Marine orientation for Studio School

Part of a network of similar schools, the Island Studio School will be the first of its kind to open on the Island. Its purpose will be to provide a different model of learning by connecting education with business. It will work closely with local businesses to shape its curriculum and focus on marine manufacturing and offshore energy to address the increasing skills gap needing to be bridged to help the maritime industry grow.

The Studio School’s project director, Helen Mason, told Maritime Journal: “ In terms of the island employers it’s still very early days. At our event, we will start to try to tie down our relationships with local businesses. At the better developed Southampton Studio School, we work with Associated British Ports (ABP), Red Funnel, Maritime and Coast Guard Agency (MCA) and Williams Shipping and we’d be looking for similar marine organisations to support the Island school.”

She added: “One of the things about Studio Schools is that they are doing a traditional school curriculum including GCSEs and A Levels but they do it through the medium of real work on employer-led projects. Employers set students a task with a real brief and project outcome. We’re hoping that most of the work will be done through real work projects at the employers’ sites. Employers are telling us there are jobs available in the marine industry so for three hours a fortnight, students will take part in water based activities including sailing, power boating, swimming and keel boating to help develop a maritime orientation.

The plans are subject to approval by the Department for Education, with the school set to open in September 2014.

A consultation event will take place 30 November 2012 for local stakeholders and employers. For more information visit http://www.southamptonstudioschool.co.uk/