Dozens of Geography students descended on Centenary Quay to get a hands-on education about the site’s history and recent redevelopment.

More than 100 pupils from Oasis Academy Sholing, on the invitation of housebuilders Crest Nicholson, went down to the site as part of a school trip.

Centenary Quay, located on the eastern bank of the Itchen River, was previously home to Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilders.

During WW1, yard workers on the site built 26 destroyers and three submarines, and, despite the bombs being dropped around them, they continued to build huge ships such as the HMS Bissenden and HMS Brecon during The Second World War.

More than a century after its opening, in 2008 plans were approved for the yard’s conversion into a high-end residential and commercial development. Today, it boasts 164, one, two, three and four bedroom homes.

Kirsty Robinson, a Geography teacher from Oasis Academy, said that she was “delighted when Crest Nicholson accepted our proposal to survey the site, and then take our students on a guided tour, sharing an overview of the development and careers in the construction industry".

As part of their fieldwork, students received a guided tour of the community and the four bedroom ‘Hexham’ show home and learned about how sales had been progressing.

Kirsty said that since the visit she has “already had a few students who took part now considering a career in the housebuilding and construction industry".

Eileen Guihen, Deputy Managing Director at Crest Nicholson South, said: "We’re really pleased that geography students from Oasis Academy Sholing are learning about Centenary Quay and are discovering what a career in construction looks like.

"We are particularly keen to encourage students into the construction industry, as there are so many different skills to learn and enjoyable career paths to discover.”

Eileen says that Crest Nicholson is committed to supporting and building relationships with the local community and that their “work with local schools is a big part of this".

She said: "We look forward to working with Oasis Academy, and other schools in the area, in the future.”