University technical college
{{Short description|Type of secondary school in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
File:DJI 0934-72dpi2000pxWEB.jpg in 2020]]
A university technical college (UTC) is a type of secondary school in England that is sponsored by a university and has close ties to local business and industry.
University technical colleges specialise in subjects like engineering and construction, taught alongside business skills and the use of IT. Pupils study academic subjects as well as practical subjects leading to technical qualifications. The curriculum is designed by the university and employers, who also provide work experience and projects for students.
The university and industry partners support the curriculum development of the UTC, can provide professional development opportunities for teachers, and guide suitably qualified students on to industrial apprenticeships or tertiary education. The UTC's governors include representatives from the sponsor university and partner employers. Students traditionally transfer to a UTC at the age of 14, part-way through their secondary education, though many UTCs now accept pupils at a younger age. The first UTCs were established in 2010, and there are 44 of them in 2023.
It was announced in August 2023 that two more UTCs would be established in Doncaster and Southampton.{{Cite web |title=Pupils in disadvantaged areas to benefit from new free schools |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pupils-in-disadvantaged-areas-to-benefit-from-new-free-schools |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
Description
A university technical college is a non-selective free school funded directly by the Department for Education,{{Cite web |date=January 2013 |title=Thesaurus Term - University technical colleges |url=http://education.gov.uk/vocabularies/educationtermsandtags/7317 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130102175908/http://education.gov.uk/vocabularies/educationtermsandtags/7317 |archive-date=2013-01-02 |access-date=14 February 2018 |website=Department for Education |language=en-gb}} free to attend, and outside the control of the local education authority.
Students study core academic subjects, as well as practical subjects which lead to technical qualifications.{{Cite news |date=2012-09-05 |title=Plans for specialist school UTC Reading unveiled |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-19477671 |access-date=2021-12-27}} The curriculum is designed by the university and employers, who also provide work experience for students.
UTCs were conceived and supported by the Labour government and introduced in 2010 by the coalition government under the free schools programme. UTCs are collectively distinctive in that they offer technically oriented courses of study, combining National Curriculum requirements with technical and vocational elements. UTCs must specialise in subjects that require technical and modern equipment, but they also all teach business skills and the use of information and communications technology (ICT).{{cite web |title=What are university technical colleges |url=http://www.utcolleges.org/about/about/ |access-date=2012-08-06 |publisher=Utcolleges.org}} UTCs are also supposed to offer clear routes into higher education or further learning in work.{{cite news |date= 7 October 2011|title=BBC News - Q&A: University technical colleges |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15220425 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011125951/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15220425 |archive-date=2011-10-11 |access-date=2012-08-06 |publisher=BBC News}}
When operating, UTCs receive the same per capita funding as other schools in the local authority, calculated by the same formula, and £87 extra to cover UTC-specific administration.{{cite web |title=University technical colleges how to apply |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467677/university_technical_colleges_how_to_apply.pdf |access-date=10 May 2021 |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk}}
The university technical college programme as a whole is sponsored by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust,{{cite web |title=University Technical Colleges |url=http://www.utcolleges.org/media/15074/a5_flyer.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610031435/http://www.utcolleges.org/media/15074/a5_flyer.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2012}} which promotes the setting up of UTCs. The trust was co-founded by Kenneth Baker, a Conservative politician and former Secretary of State for Education and Ron Dearing. Each UTC pays an annual licence fee (£10,000 in 2019){{cite web |last1=Camden |first1=Billy |title=Licence fees to almost double for cash-strapped UTCs |url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/licence-fees-to-almost-double-for-cash-strapped-utcs/ |website=Schools Week |access-date=27 April 2021 |date=16 August 2019}} to the trust. Baker Dearing's promotion of UTCs is supported by a range of organisations, including the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the Peter Cundill Foundation, and the Garfield Weston Foundation.{{Cite web |title=Sponsors |url=http://www.utcolleges.org/about/baker-dearing-educational-trust/sponsors/ |access-date=12 May 2017 |website=www.utcolleges.org |language=en}} Many large companies have pledged to co-sponsor UTCs including Arup, British Airways, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and Sony.{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Judith |date=2012-05-29 |title=BBC News - Jaguar Land Rover and British Airways back new colleges |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18233885 |access-date=2012-08-06 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk}}
List of UTCs
= Closed UTCs =
=Converted away from traditional UTC model=
| class="wikitable"
!Name !Location !Opened !Converted !New status |
| Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy
|Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire |2013 |2022 |
| Royal Greenwich UTC
|Royal Borough of Greenwich |2013 |11–19 free school |
| South Bank Engineering UTC
|London Borough of Lambeth |2016 |2023 |16-19 Academy |
| Tottenham University Technical College
|London Borough of Haringey |2014 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467677/university_technical_colleges_how_to_apply.pdf University technical colleges (2015) How to apply]
- [http://www.utcolleges.org/ University Technical Colleges]
{{Academies Programme}}{{Specialist schools in the United Kingdom}}{{Education in England}}
{{Schools}}
{{Education in the United Kingdom}}
{{University technical colleges}}
{{authority control}}