A new university technical college is to open in 2020, the government has announced. This comes after months of speculation over the future of the programme, with just one UTC scheduled to open this year and none announced for 2019.
In November, Charles Parker, chief executive of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, which promotes, licenses and supports UTCs, said he believed the Department for Education had effectively put the programme on pause.
According to the government statement, Doncaster University Technical College will train up to 750 13- to 19-year-olds in the latest rail engineering techniques, as well as coding and 3D design skills, when it opens its doors in September 2020. Pupils will study core GCSEs and A levels alongside a technical curriculum that focuses on key digital and engineering skills.
Plans for the college have been led by the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, working with both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, alongside businesses from across South Yorkshire.
Fast-changing economy
According to Department for Education data released in November, out of 302 new free schools in the pipeline at that point, only one was a UTC: North East Futures UTC, in Newcastle, due to open in September.
The UTC programme has slowed in recent times, and a number of colleges have also closed - with closures largely blamed on the colleges’ inability to attract enough pupils. The last round of applications for new UTCs was announced in 2014, and five colleges opened in September 2017: Mulberry UTC, Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC, SGS Berkley Green, Ron Dearing UTC and Portsmouth UTC.
Parliamentary under secretary of state for the school system Lord Agnew said: “Technology and the world economy are fast-changing, and we need to make sure our young people have the skills they need to get the jobs of tomorrow. There is a clear demand from local businesses for these specialist skills, and Doncaster UTC will provide a strong mix of academic and technical-based study that nurtures the talents of all its students.”
Local skills demand
UTC pioneer Lord Baker (pictured), chairman of Baker Dearing Educational Trust, said: “We are delighted that Doncaster University Technical College has been given the go-ahead by the Department for Education. UTCs are based on local skills demand. This UTC bid was led by Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, Wabtec Faiveley and Keepmoat Group and has been supported by key employers in Doncaster including: Polypipe, VolkerRail, Agemaspark and Pennine Stone.”
Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “We have just published a review of post-16 education across Doncaster and one of its key recommendations to improve outcomes for young people is to improve quality and choice in Doncaster’s further and higher education opportunities so our communities have clearer routes into employment, which the UTC will be an integral part of.”
