Two budding medical students from Ron Dearing UTC have secured sought after places on Hull York Medical School’s (HYMS) summer school programme.

Ruby Rowley and Cameron Smith will experience what life is like for students studying medicine at university during the three-day summer school in July.

The experience will take the two Year 12 students to Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, to gain invaluable insight into studying and working in a real-life medical setting.

To secure a place on the coveted programme, the pair had to complete application forms sharing why they wanted to take part in the programme, as well as submit a reference from one of their teachers.

Ruby, 17, joined Ron Dearing’s Sixth Form in Year 12 and is currently studying A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

She said: “Both myself and Cameron already volunteer with the NHS Young Health Champions Programme, which allows us to spend time on different wards and learn about different medical specialisms, but the summer school will give us experience of what it’s like to actually study medicine.

“Having the opportunity to talk to, and shadow doctors who have years of experience and knowledge, will be invaluable. I’m also looking forward to getting an insight into what to expect at university.”

Cameron, 16, joined Ron Dearing in Year 10 and is now studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-Levels in the school’s Sixth Form.

He has aspirations of securing a place to study medicine at one of the Russell Group Universities, and says his time at Ron Dearing has equipped him with the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue his goals.

He said: “I feel very lucky to have been at Ron Dearing for both GCSE and A-Level. The staff provide so much support, from helping us research different universities to preparing us for interviews and sign-posting us to extra-opportunities such as the HYMS summer school.

“Myself and Ruby are also both completing First Aid Training during the summer, which is organised and fully paid for by the school.

“We know that getting into medical school is very competitive, so all the opportunities and experiences we’re gaining at Ron Dearing will definitely help us stand out and provide us with experiences which we can reflect on and talk about in our university interviews.”

The school provides a plethora of enrichment opportunities to support students to pursue careers across a wide range of sectors.

Students considering a career in medicine recently participated in Hull York Medical School’s Young Medic Day which provided insight into careers in healthcare, and they’ve also enjoyed a number of talks from medical professionals during the school’s popular Lunch and Learn series.

Head of Sixth Form Kathy King said: “Huge congratulations to Ruby and Cameron on securing a place to attend the HYMS summer school!

“This is an amazing opportunity for both students, offering them a taste of what it is like to attend medical school. This experience will be invaluable and expose both students to the workings of a real-life medical setting.”

A talented student at Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) has been recognised in a prestigious national competition for her imaginative set design and creative vision.

Year 12 student Amelia Prajsnar scooped the Highly Commended accolade in the set design category of the Royal Opera House Design Challenge, a national competition which celebrates young creative talent.

The annual competition challenges students to follow the processes of a professional designer to meet a brief set by The Royal Opera and Ballet, with this year’s challenge set by Creative Associate David Pickering, for the ballet The Winter’s Tale.

Entrants are tasked to create a costume, set, marketing campaign or wig and makeup design, for the selected theatre production.

The competition recognises, celebrates and showcases the next generation of design talent while improving access to design jobs in theatre and beyond, enhancing students’ hands-on skills to help them achieve their qualifications.

Ron Dearing has supported students to enter the competition for the last two years, by tasking Year 12 creative students to develop a design, and selecting one winning design in each category to enter into the competition.

Amelia, who is studying Fine Art, Graphic Communications and 3D Design was one of 800 students from across the UK who entered the competition, and stood out amongst fierce competition to secure the Highly Commended Award.

The 17-year-old was invited to a special event at the Royal Opera House where the winning students were presented with their award and had the opportunity to spend some time with professionals to get an insight into the day-to-day working life of the Royal Ballet and Opera.

Amelia also had the opportunity to see her work on public display in the Linbury Foyer at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, where it will remain on display until July 1st.

Speaking about the trip, she said: “It was a great day, and I met so many amazing people. They took us on a tour of the Royal Opera House’s backstage areas as well as the set design and prop design departments which were so inspiring! I’m so happy I had the opportunity to go!

“I was never expecting to win the Highly Commended Award, it took a while to sink in when I found out, but I feel really proud.”

Amelia’s set design was centred around juxtaposition, and featured an abstract illustration of trees, complemented by changing light projections.

She said: “A key theme in A Winter’s Tale is the contrast between the two kingdoms, Bohemia and Sicilia, so I wanted to reflect that in my design, by using juxtaposing elements, colours and materials.

“I play in an orchestra in my spare time, so my interpretation of the show’s music was also a big inspiration for my design.

“Another key factor which influenced my design was environmental considerations. The Theatre Green Book is a guide to creating more sustainable theatre operations, so I wanted my design to align with considerations outlined in the guide.

“Many sets are only used once, they are difficult to transport, so end up in storage. I made all the elements of my set detachable, so they are easier to store and transport. The versatility of my design also means it can be used for multiple shows, by creating different light projects for different productions.”

The judges said Amelia had “carefully considered” all aspects of designing for the Royal Opera House, including the movement of dancers and the audiences experience, adding that her ideas to incorporate lighting and projections were “wonderful”.

Lynn Garland Collins, Creative Director at Ron Dearing said: “Amelia always goes above and beyond with her research, development, analysis and experimentation, so we’re delighted to see her hard work and creativity recognised in this prestigious competition.

“She always considers the client’s needs and regularly reflects on her own work to push herself to produce the best outcome. Huge congratulations to Amelia on this fantastic achievement.”

Hull’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC), has retained its “Outstanding” status in a glowing inspection report from Ofsted.

Following an in-depth inspection carried out in May, inspectors praised the school for its ambitious curriculum, exemplary student behaviour and impressive learner destinations.

Inspectors described the school as having “a relaxed, friendly and industrious feel” and praised the staff’s effective support which leads pupils to “achieve very highly and feel successful”.

Year after year, Ron Dearing UTC supplies outstanding young talent for leading businesses in the region, including its founding partners KCOM, Reckitt, Siemens Gamesa, Smith+Nephew and Spencer Group.  Students have also gone on to work for the likes of Rolls Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and BAE Systems.

Students opting for higher education have secured places at leading universities, including the UTC’s university partner, the University of Hull, and the elite Russell Group of universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

The Ofsted report heaped praise on the school across a broad range of areas including the curriculum, student behaviour, staff and leadership teams, and student outcomes.

“Highly ambitious” curriculum

The school’s unique employer-led curriculum is one of the key areas highlighted in the report, with inspectors describing the curriculum as “highly ambitious” and “carefully constructed”.

Working with employer partners, the school has created a curriculum that is relevant to the future employment that pupils aspire to, equipping them with the knowledge, qualifications and skills to secure further education, employment and training, the report said.

The report highlights enrichment activities that enhance students’ learning, including employer projects which help to deepen subject understanding, and the opportunity for students to gain professional qualifications, such as health and safety training.

“Superb” student behaviour

The report recognises that the school’s unique curriculum means students are engaged in what they study and demonstrate “consistently superb behaviour”.

Inspectors describe pupils as “knowledgeable, interesting and articulate”, and praise the school’s extremely low absence rate, which continues to reduce.

Trusted staff and leaders

Staff at the school are also recognised in the report, with inspectors saying “relationships between pupils and staff are warm and professional”, adding that “pupils respond extremely well to the trust placed in them and to the school’s aspirational culture”.

The school’s leaders are described as “relentless in their pursuit of excellence for pupils”, saying staff are trusted and feel well supported by the school’s leadership team.

The inspectors also found the school’s arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Impressive student outcomes

As a result of the high-quality teaching and the enriched curriculum, pupils consistently achieve highly in national assessments and secure next steps in education, employment or training, the report said.

Inspectors described the school’s careers education, advice and guidance as “extremely high quality” adding that “the school personalises support for pupils ensuring that they have the best possible chance of achieving their aspirations”.

The report noted that all students had progressed to further education, employment or training since the school opened and said many outcomes in the sixth form are some of the highest in the country.

Happy school community

Not only do students go onto achieve their career goals, but they are happy during their time at the school, and feel “confident to express their individuality”, the inspectors found.

The report said “pupils enjoy their time at the school and are interested in what they study”, adding “they recognise the exceptional education that they receive and the benefits that this affords them”.

Parents who provided input as part of the inspection process also provided glowing feedback, with many saying they “feel fortunate” that their child attends Ron Dearing UTC, with inspectors also sharing that “parents, carers, staff and pupils feel privileged to be part of the school”.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said the Ofsted report was a tremendous achievement for everyone connected to the school.

She said: “We’re delighted to have retained our Outstanding rating from Ofsted.

“It’s fantastic to hear that parents, carers, staff and pupils feel privileged to be part of the school and we’re proud of the tight-knit community we have built over the past eight years.

“This outcome is a testament to the talent and commitment of our incredible team of teachers and support staff. Our teachers are experts in their subjects and are knowledgeable in adapting their teaching to meet the needs of all our students, while our support staff are dedicated to helping pupils achieve their full potential.

“I’m delighted that the proactive partnership between the school and our university and employer partners has been recognised by Ofsted for providing the highest quality education.  The unique learning opportunities that this partnership approach creates for our students helps them develop into well-rounded young people, equipped with everything they need to achieve their full potential.”

Located in Kingston Square, Hull city centre, Ron Dearing UTC opened in 2017 offering a unique education model for students aged 14 to 19, with a specialist focus on engineering, digital and computing, art and design, maths, English and science and healthcare.

Since its last Ofsted inspection in 2020, the school has expanded and now has an additional facility adjacent to the main building. Opened in 2023, STEAM Studios houses a cutting-edge creative hub including a gallery and exhibition space, digital and photography studios, and 2D and 3D art studios, to prepare students for careers in the creative sector.

Richard Martin, Chair of the Governing Board and Non-Executive Director of Ron Dearing UTC Major Partner, Arco, said: “Huge congratulations to our Principal, our Head of School, the entire Ron Dearing staff team, our students, their parents and carers, the University of Hull and all of our employer partners for their dedication to making Ron Dearing an Outstanding school.

“It is clear from the consistently impressive student outcomes and destinations that Ron Dearing has found the perfect recipe for developing well-rounded young people who have the skills and confidence to thrive in the world of work.

“This is yet another confirmation that Ron Dearing students are equipped with the highest quality education and maturity to set them up for success in their lives after school.”