Single Pitch Award Assessment

The assessment takes place over two days and follows the Single Pitch Award syllabus. This is mainly a practical assessment with some theory sessions in the evening. Our aim is to create an environment of assessment in which candidates can show their best. Candidates are advised to prepare fully and refer to the " SPA Handbook" so that they can gain most benefit from the weekend. A formal review and individual results are given on the final afternoon.

Pre-requisites for assessment

Assessment pays a lot of attention to the log book and cannot be made without a suitably informative record of your past experience. Don't forget your log book! Please make sure that you comply with all of the following:

Log Book

  • Record of training course or evidence of exemption.
  • Logbook pages showing experience since training, including.
  • A minimum of 40 climbs outdoors, some of which are of Severe grade.
  • A minimum of 20 supervising sessions.
  • Personal profile page is completed.

First Aid

  • Check that your first aid certificate is current and acceptable to the MLTE
  • Bring your original certificate with you on the course.

Assessment Content

This two day assessment, including an evening session, will be based closely on the syllabus requirements.  Assessment will include practical, written and oral examination.

The programme may be revised at short notice to take account of weather and other considerations, in such a way as to satisfy the spirit and detail of the Single Pitch Award syllabus.
The two days are generally split into the following areas:

The environment

  • Current access and conservation issues
  • Understanding of how to minimise our impact on the crag environment
  • Knowledge of different rock types, and fauna and flora

Bouldering

  • Group Management
  • Introducing climbing through bouldering
  • Teaching/coaching a particular technique
  • Bouldering as training
  • Common injury and avoidance
  • Awareness of hazards

Local crag

  • Personal lead climbing at Severe grade
  • Choice of suitable route(s) for novice climbers
  • Set up bottom roping system
  • Set up top roping system
  • Assessment of anchor placements and rigging methods
  • Set up abseil and safeguard, as appropriate
  • Awareness of hazards, safety and group control
  • Different abseil devices
  • Solving stuck climber problem
  • Solving stuck abseiler problem
  • Tying on to rope, use of harness and helmets

Climbing wall environment

  • Group supervision
  • Hazards in a climbing wall
  • Warming up/stretching/warming down
  • Bouldering activities
  • Ropes climbing - top roping - belay technique, as appropriate
  • Coaching climbing technique

Equipment

Candidates are expected to provide all of their own equipment, with the exception of ropes.You should bring normal clothing and equipment suited to climbing on British crags.

Daily anticipated timetable

The day begins with breakfast and collection of packed lunches at 7:30am. After an 8:30am briefing we commence the day about 9:00am returning from a full day of activity for tea and cakes by 5pm. Some evenings there will be a further session, usually classroom based, at 5.30pm. Dinner is normally at about 7pm, and on some nights there will be a further talks at 8pm.

The Venues

The venues used in South Wales are normally either one of the Scout Association Centres which include; Dolygaer, Ty-Hir, or Penrhiwvarteg, or one of the Hampshire County Council Centres at Heol Senni, or Argoed Lwyd. These centres are all within or in the case of Penrhiwvarteg on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The venues used in North Wales are normally either one of the Scout Association Centres which include; The Old School at Penybontfawr, The Old School Lodge at Deiniolen, Coetmor Mill, Yr Hen Neuedd, Cornel, and Yr Hafod. These centres are all in the more rugged mountains of North Wales.

The crags of Wales provide ideal ground for this award.

The Accommodation

Accommodation varies between the centres but all the centres provide, multiple toilets and shower rooms, a large kitchen that conforms to food safety standards and a dining room. In addition some centres have a further lounge, ideal for lectures or socialising.

Breakfast and dinner are served each day in the centre, except for the expedition. Each night there is a main course and dessert (including vegetarian option - if pre booked). Each morning bread, fruit, cake and biscuits etc. will be laid out, for you to make up a packed lunch.

Useful Books

Recommended by instructors on our courses are the following:

The Handbook of Climbing
by Fyffe and Peters
Complete Guide to
Rope Techniques
by Nigel Shepherd
Also recommended reading
Rock Climbing for Instructors
by Alun Richardson
Mountain Skills
Training Handbook
by Pete Hill
Welsh Rock
by Jones
Classic Rock
by Ken Wilson
Mountain Weather
by D. Pedgley

Magazines

Reading magazines is also a good way to keep abreast of current issues in the climbing world. The following are particularly useful:

On the Edge
Good for rock climbing
High and Climber
General
Climbing(American)
Good for training articles/injuries
Summit
BMC Newsletter

Web Sites

MLTE
www.mlte.org
BMC
www.thebmc.co.uk