The science behind superhero powers was brought to life for Year 10 students at Ron Dearing University UTC as the first lecture of a packed personal development programme got underway.

Professor Mark Lorch from the University of Hull kick-started the programme of lectures, visits and other activities, starting with The Secret Science of Superheroes for the whole year group of 160 students.

As part of the strong links Ron Dearing UTC has with the university as a Founding Partner, Prof Lorch explained the underpinning science and equations needed for superheroes to draw on their superpowers, such as what Spiderman eats or needs to generate the strength of his spider silk when swinging between buildings and rescuing someone from a fall.

The interactive session saw Prof Lorch carry out practical demonstrations to back up scientific facts and students were asked to volunteer to take part and ask questions, testing their knowledge and understanding.

The session was the first in a series of ten to be led by the University of Hull for Year 10, Year 11 and Sixth Form students, with a specific focus on stretching the most able students in the school.

The programme includes a visit to the University of Hull campus for those aspiring to go on to study for a degree; a Year 11 student and parent session looking at university finances; a robotics workshop; and lectures on medical engineering, mechanical engineering and flood prediction. Personal development sessions are also being planned by the school’s employer partners.

Chris Berry, Lead Practitioner with responsibility for Highly Able students at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “We want to offer our students personal development activities which will maximise the huge opportunities afforded by partnership with the University of Hull and our employer partners which aren’t available in other schools and colleges.  It’s vital that we really challenge our students to think out of the box and become creative thinkers and problem-solvers to give them the edge in the competitive jobs market and university application process.”

“The Secret Science of Superheroes looked at what can and can’t be explained by science in superhero movies and helped students to see the creative and imaginative side of science.”

Professor Lorch, a chemist, science communicator and author, said he was delighted by the response from the students.

He said: “Superheroes make for a nice hook to explore various aspects of science and the students were really interested. They showed they have inquisitive and problem-solving minds.”

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Former Ron Dearing UTC student Kieran Scruton will be playing his part in generating green energy to help save the planet after taking up an engineering apprenticeship at Siemens Gamesa.

Kieran, 18, joined the global wind power leader in early September as one of the newest members of the company’s 1,000-strong workforce at Alexandra Dock in Hull.

Siemens Gamesa is one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners and has world-class wind turbine manufacturing, assembly and logistics operations at the huge waterfront site.

Kieran’s is beginning his career journey at Siemens Gamesa as Ron Dearing UTC is urging new students and their parents to attend the employer-led school’s first Open Event of the new school next Wednesday.

Those who attend attendees will be able to look around the school, take part in workshops, meet teaching staff, speak to current and former students, and hear from Principal Sarah Pashley and representatives of the employer partners.

Engineering Apprentice Kieran Scruton, right, with Engineering Manager Ben Brooke at Siemens Gamesa’s wind turbine blade factory in Hull.

 

Kieran, who achieved a Merit in Engineering and a Distinction and Merit in Digital Media in his technical qualifications at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “Siemens Gamesa is one of the best companies to work for in terms of where renewable energy is going and there are so many opportunities.

“Siemens Gamesa’s work to help the environment is exactly what companies should be doing and that’s what made it stand out for me.

“Ron Dearing UTC was the best school for me because the learning style is different and the technology and equipment is really good.

“The staff help you to find an apprenticeship and they won’t rest until you’ve got a training place. I would like a long-lasting career with Siemens Gamesa and build on my engineering skills.”

Ben Brooke, Engineering Manager at Siemens Gamesa in Hull, said Ron Dearing UTC was the ideal educational environment to prepare the company’s future employees for the world of work.

He said: “Ron Dearing UTC is filling skills gaps in this area and helping industries like ours to get the right people with the right skills, without having to look further afield.

“It gives young people a good baseline of knowledge, so they don’t need as much moulding, and the style of learning stands them in good stead to be more self-sufficient.”

• Applications are being invited to join Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 and Year 12 in September 2020. The first Open Event will run from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, October 2. For further information, or to book a place, click here.

Pictures: Sean Spencer, Hull News & Pictures.

Students and their parents are being urged to attend the first Open Event of the new school year at Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) and find out how its unique education model can shape their futures.

The employer-led school aims to prepare young people aged 14 to 19 for the world of work with a curriculum created in partnership with some of Hull’s leading businesses to develop the work-ready and highly-skilled young recruits industry is crying out for.

Now, prospective students and their parents are being invited to attend the first Open Event for learners considering joining the school in September 2020.

The Open Event will take place on Wednesday, October 2, from 6pm to 8pm. It will give attendees the chance to look around the school, take part in workshops, meet teaching staff, speak to current and former students, and hear from Principal Sarah Pashley and representatives of the employer partners.

Sarah said: “This is the perfect opportunity for students and their parents to find out what Ron Dearing UTC is all about.

“There is no other school like this in the region, with fantastic partnerships with leading employers and a curriculum designed with them to give our students the edge in the competition for sought-after training roles and university places.

“These Open Events have been very popular in previous years and places are limited for next year, so we’re urging people to book to attend without delay.”

Prospective students and their parents can meet current students, talk to staff and take a tour of the school at the first open event of the new school year.

 

The first Open Event comes as the school celebrates the success of its work to support students to secure apprenticeships with many of the region’s leading companies. More than 45 Year 13 students have secured training roles with the school’s employer partners, as well as other prominent local businesses, setting themselves up for fulfilling and rewarding careers.

The school has also delivered an outstanding set of results in the first public exams since the school opened two years ago.

Ron Dearing UTC’s recent A-level results saw the school achieve a 100% pass rate, with 25% of all grades being A or A* and 70% of grades A*-C.  The results for technical qualifications, including Engineering, Computing and Creative iMedia, were also outstanding, with the average grade being a Distinction, the equivalent to grade B at A-level.

The school’s first GCSE results were also excellent, with 70% of students scoring grades 4-9 in both English and Maths and almost half achieving a Distinction or Distinction* in Engineering in a technical qualification equivalent to a GCSE.

Ron Dearing UTC offers a unique business-driven education model with a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering. The school’s Founding Partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith + Nephew and Spencer Group.

The school is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners, including Major Partners APD Communications, Arco, BP, C4DI, Green Port Hull, Ideal Boilers, Fujitsu, Ørsted, Sewell Group and Sonoco Trident.

Applications are now open to join Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 and Year 12 next September, with the October 2 event the first of three open evenings. For more information click here.

Three former Ron Dearing UTC students are relishing the exciting opportunity to begin their careers with global giant RB in Hull.

RB, a Founding Partner of the employer-led school, is the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company and is investing £105m in a new global Science and Innovation Centre in Hull.

RB’s newest recruits in Hull include Jon Garner, Harrison Fowler and James Bailey, all 18, who have taken up apprenticeships in IT, Quality Control and Engineering respectively.

Pictured at RB’s site in Hull are, from left, Quality Control Apprentice Harrison Fowler, Asset Care Manager Rob Green, IT Manager Marc Kirk,  and IT Apprentice Jon Garner.

 

The trio’s success is securing training roles with such a prestigious company shows how Ron Dearing UTC gives students the edge in the competition for opportunities with the best local employers.

Jon, who achieved a Distinction* and a Distinction in Engineering as well as a Merit in IT at Ron Dearing UTC, said he hopes to be able to travel to London and Hyderabad in India – RB’s IT global hub – with his colleagues as he continues to expand his knowledge and skills.

Jon said: “I completed my work experience at RB in Hull last year and now I’m working with them, as part of the team.

“A lot of the projects we completed at Ron Dearing UTC were selected by the employer partners, so we knew we were learning things which were relevant and could give us the edge over other applicants for the apprenticeships.”

Harrison who achieved a double Distinction* in Engineering and a grade C in A-level Chemistry, said: “Ron Dearing UTC staff really helped me with the application process and set aside days for interview and presentation preparation to give me confidence.

“I can’t thank RB enough for this opportunity. RB is enabling me to carry on with my education at college while working, so this is the ideal situation for me.

“I want to make my way in the world and the opportunities with RB are limitless.”

Apprentices Harrison Fowler, left, and Jon Garner have been hired for sought-after apprenticeships with global health and hygiene company RB.

 

Marc Kirk, IT Manager at RB, said: “Ron Dearing UTC builds strong relationships and foundations with organisations such as ours, which means skills associated with a working environment are taught at a young age.

“There are very promising signs from our apprentices so far. We have a real opportunity to shape these young people to live and breathe RB.”

Rob Green, Asset Care Manager at RB, added: “We believe we achieve better staff retention through our apprenticeship routes. They appreciate how we work and grow up with the RB team.”

• Applications are being invited to join Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 and Year 12 in September 2020 with the first Open Event on Wednesday, October 2. For further information click here.

Dozens of Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) students have taken up apprenticeships with many of the region’s leading companies.

More than 45 students who recently completed their A-level exams and technical qualifications have secured sought-after training roles setting themselves up for fulfilling and rewarding careers.

Having achieved outstanding grades in the first public exams since Ron Dearing UTC opened two years ago, the former Year 13 students have now taken up apprenticeship positions with the school’s employer partners and other prominent local businesses.

The training roles are varied, ranging from engineering and web development, to manufacturing, quality control, accountancy and more.

Their move from school to the world of work delivers on Ron Dearing UTC’s vision to create work-ready young people with the advanced digital and engineering skills so needed by leading businesses across the region.

The percentage of the school’s students who have become apprentices is also many times higher than the national average of young people from schools and colleges progressing to apprenticeships.

Pictured at RB’s site in Hull are, from left, IT Apprentice Jon Garner, IT Manager Marc Kirk, Quality Control Apprentice Harrison Fowler and Asset Care Manager Rob Green.

 

Four Ron Dearing UTC Founding Partners have taken on students from the school as apprentices, including three at RB, the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company, currently investing £105m in a new global Science and Innovation Centre in Hull, and one at Siemens Gamesa, which has world-class wind turbine manufacturing, assembly and logistics operations in Hull.

Engineering Apprentice Kieran Scruton, right, with Engineering Manager Ben Brooke at Siemens Gamesa’s wind turbine blade factory in Hull.

 

Two apprentices have started work at Smith + Nephew, the global medical technology business with major manufacturing and research and development facilities in Hull, while no less than 14 apprentices have been taken on by Spencer Group, one of the UK’s largest independently owned engineering firms, which has its headquarters in Hull.

Ron Dearing UTC Major Partner Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, which is driving forward a multi-million pounds “Digital First” transformation programme, has recruited two apprentices for its Hull-based business. Another Major Partner, Hull-based digital brand management business Sonoco Trident has also taken on an apprentice.

In addition, Hull City Council, which is a key supporter of the school, has also employed an apprentice in a civil engineering role.

Other employers that have taken on apprentices include Swift Caravans, which has hired four students, while Airco, AMO Steel Detailing, BAE Systems, DACO Solutions, Fairfield Control Systems, Influence Media, Local Transport Projects, NFire Labs, Paneltex, Pure Renewables and Victory Leisure Homes have taken on one apprentice each.

Meanwhile, one student has taken a job at Tesco with a view to progressing to management training, one has gained employment at construction company Hobson and Porter and another has secured a place in the Royal Navy.

Production Manager Gary Carr with Smith + Nephew Manufacturing Apprentices Hannah Crossley and Sam Graham at HETA, where they are undergoing early training.

 

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We’re delighted to see so many of our students who have left the school at 18 have moved directly into exciting apprenticeships roles or full employment with leading companies, including our employer partners.

“To set this in context, over 50% of our Year 13 students are taking up an apprenticeship, compared to only 6% nationally last year. It’s also great to be able to report that all our students who opted to continue their studies at university have got places.

“With the huge support from our employer partners, we have had total belief in our vision to give our students the edge and create a pipeline of talent for local businesses and to support the growth of the region’s economy.

“It’s also very pleasing to see that our unique curriculum, which has been designed and delivered in partnership with our employer partners, has ensured our students have acquired the academic and technical qualifications, and the vital personal and employability skills, they need to progress onto exciting careers.

“The fact that so many prestigious employers have hired our students is a huge vote of confidence in the school, our unique educational model and our talented students. Our first school leavers are now taking their first steps in the world of work and can look forward to a bright future.”

 

Spencer Group Executive Chairman Charlie Spencer OBE with Human Resources Director Yvonne Moir, left, Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley and the company’s intake of 14 apprentices.

 

The school in Hull city centre caters for students aged between 14 and 19 from Hull and the East Riding and has a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering.

The school’s Founding Partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith + Nephew and Spencer Group. The school is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners, including Major Partners APD Communications, Arco, BP, C4DI, Green Port Hull, Ideal Boilers, Fujitsu, Ørsted, Sewell Group and Sonoco Trident.

Charlie Spencer OBE, Ron Dearing UTC’s Chair of Governors and Executive Chairman of Spencer Group, said: “So many students moving into superb training roles with successful local companies says everything about the talent that the school develops, with the support of the employer partners.

“At Spencer Group we’ve hired our biggest ever intake of trainees, all from Ron Dearing UTC, and we’re excited about the contribution they will make to our business.”

Marc Kirk, IT Manager at RB, said the company’s new IT, Engineering and Quality Control apprentices have settled in well.

He said: “Ron Dearing UTC builds strong relationships and foundations with organisations such as ours, which means skills associated with a working environment are taught at a young age.

“There are very promising signs from our apprentices so far. We have a real opportunity to shape these young people to live and breathe RB.”

Ben Brooke, Engineering Manager at Siemens Gamesa in Hull, said: “Ron Dearing UTC is filling skills gaps in this area and helping industries like ours to get the right people with the right skills, without having to look further afield.

“It gives young people a good baseline of knowledge, so they don’t need as much moulding, and the style of learning stands them in good stead to be more self-sufficient.”

Gary Carr, Production Manager at Smith + Nephew, said of the two Apprentice Manufacturing Technicians recruited from Ron Dearing UTC: “They have grown in confidence already and will fit in really well with us.

“They have shown they have the right attitude and approach as well as a level of determination you don’t usually see in young adults. I’m impressed.”

Apprentices Josh Thorpe, left, and Jay Richards with Arco Head of IT Dan Spurgeon, second left, and Digital Director Richard Martin.

 

Richard Martin, Digital Director at Arco, who is also a Governor at Ron Dearing UTC, said the school provided a different approach to learning which prepared students to fit into the world of work rapidly.

He said: “It’s a completely unique way of schooling which fills a gap that has been missing in education for a long time. The hope is those who come to us as apprentices have spent so much time with us already that they hit the ground running.

“They come with bags of enthusiasm and they’re ready to crack on. They are treated as adults at school, rather than children, and as a result we’re getting people with an adult attitude.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s recent A-level results saw the school achieve a 100% pass rate, with 25% of all grades being A or A* and 70% of grades A*-C.  Students who achieved a Distinction* in Level 3 technical qualifications secured the equivalent of a grade A at A-level.

These subjects have been identified by the school’s employer partners as the qualifications that would best equip them with the knowledge and skills they need for successful careers within the engineering, digital and creative sectors.

The school’s first GCSE results were also outstanding, with the highlights including that 70% of students scored grades 4-9 in both English and Maths and almost half achieved a Distinction or Distinction* in Engineering in a technical qualification equivalent to a GCSE.

• Applications are now open to join Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 and Year 12 in September 2020 with the first Open Event on October 2. For further information click here.

RB, Smith + Nephew, Spencer Group and Arco pictures: Karl Andre Photography.
Siemens Gamesa pictures: Sean Spencer, Hull News & Pictures.