Seaview Sailing Trust Schools Programme

Reaching Island Schools in 2026

The Seaview Sailing Trust Schools Programme is designed to reach year 5 students in all 37 primary schools across the Isle of Wight. By working directly with schools alongside Seaview Sailing Trust, we make sailing accessible, inclusive and part of the educational journey for children at a formative stage in their development.

As the programme expands, it will reach the every Island primary school, with full Island-wide delivery in place from 2027. This ensures that no child misses out on the opportunity to step aboard a boat, learn new skills and build confidence on the water.

Expanding Access Across the Island

Of the 31 schools taking part this season, 26 will complete their sessions with Sea View Yacht Club, while five schools will attend UKSA. By 2027, pupils will receive a minimum of five free sailing sessions, each lasting three hours and delivered during PE lessons by professional UKSA instructors. Many schools will benefit from up to ten sessions across the programme.

In 2025 alone, 723 children participated in 4,446 free sailing lessons, representing a 41 percent increase in sessions delivered compared with the previous year. That figure is expected to rise to 949 pupils this season.

“At UKSA, we believe every young person should have access to the water, regardless of where they live or their background. We are incredibly proud to partner with the Seaview Sailing Trust to help make this vision a reality for children across the whole Island.

This collaboration goes beyond sailing skills. It gives young people the opportunity to build confidence, develop resilience and discover future pathways within the maritime sector, which is such an important part of our Island community.”

Catherine Dixon, CEO of UKSA

“The partnership also marks an important evolution of UKSA’s existing youth engagement activity.

As outlined in UKSA’s latest annual report:

“We are delighted to confirm that from 2027, UKSA will be partnering with Seaview Sailing Trust to create an exciting new opportunity for Island children. Through this partnership, every Isle of Wight Year 5 pupil will be able to access a minimum of five funded sailing sessions, giving them the chance to complete their RYA Dinghy Level 1 or 2 qualification at either UKSA or Seaview Yacht Club, depending on their school’s location. This represents a significant step forward in ensuring consistent, meaningful access to sailing for all Island children at an early stage.”

“We are delighted to welcome UKSA as our second delivery partner, working alongside Sea View Yacht Club. Together, we are ensuring that every child growing up on the Isle of Wight has the opportunity to learn to sail and develop skills that can support both personal growth and future maritime careers.”

Andrea Minton Beddoes, Chair of the Seaview Sailing Trust

#SeaChangeStories

“I can’t focus on learning at school, but the way they teach things at UKSA is different. It’s the first place where I haven’t just been treated like a kid – they even trusted me to drive the boat! They’re my role models and now I want to be a watersports instructor when I grow up. I’ve never felt like I had options for the future before.”

Raffy – Maritime Futures Programme Attendee

Courses Accredited by

Our registrations