Statistics: Pool plant qualification data in the UK
Feb 27, 2022STATISTICAL BULLETIN
This statistical bulletin includes data on the number of pool plant-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 two of the three regional regulators. SQA data did not contain any records for pool plant-related qualifications.
Table 1: Pool plant-related qualifications 2017-2020 in the United Kingdom as reported by OfQual, SQA, CCEA and Qualification Wales
| Qualification | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
| STA | 2,630 | 2,745 | 2,450 | 780 | 8,605 |
| Active IQ | 760 | 915 | 800 | 250 | 2,725 |
| Highfield | 5 | - | - | - | 5 |
| IQL | - | - | - | - | - |
| HABC | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 3,395 | 3,660 | 3,250 | 1,030 | 11,335 |
Table 2: Pool plant-related qualifications awarded 2012-2020 in England as reported by OfQual
| Qualification | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
| STA Level 3 Award in Pool Plant Operations | 120 | 810 | 1,185 | 1,545 | 1,495 | 1,640 | 1,530 | 1,375 | 190 | 9,890 |
| STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Pool Water Treatment | 550 | 360 | 535 | 660 | 620 | 475 | 665 | 410 | 290 | 4,565 |
| Active IQ Level 3 Certificate In Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | 135 | 530 | 480 | 645 | 545 | 150 | 2,485 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | 100 | 190 | 235 | 225 | 245 | 100 | 1,095 |
| STA Level 2 Award In Swimming Pool Water Testing | 10 | 75 | 105 | 50 | 110 | 175 | 150 | 190 | 115 | 980 |
| STA Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment | 865 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 885 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award in the Principles and Practice of Swimming Pool Water Testing | 35 | 105 | - | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | 160 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Principles and Practice of Pool Water Testing | - | - | - | - | 40 | 30 | 35 | 10 | - | 115 |
| HABC Level 2 Award In Swimming Pool Water Testing | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| STA Level 2 Award for BISHTA Hot Tub Surveyor | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| IQL Level 3 Award in National Pool Plant Operator | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 1,580 | 1,370 | 1,825 | 2,520 | 2,985 | 3,035 | 3,250 | 2,775 | 845 | 20,185 |
Table 3: Pool plant-related qualifications awarded in Wales 2015-2021 as reported by Qualifications Wales
| Qualification | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
| STA Level 3 Award in Pool Plant Operations | 295 | 295 | 235 | 230 | 320 | 70 | 160 | 1,605 |
| STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Pool Water Treatment | 110 | 110 | 100 | 125 | 125 | 75 | 95 | 740 |
| STA Level 2 Award In Swimming Pool Water Testing | 15 | 40 | 5 | 45 | 30 | 40 | 15 | 190 |
| Active IQ Level 3 Certificate In Pool Plant Operations | - | 45 | 15 | 10 | - | - | - | 70 |
| STA Level 2 Award in Practical Pool Plant Operations | - | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 |
| Highfield Level 2 Award In Swimming Pool Water Testing | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award in Basic Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Swimming Pool Water Testing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award in the Principles and Practice of Swimming Pool Water Testing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Active IQ Level 3 Certificate in Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| STA Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| STA Level 2 Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 420 | 510 | 360 | 410 | 475 | 185 | 270 | 2,630 |
Table 4: Pool plant-related qualifications awarded in Northern Ireland 2015-2021 as reported by the CCEA
| Qualification | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Total |
| STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Pool Water Treatment | 14 | 5 | 24 | 15 | 11 | - | - | - | - | 69 |
| STA Level 2 Award In Swimming Pool Water Testing | - | - | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 |
| STA Level 2 Award in Practical Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Active IQ Level 2 Award In Principles and Practice of Pool Water Testing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Active IQ Level 3 Certificate In Pool Plant Operations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| STA Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Swimming Pool and Spa Water Treatment | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| STA Level 2 Award for BISHTA Hot Tub Surveyor | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| IQL Level 3 Award in National Pool Plant Operator | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 14 | 5 | 31 | 15 | 11 | - | - | - | - | 76 |
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. Pool plant qualification data in the UK. Water Incident Research Hub, 26th February.
