Building work has finally started on the project which is designed to provide bright but uninspired children with the chance to escape mainstream education and find an alternative environment to help them thrive.

Twelve months ago the project to build the academy in Gosport was rejected by the borough council after Alverstoke residents wrote more than 250 letters of objection to the lakeside project.

Temporary accommodation had to be quickly found at HMS Sultan for the first year cohort of a dozen Year 10 students from Bay House School.

Now three classrooms are being built on the school's playing fields near the Cocked Hat pub at the corner of Military Road, and are due to be finished by the first week of September.

The project is worth £280,000, and involves local businesses sponsoring the children.

Other schools are watching the project to see if it succeeds in motivating under-performing pupils.

The students are taught core GCSE subjects like English, maths and ICT but in small groups instead of a typical school class of 25 to 30 pupils.

They are also taught teamwork and responsibility through outdoor activities like sailing trips to France, climbing in Dorset or restoration work at Fort Widley, and every Friday the academy pupils have a work placement with companies and tradesmen to learn more about business.

Pete Nokes, 15, said: 'The first year has been brilliant. It's already helped me out a great deal and I'm doing a work placement to become a plumber.

'I had a poor attendance record and I just didn't like school. But I don't want to miss a day here. I think that says a lot.'

Kirstie Rowell, 15, said: 'I've loved it, especially the sailing trip to France. I liked school as well but I wanted to come to the academy because I'd get more out of it.

'I've been doing singing lessons as well and I go back for after-school science lessons so I'm not missing out.'

Academy manager Darren Lamb said: 'The first year has been exciting. We're doing something different in education.

'And I would really like to thank HMS Sultan. Without its support we wouldn't have been able to have an academy over the past year. We're eternally grateful.'

sion.donovan@thenews.co.uk