Our Awarding Bodies
The Coastal Academy is an evolution of the Southampton branch of the London School of Sports Massage.
We are accredited by The Sports Therapy Training Qualification.
The Evolution of STTQ Accreditation
A Commitment to High Standards Since 1989
In 1989, Mel Cash founded the London School of Sports Massage (LSSM). From the outset, he placed great importance on external accreditation and the school became a BTEC Centre to ensure high educational standards. At that time BTEC operated a Customised Qualification Framework (CQF) which allowed small, specialist qualifications like ours to be externally accredited through a government-approved body.
From LSSM to ISRM: Expanding High-Quality Training
In 2007 the Institute of Sport and Remedial Massage (ISRM), was set up to replace LSSM as the BTEC Centre. As a separate body it enabled the qualification to be delivered through a number of other independent training centres across the UK.
When Big Bureaucracy Outgrew Small Specialist Training
BTEC grew and became part of Pearson, the world’s largest educational organisation delivering mainstream academic qualifications. They continued to accredit the ISRM qualification even after the CQF was discontinued and the qualification no longer fitted into their organisational structure,
Why Specialist Training Needs Specialist Accreditation
Although soft tissue therapies require considerable theoretical knowledge and understanding, these underpin the practical skills which are of primary importance. The clinical objectives of the qualification also make it unique in non-medical higher education. are the with practical skills the clinical requirements of the practical skills . It requires:
Highly developed practical and clinical skills
Precision, sensitivity, and adaptability
The ability to treat clients with unique and complex healthcare needs
Large, academically focused educational bodies like BTEC are not designed to assess this type of clinical professional competence.
A Purpose-Built Accreditation Framework for Soft Tissue Therapies
As the pioneer of Sport and Remedial Massage and Soft Tissue Therapy education, the STTQ team have over three decades of unmatched expertise in what this profession truly requires.
Building on:
Their deep industry knowledge
The strong accreditation policies developed during the Ofqual application
Their long experience running high-quality training across multiple centres
They have now created a dedicated accreditation framework tailored specifically to the needs of soft tissue therapies.
Accreditation with Integrity and Insight
STTQ’s new accreditation system offers:
Profession-specific oversight
Rigorous evaluation of practical clinical skills
A deep understanding of the realities of therapeutic practice
Standards designed by those who pioneered the field
The ISRM qualification has evolved to best meet the needs of the client and it has become the benchmark for quality training in the UK. It has been developed by working therapists who really understand what it takes to provide good effective treatment and build a successful practice. This level of qualification enables therapists to safely and effectively treat clients from all walks of life, suffering a variety of musculoskeletal as well as medical conditions. This offers the therapist the greatest potential for success in a career that can be immensely satisfying and enjoyable.
The qualification operates through a small number of validated schools and ISRM work very closely with them to ensure that high standards are achieved and improved on at all our centres.
The LSSM started the first ever Sports Massage Course in September 1989. Set up and taught by Mel Cash. Which they have successfully delivered to meet the needs of mature (non-school leaver) students looking for a new career. They run part-time courses at weekends. Classes are devoted mostly to teaching hands-on practical skills which can only be learned properly in a classroom along with other students and experienced tutors, with underpinning theory taught online.
Their goal is to train people to be excellent hands-on therapists with the greatest career potential and we are proud of our achievements in doing this.