Gosport marine and maritime careers centre at Bay House School gets seal of approval from council
PLANS for a school redevelopment that will encourage students into marine and maritime careers has been given the green light for construction.
As previously reported in The News, Bay House School in Gosport has submitted plans to the borough council to knock down five classrooms and replace them with a state-of-the-art marine and maritime careers centre, along with a new teaching space.
The five classrooms in question are ‘temporary’ sites – though have been used for more than 50 years.
As part of the Gosport and Fareham Trust (GFM), the school will be running a marine careers course which has been backed by Olympic sailing gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie and British sailor Alex Thomson.
Gosport Borough Council’s regulatory board, which votes on all planning applications in the town, unanimously voted in favour of the scheme.
Liberal Democrat councillor for Elson, Cllr Richard Earle, said: ‘I just want to say that this new development is going to be a great improvement for the town.
‘I recall that these old buildings are the same cabins that I was taught in back in 1973 – so I think they’ve had their day.
‘I believe this replacement is going to be a major benefit to Gosport.’
The centre will be providing level three diplomas – the equivalent to three A-levels.
Outside the classrooms, the diplomas will also take advantage of the facilities at the Andrew Simpson Centre in Portsmouth, giving students practical teaching as well.
Alex Thomson, who attended Bay House School, is the patron of the GFM Marine and Maritime curriculum. He said: ‘I welcome the news that building will commence on the new Marine and Maritime Careers Centre.
‘The facility will offer young people so many of the core skills they need to pursue careers at sea or within the marine and maritime industry.
‘I’d like to congratulate the GFM as well as the Andrew Simpson Foundation who have worked tirelessly to get this programme off the ground during such a challenging time. I wish them all the very best of luck with what’s to come.’
With construction given the go-ahead, it is hoped that the centre will be welcoming its first cohort of students in September.
Prospective students can find out more information and register for the course via the GFM website.