An educational concept that works

In the County Durham town of Newton Aycliffe, an educational establishment that had its beginnings in 2016, is gaining a genuine reputation in the education sector, with a concept I believe, has significant merit in any society.

The University Technical College — UTC South Durham — is a state-funded, purpose-built school for 14-19 year old students that specialises in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. Its focus is on engineering and advanced manufacturing, and by their 6th form year, students will elect either STEM focused academic qualifications (A-Levels), an advanced technical qualification (T-Levels), or a pre-apprenticeship programme with the focus on specialist technical knowledge and skills.

The strength of its core educational objectives, and the recent ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted, demonstrate that UTC is delivering on that potential. This concept appears to be the perfect model to embrace, given the distinctly progressive science and technology ‘future-proofing’ which is a key element of the current government’s pledge to support new age technologies and opportunities, and the enthusiasm with which the local youth population embraces the challenges of information technology, robotics, and invention.

Learners, parents, communities, staff, industry partners, and school trustees all have a voice in implementing a curriculum with the objective of producing career-ready young people, many of whom commit to apprenticeships and employment while still at the UTC, such is its burgeoning reputation. According to Principal Tom Dower, “The success of the UTC lies in creating a culture where students see themselves as young professionals and staff and the rest of the community are there to support them in preparing themselves for their career. They value their education because they see how the skills and knowledge they are building will help them in the workplace.” The UTC education focuses very much on its ‘Student Leaver Profile’ – a community model – which is a student self-assessment of their academic and technical knowledge, their core employability skills, and the professional and career experiences they will require by graduation.

Linked to these are ‘student led conferences,’ which are prepared for and managed by the learners themselves, during which they will present to their parents and teachers regarding their career readiness. Integrated team activities include ‘real life’ industry challenges, ranging from the refurbishment of derelict buildings, to re-mapping workplace processes, and a multitude of challenges in-between. Further, two weeks every year are programmed as ‘work placements,’ where students apply to workplaces to work with a view to affirming, or otherwise, their career choices.

This activity is managed by Deputy Principal Catherine Purvis-Mawson, who explains “Employers are always looking for a talent pipeline of young people who are enthusiastic and have a great attitude. Enabling our students to have meaningful experiences with these employers, allows our students to have a clear understanding of an employer and their expectations. This is mutually beneficial as employers have the opportunity to learn more about our students and their education, and allows them to build connections with the students and UTC, through an Industry Employer Group that meets regularly to shape a Professional and Career Experience (PaCE) curriculum, co-created to ensure our students leave the UTC career and life ready.” Can you imagine the value of such a programme to your young people, for whom, bridging the gap between school and the workplace is a massive challenge? Tom Dower has nothing but empathy for those caught there, saying “It’s hard for teenagers to look ahead and make good decisions when they don’t have a clear understanding of the options open to them and where they might lead. A traditional education does well preparing young people for an academic career but clearly, falls well short of their being work-ready. The UTC style of education ensures that they have the skills and confidence employers are looking for, alongside first-hand experience of the workplace so that they can make the right decisions for them and their future careers.”

So much of education today is about teachers, and what they want, need, and prioritise. Here is a genuine option that meets the needs of societies, and in a unique and relevant way, the learners... perfectly.