New school Maritime Academy finally opens

New school Maritime Academy in Strood finally opens to Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils

Transcript

00:0010 years in the making and lessons have finally begun at Medway's much-needed new secondary.

00:08The Maritime Academy set sail last week, welcoming Year 7s to 9s into its brand new classrooms.

00:15But now the work's finished, you can see the full scale, including acres of playing fields.

00:21Inside the school says they'll have access to A-star amenities like roomy classrooms

00:26and state-of-the-art equipment.

00:29But of course, some things never change.

00:32So we've got everything here that a student could want with their education, so we have

00:36our beautiful hall for theatre, for drama, so we'll be able to offer our school productions

00:41so we can get our families and our community involved with the plays and musical performances

00:47in our school.

00:48We've also got the lovely sports hall facilities that, again, we can open up to our community.

00:54But to get to today, the build hasn't been without its challenges.

00:58Delays to the project meant pupils were being taught at Twiddle Primary School for the last

01:03two years.

01:04But this summer, construction was complete.

01:08We were walking around and I was in that swan-like moment, grinning, and I thought, yes, it'll

01:13be fine as wires were descending down and bits and pieces weren't finished and what

01:16have you, and thinking, oh my goodness, is it going to be ready for the children?

01:20And again, the contractors and our central team, what have you, worked unbelievably hard,

01:25weekends, evenings, everything, to make sure that the school shipshape in Bristol fashion.

01:31The school is welcoming year groups in a staggered approach, and by 2027, they'll be top of the

01:36class, catering to Year 7s through to 13, with a capacity of more than 1,100 pupils.

01:43Medway Council will soon have to follow a quota to build 1,700 homes a year across its

01:49district. The council says this school is vital.

01:53We need that infrastructure in place. So actually, the Maritime Trust School that we're here

01:57at today, the Maritime Academy, is a great example of where we're using some of that

02:02Section 106 funding from previous developments, recognising where likely developments are

02:07going to be placed across Medway, but particularly on this side of the river.

02:12As the school starts its first ever academic year, the Maritime Academy hopes it's not

02:17just making the grade, but setting the course for Medway's next generation.

02:22Gabriel Morris, in Strew.