Science and Technology Colleges (old UTCs)

[Penguinpandarabbit]

Considering whether to send DD in year 8 to local Science and Technology college where it starts in y9. Anyone any experience of them? She is very maths and science orientated, the results seem about 10 percentage points higher than school she is at. Longer day 8.30am to 4.30pm but they get them to do homework. Strong links with industry on a science park. She wants to go into science and is academic. Only obvious issue is they just seem to do 8 GCSEs plus a practical GCSE equivalent, though current school is opposite issue to do what she wants she needs to take 11.5 as some she gets no choice in or little choice. Its maybe a 30 min journey each way compared to 5 min walk to current school. Thanks.

Most of the UTC’s were total failures with results through the floor. I know there are a couple of exceptions, JCB being one of them but I’d look into it very carefully.

Many UTCs struggled because other schools saw them as a chance to get rid of challenging pupils. Some UTCs have sunk. Some have done well. Some are now part of wider MATs.

Look at your one closely and decide where it sits.

The facilities were usually superb because of the focus... have they been maintained? Check out exactly what they do with local industries. Which Unis do their y13s go to?

Thanks very much - this one is now part of a MAT. Looks like initially struggled but results now are very good and appears to have strong links with big science and engineering companies. The data on leaver destinations is a bit vague - lots going to university but not clear which universities. The results appear all about 10% above England average apart from languages but Progress 8 score is 0 though broken down high score for higher ability kids (1.1ish) and negative score for lower ability. Husband is French so can cover languages and her current comprehensive is also weak on languages.

May see if we can visit it, also have a son in year 7 and he is very sciency but he is ASD so hates change but when he saw it he said that's better than my school. Its also quite small which would suit him and kids they interviewed a few seemed like him.

Current school only goes to 16 and this goes to 18 which is better but there's a longer journey.

We have two UTC in Sheffield, the science & 'technology one has been marked as failing by Ofsted. Too many of its pupils have been either kicked or managed out of other schools, the other one hasn't been open long enough to be inspected. I would probably look at an ordinary secondary school with a strong STEM leadership as a better option, I know we have had a couple of new secondaries open in the city, my niece is at one of them, it's actually like a private school without the fees. She started last September, at the moment there is only Y7 in the school, it has a much longer day than most schools but no homework, school starts at 8.00am with compulsory breakfast club, academic lessons finish at 2.30 & then pupils do arts, sport, music & crafts until 5.00pm. School dinners are compulsory & staff eat with pupils, the chef who runs the school kitchens worked at the Dorchester in London, all food is vegan, there are no packed lunches & discipline is much tighter than ordinary schools. The school has no catchment area, it just took applications & selected it's own pupils, uniform is very strict, down to outdoor coats, bags, pencil cases which are all identical. For all that my niece is very happy there & has settled in well. Up to now there seems to be a lot going on, they have tutors from Sheffield University contributing to lessons, staff have been selected well by the SLT & governors & the standards are very high in how they expect pupils to learn & behave.

Thanks very much. It does have an Ofsted and its rated as good and results are strong, parentview is very positive so in theory its good. She wants to be an engineer and stronger science/maths side. Called them and they do have a place for a year 9 September start and said we can visit the school on 16th May during lessons. So think we will just go and see what its like.

Alternative is stay put or move to another village comprehensive.

I've just seen your Local message. I'll PM you later - I'm in one of the companies that they work with :-)

Thanks very much.

the science & 'technology one has been marked as failing by Ofsted

When?

No surprise that they have a place for Year 9! What UTC DOESN'T have a few empty places? The fact that they are moving to Year 9 entry shows that they haven't been able to recruit successfully for Year 10 - so check out the number of students it has.

And re Sheffield UTC's- as far as I can see both have got a "good" from OFSTED - for what that is worth.

Cogger I know the exact ex-UTC the OP is referring to. Many of the secondaries in the area start their GCSE courses from yr9 now, so the UTC had to adapt too.

Thanks - I much prefer the year 9 start to year 10, too risky to move for year 10 incase they don't settle. Got a message from them yesterday saying they anticipate running out of places in next day or two so got application form in last night and will visit on 16th.

We have also been contacted by a private school with a place so have applied for that but don't know who we will be up against and small matter of financing it - its an amazing school though.

She is currently not keen on this college and is in love with private one but she hasn't been round either yet and she regularly changes her mind so would prefer to apply. She said this one is too science based but everyone of her planned GCSE options bar one are maths and science though talking to her she didn't realise science could cover engineering and psychology. Think she assumed it was just what was in her lesson called science. At least when she goes round will see it in action and then can decide.

I agree that a Year 9 start is more sensible, which then begs the question why the whole programme was launched with a Year 10 starting point? Also I would still look very carefully at the total number of pupils at the establishment. An over-subscribed school would not be ringing you up to say we will be running out of places shortly thus putting pressure on you. You can look at this information on the a number of government websites - DfE GCSE results compare schools, or it is in their OFSTED report - if it is a recent one - or on the Government Information System.

Just be very aware of the issues around the UTC programme.

Good luck whatever your choice