Support, mentorship & lasting opportunity
The Portsmouth Sail Training Trust provides maritime training, qualifications and mentoring for young people who face social, economic or educational challenges that limit their opportunities. We are able to offer broad and varied support for young people in all aspects of personal and academic development, both on and off the water.
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The programme is an amazing opportunity for students to learn life skills through new and fun activities. The instructors are great with the young people and can open the students minds with great, unique activities.”
All of the students who turn up to the sailing have benefited immeasurably from the programme. PSTT provides them with a safe space and adults they trust, as well as new social skills, friends and knowledge”
The sailing programme really helped me to gain confidence and work towards my career in the Navy. I can now control my feelings of frustration much better and have made new friends at college.
The transformation in this young man was unbelievable, he loved sailing and you could see his confidence grow. He would speak when commanding the boat and his body language shifted, he was confident and upright and would make eye contact.
Students in our school attend after school revision sessions. The average attendance of their year group was 35% for after school revision, the group who attend PSTT was 89%.
As a group, [our PSTT students] got some of the best results in the school and the best SEN results in Portsmouth. They achieved the highest SEN results in our academy trust from all the TKAT schools in the country.
Explore the programme
Our comprehensive programme spans both water-based and land-based training, cultivating a robust foundation of confidence, teamwork, and leadership capabilities. Moreover, participants acquire valuable RYA qualifications that not only enrich their personal development but also propel them towards successful careers.
Career pathways
Pupils can achieve a wide range of globally recognised RYA qualifications that can shape their future career. From becoming a watersports or sailing instructor, to gaining a place in the Navy or becoming professional sailor – their RYA qualifications open up a path of opportunity for their future.
End-of-year teacher surveys found that of our 2023 intake of pupils…
Have an increased knowledge of opportunities available to them in the maritime sector.
Have increased confidence.
Have increased resilience.
Have developed good communication skills.
PSTT Students branch out into Yachting
Thanks to our partners at Andrew Simpson Yachting (ASY) PSTT students have had the opportunity in 2023 to take part in taster sessions on board a 39ft sailing yacht. For those young people that particularly connected with yachting they were then able to go on to develop this interest into an RYA Start Yachting Course during the summer holidays!
2022-23 academic review
Students have had a wide range of experiences including: RYA Keelboat Sailing, RYA Powerboating, RYA First Aid, ASY Yachting sessions, Paddlesport sessions, climbing, archery and team building sessions. Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, over 300 RYA certificates have been awarded to the young people. Young people have also had the chance to go on employer visits to Trafalgar Wharf, to go to the Seawork Maritime Industry Show and Careers Fair and harbour tours with SERCO.
