01326 572685

An exciting opportunity for Year 10 students

3rd February 2018

The Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) and its Marine Academy have successfully secured funding for a 3-year project to collaborate with international partners and schools to facilitate access to marine activities for Year 10 pupils. By working with schools locally, partners aim to make more young people aware of the marine environment as a resource to protect and enjoy and as an exciting career path. The project will include a combination of local and European sessions.

The local sessions:
The local activities will be a mix of classroom-based information sessions delivered by Marine Ambassadors, site visits and outdoor activities. Several sessions (up to eight) will be offered from February – March onwards to prepare the pupils for the international trip in June.

For 2018, it is eight sessions are planned, one a week, starting from the beginning of March and running until the end of May. The proposed programme of activities include:

Marine conservation with Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Industry visits with Mylor Yacht Harbour and A&P
Tour of the National Maritime Museum Falmouth
Career sessions with CMN's Apprentice
Career talks with Global Boarders, MOR Group, Cornish Diving Centre and Cornwall Seafood Training
Lifesaving at sea with the RNLI
Watersports and team building at Stithians Lake

The European Sea Classes (excursions abroad):
The "European Sea Classes" will take place in 2018 in County Clare (Ireland), in 2019 in Brittany (France) and in 2020 in Alto Minho (Portugal). They will consist of a 5-day programme of marine-related activities and will bring together pupils from France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the UK. CMN has secured funding towards the travel, accommodation, catering and activity-related expenses for six pupils and two accompanying staff for each year.

The first European Sea Class will take place in Ennis, County Clare in 2018 from the 28th of May until the 1st of June. Clare County Council is working with two local schools to set up the programme for the five days, organise accommodation and catering arrangements and ensure the necessary health and safety and supervision measures are put in place.

In partnership with the School, Aurelie Nollet, Senior Project Executive at CMN, will make all the necessary bookings and travel arrangements for the pupils.

Transport:
The anticipated journey will be:

Flight from Newquay to Dublin
Bus from Dublin to Ennis
Local travels between the hostel and the activities are being organised by the Irish partner

Accommodation:
It is anticipated that all pupils and accompanying staff will stay at the Rowan Tree Hostel. It is a modern and secure hostel located in the centre of Ennis.

Activities in Clare County:
A comprehensive programme of activities is being developed and the following activities have been discussed to date:

Watersports: canoeing, kayaking and team building
Ferry tours to discover the seaweed industry and Irish islands
Outdoor activities with the University of Limerick activity centre
Whales and dolphins watching
Indoor rock climbing

Students who are interested in taking part need to see Mrs Hocking or Mr Jenkins as soon as possible.

If the project is successful, then the current Year 9 and Year 8 will have a similar opportunity when they reach Year 10.