Smiling students share excitement at GCSE success

Students at Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) could not contain their excitement as they arrived to collect their GCSE results today.

Two years ago, the students and their parents made the big decision to leave their previous schools and join the new employer-led Ron Dearing UTC when it opened its doors in 2017.

Today, they excitedly made their way into the Hull city centre school to find out if their decision, hard work and determination had paid off – and it had!

Of the 116 Year 11 students, 102 achieved the entry criteria for a place in Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form, leaving a limited number of places for external applicants available in Year 12 from September, while others have secured high-quality apprenticeships.

Principal Sarah Pashley and her team were on hand to guide and support the students as they eagerly opened the brown envelopes containing their results.

The results saw 70% of students achieve grades 4-9 in both English and Maths, 40% of students secure grades 5-9 in English and Maths, 11% of students achieve a grade 8 or 9 in Maths, 13% attain a grade 8 or 9 in Physics, and 44% of students achieve a Distinction or Distinction* in Engineering in a technical qualification equivalent to a GCSE. Progress in Maths and Physics is also likely to be in line with the top 5% of all schools in England and Wales.


Charlie Kearton

Charlie Kearton beamed from ear to ear as he discovered he had achieved six GCSEs and two technical qualifications, including grade 9 in Chemistry, Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

He will also move into the school’s Sixth Form to study A-level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

Charlie, who hopes to work in software development and computer programming in the future, said: “I’m buzzing. I was so nervous and was counting down the hours until I could get my results.

“It was definitely worth coming to Ron Dearing UTC and I have loved every step of it. It has worked out very well for me.”

Molly Walker secured six GCSEs and two technical qualifications, including a grade 9 in Maths and a Distinction in Engineering Manufacturing.

She is now looking forward to returning to Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form in September to study A-level Maths and Further Maths, as well as Creative iMedia.

Molly said: “I’m over the moon and couldn’t be happier. I did everything I could and my results show that.

“The teachers and staff have been amazing. They go the extra mile and give up their own time so students can get the grades they deserve.”


Family congratulations for Carter Lees

Carter Lees collected his results with his mum, Hayley Lees, by his side. He achieved six GCSEs, including grade 9 in Chemistry and grade 8 in Maths and Physics, and two technical qualifications, including a Distinction* in Engineering Design.

Carter, who hopes to eventually become an architect, said: “I’m coming back into the Sixth Form at Ron Dearing to study Maths, Physics and Engineering, and I’m considering taking Chemistry too because my grade was so good.

“I’m so happy with my results. Moving to Ron Dearing UTC has helped me to grow up and I love coming to school.”

Hayley, who had tears in her eyes as Carter revealed his outstanding results, said: “I’m so proud. Carter coming to Ron Dearing UTC is the best decision we ever made. When you change schools during your secondary school life, you wonder if you’re doing the right thing.

“There was nothing to confirm it was an amazing school at the time because it was new. But it has been fantastic and the staff treat the students as adults.”


Olly and Tom O’Loughlin

Meanwhile, it was a double celebration for twin brothers Tom and Olly O’Loughlin, 16, who also each achieved six GCSEs and two technical qualifications.

Tom secured a Distinction in Engineering Design and three grade 7s in Maths, Chemistry and Physics, and will now go into Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form to study A-level Maths and Physics, as well as Engineering.

He said: “I’m really happy with my results. My old school was good, but it didn’t offer Engineering as an option, which I want for my career in Engineering Design. Ron Dearing UTC is a lot more practical and this is definitely the right path for me.”

Olly, who would also like a career in Engineering, achieved a Distinction in Engineering Design and a grade 7 in Maths, and will also go into the school’s Sixth Form to study Engineering and A-level Maths.

He said: “I was so nervous about receiving my results, but I’m very happy. Moving to Ron Dearing UTC offered a change and something different, and it’s paid off.”

Tom and Olly’s mum, Debbie O’Loughlin, watched with pride as her sons told of their hopes for the future.

Debbie said: “Tom and Olly were so sure about coming to Ron Dearing UTC from the first moment we heard about it. They have always been hands-on learners and this is the place for them.

“I’m so proud of them and so grateful to the school. We have got to know the staff like family and everyone is on first name terms.”


Olivia Milner

Olivia Milner, 16, completed six GCSEs and two technical qualifications, including achieving a level 5 in English.

With her sights set on becoming an architect in the future, she will now study Creative iMedia, Art and Design, and Engineering Design in Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form.

Olivia said: “I didn’t think I was going to pass everything, but I have. Ron Dearing has offered me more opportunities to complete Engineering courses and it’s very hands-on learning.”

Jacob Tevenan, 16, was another student smiling as the news of his achievements sunk in.

He achieved six GCSSEs and two technical qualifications, including a grade 9 in Maths, grade 8 in Physics and Chemistry, and grade 7 in Computer Science.

Jacob, who will go on to study A-level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computing at Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form, said: “I’m really content with my results.

“It’s a cliché, but you feel like part of a family at Ron Dearing UTC and it’s really tight-knit. Everyone is approachable and it’s a relaxed but professional environment. If you work hard, you do well.”


Xander Topliss-Yates with mum Tricia Boulton and stepdad David Boulton

Xander Topliss-Yates’ excellent results included a grade 7 in Chemistry and 6 in Maths and Physics and he’s now moving on to Sixth Form, to study Triple Computer Science.

He said: “I’m very happy with my results and I’m looking forward to Sixth Form because of the experience I’ve had at the school so far. Hopefully it will be as good or even better.”

His mum Tricia Boulton said: “The teachers here have been so supportive – they’ve been amazing and have helped Xander every step of the way.

“The difference in Xander has been incredible. He didn’t want to go to school at his previous school. Here he has made a new set of friends and he’s much happier at home because he’s happy at school.”

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.

Ron Dearing students share their joy as standout results are revealed

Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) students have told of their joy after achieving outstanding results in A-level and technical qualifications exams.

The first set of public results since the school opened its doors in 2017 have been revealed with 85 Year 13 students excitedly arriving at the school today to find out their grades.

The school achieved a 100% pass rate, with 25% of all grades being A or A* and 70% of grades A*-C. The average grade achieved by the students is a B, compared to last year’s national average of C+, and 13 students achieved straight A* or A grades.

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.


Joey Reybould

Joey Reybould, 18, who achieved an A* in A-level maths, an A in A-level further maths, and two Distinction*s in Engineering, will now to go on study maths at Durham University from September.

He said: “I’m very happy with my results. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I really hoped it would be these grades, so I’m relieved.

“My A-levels were challenging, to say the least. But as my teacher said, it’s not hard, it’s hard work.

“When you visit the employer partners and their businesses, you can see where maths comes in. I enjoy maths and enjoying it is what has helped me to get these results.

“The teachers have been great and I couldn’t have asked for any more.”


Cameron Greenway

Cameron Greenway, 18, was also delighted after learning he had achieved a Distinction* and a Distinction in Computer Science, and a further Distinction in Engineering.

He is now looking forward to studying Computer Science with Games Programming at the University of Huddersfield.

Cameron said: “I was nervous in the run-up to results day. But I’ve worked really hard and I was expecting these results, so I’m really happy.

“There has been a lot of coursework, which I’ve enjoyed, and the teachers have been really supportive. I would definitely recommend Ron Dearing UTC to others.”

Matthew Hunter, also 18, beamed from ear to ear as he opened the envelope containing his results, securing a Distinction in Creative Media, as well as two Distinction*s in Engineering.

He is about to begin an engineering apprenticeship at Spencer Group, one of the school’s Founding Partners, with the ambition to become a Design Engineer in the future.

Matthew said: “I’m really looking forward to working at Spencer Group. Their apprenticeship appealed to me and I also enjoyed work experience there over the summer.

“Ron Dearing UTC has given me a lot of independence. The teachers get behind you and, if you put the work in, you will do well.”

Some of the Ron Dearing UTC students have already started their apprenticeships, with many more looking forward to joining their employers in September.


Oliver Wilkinson

Oliver Wilkinson, 18, who achieved two Distinction*s in Engineering and a grade D in A-level physics, has also secured a Design Engineering apprenticeship at Spencer Group.

He said: “I’m really happy with my results. An apprenticeship is much more appealing to me than university because I can achieve a degree while doing my apprenticeship and Spencer Group specialises in what I want to do in the future.”

Prince Okonkwo, 18, is about to begin a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hull after achieving a Distinction* and a Distinction in Engineering, as well as a Distinction in Engineering Technology.

He said: “I’m so pleased with my results. Ron Dearing UTC was a new school when I started here and I believe it was the best decision for me.

“They even offered us free driving lessons and we have had opportunities which may not have been offered to us elsewhere.”

Jay Richards, 18, achieved three Distinctions in Computing and is now looking forward to starting an apprenticeship as a Systems Developer at Arco, the UK’s leading safety company and a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC.

Jay said: “I’m more of a hands-on, practical learner, which is why I decided to go down the apprenticeship route.

“The Arco apprenticeship means I’ll be able to work with and make software, which is what I want to do. I hoped for at least two Distinctions. To achieve three is fantastic.”

Students train as reporters to tell Freedom Festival story

Students from Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) are preparing to tell the story of Hull’s award-winning arts festival from a young person’s perspective as they take on the roles of reporters for the five-day event.

The Freedom Festival Arts Trust has teamed up with the employer-led school for a unique two-year partnership to create the Young Reporters Club, which will see three students join the event’s official media team in both 2019 and 2020.

The students who successfully applied following the announcement of the partnership in June will be tasked with producing a broad range of content, using writing, reporting, story-uncovering, blogging, vlogging, and photography skills, and will undergo training during the summer holidays ahead of the festival.

Students from Ron Dearing UTC are preparing to be Young Reporters at this year’s Freedom Festival, with the support of teaching staff. Pictured, from left, are Deon Wong, Kate Blowman, Teacher of Art & Digital Media, Shervin Ventura, Rebecca Harman and Lynn Garland-Collins, Assistant Principal.

The aim is to provide a platform for the voices of young people in Hull and enable them to tell the Freedom Festival story, exploring key issues such as human rights and equality and diversity, and building on the knowledge they are gaining through Ron Dearing UTC’s creative curriculum.

Shervin Ventura and Deon Wong, who will become Year 13 students at Ron Dearing UTC when the new school term begins in September, applied to join the club, and Rebecca Harman, who is about to become a Year 12 student, also put herself forward for the challenge.

Engineering and Media student Shervin, 17, said: “This is a great chance for me to be able to understand media and experience exactly what it is.

“I’m looking forward to recording the festival through photojournalism, candid social shots and documentary photography, and I want to come away from this understanding more about how the media industry works, as well how content is produced.

“I’ve enjoyed photography as a hobby for the past five years but I never imagined I’d get the chance to do something like this.”

Now in its 12th year, the Freedom festival runs from Wednesday, August 28, to Sunday, September 1 and features world-class street theatre, circus, dance, visual art, music, talks, exhibitions and debates. Last year the festival attracted 132,000 visitors to the city and delivered a £4.3m boost to the local economy.

Ron Dearing UTC is the first and only school to partner with the Freedom Festival Arts Trust in this way and the students’ content is set to be seen by tens of thousands of people.

In addition, the students have to complete journalism, social media and digital photography units as part of their studies and the Young Reporters Club experience will contribute towards those elements of their qualifications.

Creative Digital and Digital Technology student Deon, 16, said: “I’m looking forward to learning new skills during our training and I want to improve how I interact with people, so this will give me the opportunity to do that.

“Using my photography skills, I will be able to capture the emotions from the artists’ facial expressions and try to capture the key moments during their performances.”

Assistant Principal Lynn Garland-Collins and Kate Blowman, Teacher of Art and Creative Media, are leading on the project from Ron Dearing UTC and said the students will be briefed on their tasks each morning during the festival.

Lynn said: “They will be able to capture images from different perspectives and meet and interview many of the artists, so it’s a great networking opportunity too.

“They will also have the opportunity to contribute to a debate on digital democracies, which will look at how Hull will change digitally in the future.

“I’m so proud of all the students who have volunteered. You have to take a risk to move forward and they are all really brave.”

The students underwent a formal interview with Jenny Howard-Coombes, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom Festival Arts Trust, and her team, before securing the roles.

Jenny said: “We are really excited about having young reporters join our team and begin this new two-year partnership with Ron Dearing UTC.

“I was involved in interviewing the students and I can tell you that Hull’s next generation has such incredible talent. We can’t wait to hear this voice amplified during Freedom Festival.”

Picrtures: R&R Studio.

Students experience culture and creativity in the capital

Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) students have visited London to expand their creative and cultural understanding, gaining inspiration as they progress on their learning journeys.

The 31 Year 10 students spent three days in the capital learning more about the different subjects offered at the employer-led school, including art and design, creative media, digital technology, engineering and computer science.

All of the places they visited, such as the Science Museum, Covent Garden, Design Museum, Tate Modern, the Van Gogh Exhibition at the Tate Britain, and the British Museum, link into the topics they can study within these subjects.

Kate Blowman, Teacher of Art and Creative Media at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The trip had something for everybody. Those interested in computer science really enjoyed the Design Museum and the artists loved the Tate Modern, or Tate Britain, seeing a wide variety of exhibitions.

“They see art online, or in books, but it’s so different seeing it in real life, and the architecture around London was also fascinating for students interested in design engineering.

“The creative digital aspect has always been embedded at Ron Dearing UTC, but art is fairly new and we wanted everybody to experience the creative side of the exhibitions.”

The students, who also saw the hit musical Wicked in London’s West End, said the experience brought learning to life.

Harvey Jubb, 14, said: “I would like to go into engineering in the future and I took a lot of information away from the trip, which I can use in my lessons. I got involved in everything and really enjoyed the whole experience.”

Liam Garrett, 15, who dreams of becoming a pilot and has a keen interest in computer science, said: “Trips like this help you to see more and improve your social skills because you’re with a lot of people and you’re learning away from the classroom.”

Science brought to life as students visit world-class research centre


Sixth form students from Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) have travelled to Switzerland to visit one of the world’s leading centres for scientific research, to bring their physics studies to life.

Fifteen Year 12 and 13 physics students were the first students from the employer-led school to travel abroad on an educational visit, flying from Manchester to Geneva for the three-day trip.

The Ron Dearing UTC group outside CERN, home to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.

They visited the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, which operates the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.

The LHC, which sits in a tunnel 100 metres underground at CERN, pushes protons or ions close to the speed of light and consists of a 27-kilometre ring of superconducting magnets with accelerating structures which boost the energy of the particles along the way.

Physicists and engineers at CERN probe the fundamental structure of the particles which make up the universe and do so using the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments.

Students enjoyed an amazing learning experience at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, known as CERN.

The Ron Dearing students also visited the United Nations (UN) offices in Geneva, where they had a guided tour of the building and found out about the history of the second largest of the four major UN sites.

In addition, they visited a human rights exhibition, as well as having a free day to explore the city and take in the sights, such as Lake Geneva, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and parks.

Our students outside the United Nations building in Geneva, the second largest of the four major UN sites.

Trip organiser Harry Banks, Lead Practitioner of Science at Ron Dearing UTC, said the trip was enjoyable and informative, with plans now underway to open up more overseas educational visits.

He said: “The main purpose of the trip was to support the students’ physics studies and give them a wider understanding of the application of politics in the wider world with the visit to the UN.

“It gave the students an opportunity to see what they could aspire to become in the future and they were able to see how scientists collaborate internationally. Now we’re back, the students are learning more about particle physics and particle accelerators as a follow-up.

“I’d like to take the students, including some year 11s, to the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, next year and alternate between there and CERN each year, so they can experience both.

“Trips like this give the students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and look at the opportunities science can bring them, not just as individuals, but in the wider world.”

Taking a cooling dip in spectacular Lake Geneva.

Year 12 student Josh Stanley, 16, who would like to study electrical engineering at university, said the visit brought the world of science to life.

He said: “It was really interesting and great fun learning more about CERN, and going to the UN was the highlight for me because we were able to see a meeting taking place.

“I had heard of CERN before but never had the opportunity to visit. It made me realise how much we are willing to do in the name of science and I’d like to do a job which exists because of scientific advancements in the future.

“We really feel lucky – I don’t know of another school which offers experiences like this.”

Year 13 student Nathan Tennison, 18, hopes to study astrophysics at the University of Leeds, starting in September.

He said: “Geneva is a lovely city and CERN was really cool. I’ve always wanted to visit CERN and I studied particle accelerators for a year before the trip.

“The main thing I learnt was about the importance of magnets and helium, and it was great to see how everyone was united in the number one goal of finding out more about the energies of the universe.”

Students apply maths and engineering skills to sewer scheme challenges


Students from Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) drew on their maths and engineering expertise to offer their take on a huge project to improve London’s sewerage system.

Slipform Engineering, a sister company of Spencer Group, one of the employer-led school’s Founding Partners, is one of the contractors working on the upgrade of the capital’s sewerage system, known as the Thames Tideway project.

London currently relies on a 150-year-old sewer system built for a population of less than half its current size, which results in millions of tonnes of untreated raw sewage spilling into the River Thames each year.

The Chambers Wharf shaft, one of the biggest access points as part of the London’s huge Thames Tideway project, which Ron Dearing UTC students have been learning about.

The Thames Tideway project, which is due to compete in 2024, involves building a 25 kilometre “super sewer” under the Thames to intercept the spills and clean up the river.

The new system transfers the waste below the river itself, rather than into the water, and a concrete column needs to be installed to the depth of the new drain, reinforced with a steel structure to redirect the sewerage.

The concrete structure is made by using a “slipforming rig”, which allows the continuous pouring of concrete into a moving form, creating a seamless structure.

To move the slipforming rig through the column, a series of hydraulic jacks are required at the top of the column and are anchored on support beams, known as a steel grillage. This needs to be strong enough to support the weight of the rig, ensuring it doesn’t bend and remains horizontal.

Slipform Engineering, a sister company of Ron Dearing UTC Founding Partner Spencer Group, is working on the Thames Tideway “super sewer” formed by a 25km tunnel, featuring 24 construction sites.

In one of the latest technically challenging projects set by Founding Partners at Ron Dearing UTC, Year 12 maths and engineering students were tasked with investigating the appropriateness of different structures for the steel grillage and designing a set of beams so the rig remained in place and didn’t slip.

Project members had to demonstrate their solutions using calculations and drawing detailed diagrams to back up their theories.

Dan Howard, Assistant Principal for Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students found it fascinating to learn about such an enormous engineering project and enjoyed applying the skills they have developed to meet the challenges it poses.

“Projects like this bring maths and engineering out of the classroom and into the real world.”

Students inspect and test cables as project brings ultrafast broadband rollout to life

Sixth form students at the Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) have been tasked with inspecting and testing the science behind KCOM’s ultrafast fibre broadband network.

KCOM is one of the employer-led school’s Founding Partners and has rolled out its Lightstream service to its customers in Hull and the surrounding area.

The Hull-based IT and communications company has rolled out 11,000,000m of fibre cable – enough to stretch around the Moon – to reach customers in its network and each cable needs to be joined at appropriate intersections using a process called splicing.

A process called “fusion splicing” involves heating the fibre cables up to 4,000C, at which point the fibres then join, and splicing the cables is critical to ensuring KCOM maintains excellent customer service.

Ron Dearing UTC Sixth form students have been learning about the rollout of KCOM’s ultrafast fibre broadband network in one of the school’s employer-led projects.

As part of the project brief, KCOM invited 22 Year 12 and 13 engineering and digital technology students in as consultants to see how they’d approach the delicate process.

They visited KCOM’s Lighthouse demonstration facility at its Salvesen Way offices in Hull, which provides an insight into how the telecommunications industry has evolved over the past 100 years. The Lighthouse brings to life the science behind fibre broadband networks, from the equipment at the local telephone exchange all the way to the customer’s router at home.

The students were then tasked with manufacturing spliced cable joints, continuing the project in school.

They then had to report how they could use inspection and testing methods, as well as processes, to identify issues during the joint installations, and during the manufacture of the components, to reduce the number of low-quality spliced joints.

Dan Howard, Assistant Principal for Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students were taught how to fusion splice, which is the welding together of fibre optic cables. They then did this in school and had to inspect and test the joints, and assess how it all works.

“Key to the project is gaining hands-on experience of working alongside the KCOM staff, who do this on a daily basis, and the engineers who go out into the field. Learning from them brings it all to life.”

The challenge is one of many technically-complex projects set by Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, which aim to inspire and educate students as they progress through their learning journey.

Simon Lucas, KCOM’s Head of IT Service Operations, said: “It was fantastic to welcome students from Ron Dearing UTC to give them an insight into how we work and why engineering is such an important and rewarding career.

“As a Hull-based company it’s vitally important that we are creating the next generation of engineers and digital professionals with the skills to help not only KCOM, but the whole local economy thrive.

“It’s great that Ron Dearing UTC is inspiring young people with the skills needed to prosper and make Hull a leading tech hub for the 21st Century.”