The British Standards Institute (BSi) has published its new publicly accessible standard for the operation and management of swimming schools.

PAS 81: 2008 includes the minimum requirements all swimming school operators will be expected to meet in a bid to increase safety.

The document replaces PAS 81: 2005, which was reviewed earlier this year as part of the BSi's quality assessment programme. A total of ninety organisations across the leisure industry were involved in a consultation on the 2005 document, with a number of suggestions implemented in the new standard.

Steve Franks of the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA), the original author of the standard, said: "Most of the suggested amendments referred to legislation and changes to qualifications that have occurred since the original document was published.

"This feedback has helped to ensure that the 2008 document is better focused and more pertinent to operational standards, making it a more effective guidance tool for the swm school sector."