropolitan and Leeds Metropolitan have signed up to recognise the AASE programme when considering individuals for places on courses. Many other universities will have an AASE recognition scheme within the next two years.