Campaign Launched to Save Stubbington Study Centre from Closure

A group of former headteachers has launched a campaign to save the Stubbington Study Centre, located near Gosport, which is at risk of closing. Hampshire County Council has initiated a consultation to shut down the center in order to repurpose the site for a new secure children’s home. The news has sparked a wave of emotional responses from parents, educators, and past visitors who have cherished the center for nearly 90 years.

Outcry Over Proposed Closure of Stubbington Study Centre

The proposal to close the Stubbington Study Centre has generated significant backlash. Howard Payne, former chair of the center’s management committee, expressed concern, saying that many children would lose the opportunity to create lasting memories. The center has been a place where students participate in team-building exercises, physical challenges, and environmental awareness activities.

Parents who shared their thoughts on the council’s Facebook page included those who had attended the center as children, as well as those hoping to send their own children in the future. Sarah Leslie, from Portsmouth, said her children would be “devastated” if they could no longer experience the center. “Of all my school trips, it’s the one I remember. It gave me such a confidence boost,” she commented.

The Role of Stubbington Study Centre in Education

Stubbington Study Centre offers both residential and day trip opportunities for schools and youth groups, hosting activities designed to enhance teamwork, physical skills, and environmental understanding. According to the council’s consultation, the facility hosted over 4,500 overnight guests and nearly 2,000 day visitors in the year leading up to March 2024. The site employs 24 staff members, who were informed of the potential closure on Monday.

Political Reactions to the Closure Proposal

Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, expressed understanding of the need for investment in residential care for Hampshire’s children but argued that it should not come at the expense of valuable local educational resources. She emphasized that the community and children would be hurt by the loss of such a well-utilized and cherished facility.

Mr. Payne, who recently retired as headteacher at Medina Primary School in Portsmouth, stressed that for many children, the experience at Stubbington was their first time away from home. “They leave on the Friday a different person,” he said, highlighting the transformative impact the center had on students’ confidence and social skills.

Hampshire County Council’s Proposal

Councillor Nick Adams-King, leader of the county council, stated that the council is facing high demand for specialized residential care due to increasingly complex needs. He explained that with government funding, the council has a unique opportunity to build a state-of-the-art residential home in Hampshire, which would provide more bed spaces than the current Swanwick Centre, the only specialist children’s home in the area.

Despite the need for specialized care facilities, Hampshire County Council’s proposed closure of the Stubbington Study Centre has drawn criticism, especially since the center has not been operating at a loss. The county is facing a £175 million budget gap for the 2025/26 financial year, but the decision to close the study centre remains contentious.

The council’s proposal indicates that Stubbington Study Centre would close on 1 September 2025, with a planning consultation for the new children’s home slated for the summer of 2026. Schools, organizations, and individuals have until Monday, 10 February, to provide feedback on the proposal.

Source: BBC