Statistics: Lifeguard qualification data in the UK
Feb 27, 2022STATISTICAL BULLETIN
This statistical bulletin includes data on the number of lifeguard-related qualifications awarded in England, Wales, and Scotland. Significant inconsistencies exist between awarding organisations' annual and impact reporting from the data produced by Ofqual, SQA and Qualification Wales.
Unfortunately, neither awarding organisation nor data from the three regional regulators can be considered to be comprehensive. Steps should be taken to improve the accuracy of aquatic workforce datasets to improve aquatic safety and drowning prevention impact measurement.
Below is the data published by the three regional regulators.
Table 1: Lifeguard qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom 2017-2020 as reported by OfQual, SQA, and Qualification Wales
| Qualification | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
| IQL | 29,375 | 29,144 | 29,116 | 14,425 | 102,060 |
| STA | 2,453 | 1,055 | 950 | 650 | 5,108 |
| Highfield | 890 | 1,080 | 1,345 | 695 | 3,110 |
| Active IQ | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 32,718 | 31,279 | 31,411 | 15,770 | 111,178 |
Table 2: Lifeguard qualifications awarded in England 2012-2020 as reported by OfQual
| Qualifications | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
| IQL Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding, Intervention, Supervision and Rescue | 38,155 | 34,985 | 25,925 | 22,370 | 28,990 | 26,830 | 26,560 | 26,570 | 12,915 | 243,300 |
| STA Level 2 Award for Pool Lifeguard | 555 | 965 | 1,175 | 1,025 | 980 | 950 | 745 | 740 | 650 | 7,785 |
| HABC Level 2 Award In Pool Lifeguarding | 30 | 650 | 1,635 | 1,405 | 1,210 | 840 | 60 | - | - | 5,830 |
| Highfield Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1,020 | 1,345 | 695 | 3,060 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Pool Lifeguarding | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 38,740 | 36,600 | 28,735 | 24,800 | 31,180 | 28,620 | 28,385 | 28,655 | 14,260 | 259,975 |
Table 3: Lifeguard qualifications awarded in Wales 2015-2021 as reported by Qualifications Wales
| Qualification | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
| IQL Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding, Intervention, Supervision and Rescue | 1,170 | 1,540 | 1,565 | 1,485 | 1,485 | 740 | 1,500 | 9,485 |
| STA Level 2 Award for Pool Lifeguard | 325 | 300 | 285 | 310 | 210 | - | - | 1,430 |
| Highfield Level 2 Award In Pool Lifeguarding | 30 | 30 | 50 | - | - | - | - | 110 |
| Highfield Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding | - | - | - | 50 | 10 | - | - | 60 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Pool Lifeguarding | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| IQL Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Pool Supervision and Rescue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| IQL Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding, Intervention, Supervision and Rescue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| IQL Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding, Supervision and Rescue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 1,525 | 1,870 | 1,900 | 1,845 | 1,705 | 740 | 1,500 | 11,085 |
Table 4: Lifeguard qualifications awarded in Scotland 2017-2021 as reported by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
| Qualification | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
| STA Professional Award for Pool Lifeguard at SCQF Level 7 | 369 | 301 | 309 | - | 71 | 1,050 |
| STA Award in Pool Lifeguarding at SCQF Level 6 | - | - | - | 127 | 41 | 168 |
| Total | 369 | 301 | 309 | 127 | 112 | 1,218 |
Table 5: Lifeguard qualifications awarded in Northern Ireland 2012-2020 as reported by the CCEA
| Qualification | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
| IQL Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding, Intervention, Supervision and Rescue | 1,142 | 1,695 | 1,005 | 761 | 1,087 | 980 | 1,099 | 1,061 | 770 | 9,600 |
| HABC Level 2 Award In Pool Lifeguarding | - | - | 30 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | 43 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Pool Lifeguarding | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| STA Level 2 Award for Pool Lifeguard | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | 1,695 | 1,035 | 774 | 1,087 | 980 | 1,099 | 1,061 | 770 | - |
References
CCEA. (2022). Technical and professional qualification bulletins Q3 2021 full dataset. Available at: https://ccea.org.uk/regulation/reports-statistics/technical-and-professional-qualification-bulletins/browse-all accessed 26th February 2022.
SQA. (2022). Quarterly and Annual Statistics Reports. Available at: https://accreditation.sqa.org.uk/accreditation/Research_and_Statistics/Quarterly_and_Annual_Statistics_Reports accessed 26th February 2022.
OfQual. (2022). Statistics. Data on vocational and other qualifications. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-vocational-qualifications accessed 26th February 2022.
Qualifications Wales. (2022). Vocational and Other Qualifications Quarterly: Quarter 4 (October - December) 2021 for Wales. Available at: https://qualificationswales.org/english/publications/vocational-and-other-qualifications-quarterly-quarter-4-october---december-2021-for-wales/ accessed 26th February 2022.
Citation. Jacklin, D. 2022. Lifeguard qualification data in the UK. Water Incident Research Hub, 26th February.
