Gordonstoun pupils to be on call 24/7 to support Coastguard

Senior pupils at Gordonstoun School in Moray will form an operational support team of eight students who will be on call 24/7 to assist HM Coastguard with communications and logistics during search-and-rescue incidents; they will be supervised by Coastguard-trained staff and operate from a new local Coastguard centre.

Gordonstoun School in Moray has launched a service where senior pupils will be on call around the clock to support HM Coastguard. The operational support team (OST) comprises eight pupils aged 17–18 who will work behind the scenes on communications and logistics for search-and-rescue incidents across north-east Scotland. Two members of Gordonstoun staff who are Coastguard trained will strictly supervise the students. The team will operate from the Winthrop-Young Gordonstoun Coastguard Centre that was officially opened last year by the Princess Royal. Key details: - The OST includes eight pupils (five girls and three boys) who are qualified to be on-call from Gordonstoun. - Students are split into watch teams and will be available on alternate days to respond when paged. - Trained staff will oversee mobilisation, kit collection at the Coastguard centre, and movement to the forward control point. - Pupils completed intensive training in communications and first aid as part of their preparation. - Thirty-one Gordonstoun pupils currently support HM Coastguard in various roles, with eight now cleared to be on-call. - Assistant Chief Coastguard John McBride described the partnership as a local contribution that provides trusted, well-trained support, the article reports. Summary: The arrangement adds behind-the-scenes support for HM Coastguard by providing extra communications and logistics capacity while professional coastguards focus on activity at incident scenes, the article reports. The students will operate as alternating watch teams and will be mobilised when calls come in, under strict supervision by Coastguard-trained staff. Oversight and procedures for student safety are in place as they begin this on-call service.