The school was built to meet the increasing need for secondary school places in the region. The new space, which is now home to students in Years 7, 8 and 9, will eventually house 1,100 young people, providing a high-tech and supportive learning environment.
The opening event welcomed more than 60 attendees who have been part of the school’s journey and provided support throughout the process. Attendees included Councillor Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, Councillor Tracy Coombs, Portfolio Holder for Education at Medway Council, the contractors and architects involved in the build, as well as key members of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust.
Guests were greeted at the school before being regaled with speeches from Stuart Gardner, the Trust’s CEO, Gerard Newman, Chair of the Board, Matt Evans, Maritime Academy Principal, and students. The blue ribbon was cut marking the official opening of the site, commemorated by a plaque displayed in the Galley area.
Tours of the building then commenced, allowing attendees to explore the halls of this new site, designed with the students and the environment in mind. The three-story building boasts incredible state-of-the-art facilities including a spacious main hall, fittingly named the Quarterdeck with a separate drama space, Design and Food Technology labs, and modern classrooms with ample amounts of natural light as well as recycling stations and electric charging points.
The grounds also have a brand-new gym centre for students to use as part of their sports education. Part of the Trust’s not-for-profit Thinking Fitness brand, the gym will also be open to the local community outside of school hours, offering a well-equipped and friendly space for people to exercise while putting money back into the education of the local students.
The school has also been keen to open its doors for students and families to explore their new home ahead of the Year 6 open evening on Tuesday 24th September. With this in mind, current students were invited to enjoy tours with their families, giving them an opportunity to see the school they are proud to send their children to.
The event rounded off with mingling and canapés, prepared by the school’s catering team.
The opening event was a very special moment for the school, which originally opened its doors at a temporary location in September 2022 due to the discovery of some of the largest prehistoric stone tools in Britain on the building site.
Archaeologists uncovered a giant hand axe thought to be over 300,000 years old and a Roman cemetery, discoveries of both regional and national significance. The school is proud to be part of Medway and the rich history the area holds and has integrated this historical discovery into its curriculum so students can explore the heritage of Frindsbury and beyond.
Matt Evans, Principal of Maritime Academy reflected on the events, saying:
“I’m so proud to say we have officially opened Maritime Academy. It’s been a long journey for the school, but with the support of our Trust, community and of course our students, we are finally here.
“The new building offers everything a student could want for their education, with state-of-the-art facilities and spacious grounds, I look forward to seeing our young people grow throughout their years with us.”
Stuart Gardner, CEO of The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, commented: “It’s been almost a 10-year journey from when we started the application for opening a new school to being here today.
“Our Trust has a mission to transform the life chances of our young people and by building a school that was designed to have the right resources, the right premises and access to the right equipment supports this mission.”