Trinity House College closes sailing centre
A Hull school famed for its maritime heritage has closed its sailing centre.
Hull Trinity House College was one of only a few schools in the country to offer sailing lessons alongside the national curriculum.
-
Hull Trinity House College
However, the school was forced to close the Welton Seamanship Centre on Friday because of a "significant budget deficit".
Three full-time members of staff have lost their jobs as a result.
The Mail understands the centre costs around £100,000 a year to run, including staffing costs.
The all boys school, based on Princes Dock Road, central Hull, has been associated with seafaring since it opened as Hull Trinity House Marine School – a centre for nautical training – in 1787.
However, headteacher Andy Twaits told the Mail they had no choice but to close the sailing centre because of financial pressures.
"Clearly one of the things that we do not have to offer under statutory requirements is the sailing," said Mr Twaits.
"We have to balance the budget and one of the ways was unfortunately to close the sailing centre. We were facing a deficit and needed to do something about it.
"It does not mean it has gone forever. We will always endeavour to see if there is some way of funding it again.
"It is part of the school's ethos and is one of the things that makes the school different."
Mr Twaits said the half of the costs to run the centre come from the school's central budget, with some coming from the Corporation of Trinity House.
The state school is funded by central Government and the local authority.
Mr Twaits referred the Mail to the school's governors for questions about the budget deficit, but none were available for comment over the weekend.
Mr Twaits added that staff and students of the school had hoped the centre – which was last year given Royal Yachting Association training status – could be saved.
He said: "Everybody at the school is in a state of shock.
"We were all hoping that something would come up at the twelfth hour but unfortunately it didn't.
"Clearly, I am disappointed that a fantastic facility and opportunity has been lost, although hopefully only temporarily.
"If there is anybody out there who knows of ways to access funding for this type of activity, we would be pleased to know."
Parents of pupils at the school said they were attracted to the school because of the sailing courses.
One dad, who did not wish to be named, said he thinks it is "appalling" that it will no longer offer sailing training.
21 Comments
View all
by Tony Haite, Cleethorpes
Sunday, October 10 2010, 12:11AM
“I'm an ex pupil of Trinity House and was dissapointed to hear that Welton Waters is to close. I think that although Trinity house has lots of land it could potentially sell, a lot of money comes from this land in rents and if it were to sell it to fund Welton Waters and other projects,It would run out of money and assets. This I imagine would lead to the ultimate closure of the school!”
by Richard Shann, Hull
Tuesday, June 22 2010, 1:51PM
“This is a real shame, was a trinity pupil 1998/2003and some of my best memories are of welton waters. Thought there was plans to open welton on weekends to other schools/organisations to generate income, could have even had camping on the land there for scouts, would make a great facility as we don¿t currently have much like this near hull so could have been popular. Shame this did not come off as I mentioned to staff at the time that I would volunteer my time to help out to help keep it alive.”
by Lol...tis funny, Just Here
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 8:47PM
“Tis only the beginning of allt he closures, wont it be grand watching all the 4 x 4 's bmw's and mercs going up to good old greatfield....oh ave they not told u that one yet....”
by Irritated, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 8:20PM
“deanwho, Hull
Trinity House has been a separate entity to the school since it steered away from private education and became a government funded school. What links still exist are purely for the thinning traditions (as ann quite rightly put) the school still maintains.”
by Ann, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 3:08PM
“I am the parent of a year 10 pupil of Hull Trinity House and my elder son was also a pupil. The Govenors and Brethren should beware of allowing more traditions of the school to be erroded as its the customs and history that create the unique atmosphere of the school-allow them to slip any further and standards may follow.”
by deanwho, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:21AM
“Irritated,Hull
'The governors of the school also seem ever more reluctant to support the school the further away from private education it strays. The closing of Welton is sad news, but the school can't be blamed ' Why not? TH are one of the biggest land owners in the area, just check out on the internet you will be surprised how much they own inland for a small seafaring school, so why should the council help them out. Most of the farm land around Swanland/North Ferriby is owned by them but the Governors will not sell off any land, they could make millions just by selling off a couple of fields tomorrow there is no shortage of buyers.”
by Richard Elm, Turkey
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 8:34AM
“Speaking as a TH old boy the knowledge & experience gained from my time at Welton has been invaluable to me. Not only as a current yacht owner but also the confidence these activities instil in a young mind which you carry with you for the rest of your life. Is it really necessary for the school itself to be located on such a pristine piece of real-estate? As one of the best schools in the city I believe it would attract pupils no matter where it was located, including Welton.”
by Irritated, Hull
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 12:19AM
“I'm an ex pupil at the school and it's a real shame Welton's being shut down. Like some of the other posts on here, I've had plenty of happy times there. As for the funding situation though, the school isn't 'sat on so much money it's unreal' at all. The whole reason the school applied for engineering status was for the extra funding the council can't provide as they're pumping it into failing schools around the city. The governors of the school also seem ever more reluctant to support the school the further away from private education it strays. The closing of Welton is sad news, but the school can't be blamed”
by SPIKED, East Riding
Monday, March 15 2010, 5:05PM
“Pity really. But what do they need a sailing centre for when the local NHS has provided a Yobs Yacht for all the ner do wells in Hull. Trinity House should ask the NHS for some funds they'll spend it on anything but health.”
by Charles, Cott
Monday, March 15 2010, 3:52PM
“Carl Minns has £200,000 going spare; try cadging a few bob off him ...”