We’ve been named as the leading state secondary school in Hull and the East Riding for attendance and ranked among the top three schools across the wider Yorkshire region.

New figures published by the Department for Education for the academic year 2023-24 have revealed Hull’s employer-led school has the highest attendance rate in Hull and the East Riding, with an impressive 96.14 per cent, compared to the national average of 91.1 per cent.

The school, in Kingston Square, Hull city centre, is also on track for an even higher attendance rate in the 2024-25 academic year, currently averaging rates above 97 per cent.

 

The school’s unique, employer-led curriculum is a key contributor to the exceptionally high attendance rates, blending core GCSE and A-Level studies with a range of technical and professional qualifications.

During their studies, students have the opportunity to take the theory they learn in the classroom and apply it to projects designed and delivered by the school’s Employer Partners.

Students also enjoy the adult-style education experience, which mirrors workplace practices and prepares them for stepping into employment.

From the time they join the UTC at the start of Year 10, students are treated as young professionals, with the school having exceptionally high standards of behaviour and a longer working week. Students are on first-name terms with staff and are given greater independence and responsibility, allowing them to take ownership of their own learning and develop a greater sense of maturity.

High quality teaching and support staff work closely with students to ensure each individual is making progress and is recognised for their achievements, increasing their motivation and a desire to learn.

While academic excellence is a top priority, the school also provides high standards of care, guidance and emotional support, to ensure students’ needs are met in all aspects of their school life.

The school’s large student support team includes the Vice Principal, three Senior Assistant Principals, Pastoral Mentors, an Attendance Manager, a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), Teaching Assistants, a Safeguarding Co-ordinator, 3 Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinators and representatives from external agencies, who are always on hand to help answer questions and concerns, and if needed, put measures in place to enable students to reach their full potential.

 

Attendance Manager, Natasha Whitehead, said: “Our ethos of positivity and celebrating achievement is a big part of why our students enjoy coming to school and are motivated to have high attendance.

“Our Professional Values and Behaviour Policy places a strong emphasis on positively reinforcing good behaviour and rewarding success, which incentivises students to work hard.

“Students feel motivated because teachers provide regular feedback and recognise their achievements. We find that young people are more engaged and eager to come to school when they can see the progress they are making.

“We are also passionate about building strong relationships with our students’ parents and carers. By connecting with parents through real conversations and hosting regular parents’ evenings, rather than relying on impersonal letters or emails, we ensure that parents are actively involved and work with us to support their child’s school attendance.”

A recent report published by the Department for Education showed just how important attendance is for student attainment.

The report revealed that students who attended school daily in Year 11 were almost twice as likely to achieve a Grade 5 in their English and Maths GCSEs, compared to those who only attended 90 to 95 per cent of the time. Just 10 days of absence reduced the likelihood of getting a strong pass by around 50 per cent.

RDUTC’s exceptional attendance certainly supports this correlation, with the UTC topping the local school league tables for the percentage of students achieving Grade 5 and higher in both GCSE Maths and English.

 

Vice Principal Mark Ollerenshaw said: “There is a direct correlation between attendance and attainment and students are much more likely to achieve their best results if they regularly attend school.

“There is just no substitute for being in a classroom with an experienced teacher. Being able to ask questions and gain feedback is invaluable for a student’s development.

“Understanding the importance of having a high attendance is also a key employment skill. In the workplace, employers expect their team members to be punctual and reliable, and instilling this into students as early as possible is extremely beneficial when they step into the world of work.”

Mark added: “We’re really proud to have been named the leading local school and among the top three schools in Yorkshire for attendance, but we’re not resting on our laurels and we’re continually striving to do even better!

“Our strong attendance rates are a testament to our students who are motivated to achieve their personal best, as well as our dedicated pastoral team and teaching and support  staff, who work closely with our young people to support them and make Ron Dearing a place where everyone can succeed.”

• To see where Ron Dearing UTC ranked in the list of Yorkshire state secondary schools, click here.

Ron Dearing UTC has strengthened its relationship with a special school in Hull which caters for pupils with severe and multiple learning difficulties, including those on the autistic spectrum.

Students in Years 10 and 12 at the UTC visited Tweendykes School on World Book Day to deliver an interactive session for the school’s junior children based on the popular children’s novel, George’s Marvellous Medicine, by Roald Dahl.

Ron Dearing students performed a short, interactive retelling of the novel, helping to immerse the Tweendyke children in the story.

The pupils then got hands-on to re-create the medicine in a stimulating sensory activity, which gave the younger pupils the opportunity to engage with the story by exploring different textures and sounds to unleash their creativity and have fun.

There was also a quiet area for children to sit and read together if they wanted some downtime.

Ron Dearing’s Lead Practitioner for Literacy, Lucy Thompson, said: “I started the partnership between Tweendykes School and Ron Dearing last year when their students visited us on World Book Day.

“I’m an advocate for integrating mainstream students and special school students in social scenarios, and celebrating literature is a great way to do that.

“We had an incredible response from all the students and staff involved at both schools, and we can’t wait for more opportunities to work together again.”

Ron Dearing’s Head of Key Stage Four, Richard Stark, added: “It was a fantastic enrichment opportunity for our students and it was a great way to connect them with other young people in the city who they possibly wouldn’t get to meet.

“Both groups of students were a credit to their respective schools and the whole day was brilliant.”

Ron Dearing students who took part in the day said it had been a fantastic opportunity to meet other youngsters in the city, and share their joint love of literature.

Year 10 student, Lacey Jobling said: “It was interesting to see how all the students played with the activities. It was funny because you realise how differently we relate to books, but also how we’re all the same too and enjoy a good story.”

Fellow Year 10 pupil, Louie Robinson said: “It was a really wholesome experience. I loved throwing rice and making musical bands with all the kids. I hope to do it all again soon!”

Employers and industry experts are helping Ron Dearing students prepare for entering the work force thanks to greater employer led learning in English classes.

Ron Dearing UTC works with a wide variety of employer partners and is now incorporating even more employer led initiatives into its English curriculum to provide students with industry insights across all subjects.

In Year 10, students have been working with two of the UTC’s founding partners, KCOM and Spencer Group, to hone their public speaking skills.

 

The two business have been supporting the school’s oracy programme, with employees setting the students briefs based on real-life business examples. The students were tasked to consider and plan how they’d communicate the business’s message to key stakeholders, before presenting their ideas to the employers.

Meanwhile, Year 11 students who are currently studying Romeo and Juliet have engaged in a workshop delivered by Hull Truck Theatre to help bring the text to life.

 

The theatre’s Associate Director Tom Saunders worked with two actors to perform key scenes from the play to further enhance student understanding of the plot and characterisation and give them an opportunity to engage with the text as a performance.

KS5 students studying English A Level enjoyed an informal writing session with experienced Journalist, Harriet Williamson.

 

As part of their A-Level English exam, the students must write a feature article on a language issue such as ‘gender’ or ‘accent prejudice’ and make this accessible to somebody who has not studied linguistics. During the session Harriet shared a range of her own articles and headlines and discussed how she tackles tricky assignments.

Journalist Harriet, and Hull Truck Theatre’s Associate Director Tom, also hosted Lunch and Learn sessions for both KS4 and KS5 students to provide insights into their professions and highlight routes into the respective industries.

Head of English, Jack Campbell said: “Our students are attracted to Ron Dearing because of our strong employer links. This year we have really focused on developing this within the English curriculum.

“The Year 10 oracy project has enabled our students to see how the transferable skills gained in English lessons could be applied to help them thrive in the world of work.

“We were also really lucky to have Tom and the team from Hull Truck Theatre come into school to perform key scenes of Romeo and Juliet to our Year 11s – the sessions were engaging and enabled our students to see the play performed rather than read.

“It has been lovely to see students engaging with these opportunities and impressing our employer partners.”

Students at Ron Dearing UTC are gaining valuable insights to help open their eyes to the opportunities available to them after school thanks to a new programme which is providing the inside scoop on a wide variety of careers.

The school has launched a new ‘Lunch and Learn’ programme for the 2024-25 academic year to equip students with valuable insider knowledge on job roles across a range of industries.

Students from all year groups are invited to attend the sessions and hear from industry experts about their personal career journeys.

The sessions aim to shed light on the essential skills, qualifications and personal qualities students need to access roles in the guest speaker’s field, as well as highlight career pathways and progression routes.

The teenagers will also gain valuable insights into the speakers’ roles, including challenges and rewards of the job, what a typical day looks like and much more.

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal: Professionalism said: “The strong support from both students and the professional community has made the launch of our Lunch and Learn programme a resounding success.

“This initiative provides enhanced access to excellent careers advice and guidance for our students, allowing them to explore diverse career paths and gain valuable insights from professionals from diverse backgrounds.

“By connecting students with industry experts, we are further enriching their career exploration opportunities, opening their eyes to possibilities they may not have otherwise considered, which will undoubtedly significantly impact their future choices.

“We’ve been incredibly encouraged by the level of student engagement, with students actively choosing to attend these sessions, expressing their gratitude to the volunteers and asking insightful questions.”

Since the programme launched in September, sessions have already featured talks from an Accountant, Bid Writer, Mental Health Nurse and Clinical Lead Nurse, with the first session of the Spring term featuring a talk from an NHS GP.

Year 10 student Megan Huntington has attended two of the sessions from professionals working in medical fields.

She said: “I’m still unsure exactly what I want to do after school so the Lunch and Learn sessions have given me the chance to look at a range of options that are open to me and help me start thinking about what areas I am most interested in.”

Year 12 student, Jim Hagar has also attended a number of the sessions to find out more about career pathways.

They said: “I’m undecided on what I want to do after completing my A Levels, as I’m interested in both the medical field and English, so having the opportunity to hear from people working in both those areas has been really useful and I’m especially looking forward to the journalism talk.”

Fellow Year 12 student Cameron Smith added: “My goal is to become a surgeon so I’ve attended both the nursing and GP talks. They’ve both been really helpful and insightful.

“It’s especially interesting to hear about a day in the life of professionals from various fields and how they reached their current roles.”

Upcoming sessions will feature talks from professionals including a Flight Lieutenant, Journalist, R&D Associate, Professor in Computer Science and many more.

Concluding, Lisa added: “We’re incredibly grateful for the generous contributions of our local professional volunteers, whose insights and experiences are invaluable. Their commitment to supporting the next generation is truly inspiring.

“We’re excited to continue building upon this success, expanding the programme and inviting even more professionals to share their expertise, ensuring our students are well-equipped to navigate their future career paths.”

If you are a professional interested in sharing your career journey with our students, please contact Lisa Regan at [email protected] to express your interest.

Year 13 Students at Ron Dearing UTC have gained valuable skills and insight to help them prepare for their next chapter after full-time education.

The UTC hosted a number of personal development activities during the Autumn term to give students vital skills to help them succeed when taking their first steps into the world of work.

Activities kicked off with an application preparation session hosted by one of Ron Dearing’s founding partners, Spencer Group.

The business’s HR Director Yvonne Moir spoke to students and provided information and guidance on best practices when preparing for and attending interviews and assessment days, including what makes a good covering letter and how to tackle tricky interview questions.

Students also participated in elevator pitches with partner, Harper Fox, and worked on putting together short pitches about their selves, highlighting their skills, experience and best assets to offer a potential employer.

Over 40 volunteers from 15 employer partners also ran mock interviews for the students, who had the opportunity to take part in multiple interviews, utilising the feedback from each one to improve their performance in the next.

 

A Level Photography and Digital Media student, Kai Bulliment, said: “Ron Dearing UTC prepares you for employment from Year 10. I’ve taken part in mock interviews and had really useful feedback covering both my strengths and weaknesses, which will stand me in good stead for when I have actual interviews.

“It’s boosted my confidence, as I know I am capable of making a good impression.”

The personal development activities culminated with Ron Dearing’s annual Apprenticeship Expo. Eighteen of the school’s founding and employer partners attended the event and spoke to students about the exciting opportunities available in fields such as renewable energy, IT, engineering, health and social care, design and recruitment.

Year 13 Double Engineering, Electronics, and Computing student, Olivier Dobosz said: “It’s been great to see what opportunities are available. In recent weeks we have been learning a lot about how to interview, how to speak with employers, how to draft CVs and personal statements, and so much more.

“This has all been really beneficial and I’m feeling confident about applying for jobs in the future.”

 

Many of the school’s alumni, who are now succeeding in their careers, were in attendance and spoke to current students about the experiences of stepping into employment.

One of those was Tom O’Loughlin, who is now a Trainee Engineer at one of the school’s founding partners, Spencer Group.

He said: “When I was at Ron Dearing UTC I learnt about the different employees which are partners of the school and Spencer Group stood out to me because of its diverse range of projects, and the chance to work in all kinds of different environments.

“As a former student myself, it has been great to attend the Apprenticeship Expo on behalf of Spencer Group and share my first-hand experience of going from the school into employment with the current students.”

 

Students were able to ask questions and network with employers, gaining valuable information ahead of apprenticeship and job applications.

Megan Coates, Graduate Development Scientist at Smith + Nephew said: “As a Hull-founded business and a partner of Ron Dearing UTC, it’s great to be able to meet local talent at an early stage.

“The students are always so well prepared for life after education, and events like this – as well as a recent mock interview event that we were also involved with – really contribute towards this.

“We love getting involved with work like this. It’s great to be able to see the enthusiasm from the workers of the future, and who we may end up working alongside in years to come.”

Concluding, Ron Dearing’s Senior Assistant Principal, Glenn Jenson added: “As an employer-led school, it’s vitally important that our employers play a leading part in our curriculum. Part of that is the destinations and the support that we give our young people.

“The Apprenticeship Expo is a fantastic event where our current Year 13 students that are looking to go into industry with some of these employers, can actually speak with them face to face and find out about the types of careers that are on offer this year, and what the companies are doing in a little bit more detail.”

 

Hull’s employer-led school has once again recorded a clean sweep with every single Year 13 student going on to a positive and exciting destination, paving the way for future success at leading businesses across the region and beyond.

A total of 47 of Ron Dearing University Technical College’s (UTC) 143 Year 13 sixth form students secured apprenticeships, including 27 with the school’s Employer Partners.

A further 53 students went to university, including nine at one of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, 30 went into employment and 13 moved on to further or higher education colleges.

The apprenticeships cover a wide range of roles, including aerospace engineering, research and development, IT, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), pipe fitting, wind turbine service and maintenance and more.

Global medical technology business Smith+Nephew, one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, has taken on four apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC this year.

Heidi Porter, Charlie Pepper, Ethan McGowan and Reuben Hiley, all 18, have hit the ground running in their respective roles.

 

Heidi is an apprentice project engineer, Ethan is a manufacturing apprentice, Charlie is an apprentice electronics engineer and Reuben an operations engineering apprentice, all of them based at the company’s site in Hull.

Former Ron Dearing UTC student Imogen Connolly, 18, has also secured an aerospace engineering degree apprenticeship at BAE Systems in Brough, East Yorkshire, and will be an Aerospace Engineer when she completes her four-year course.

 

BAE Systems provides some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. The business develops, engineers, manufactures and supports products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security and people, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

The Brough site plays a key role in the air sector as a centre for digital engineering excellence and Imogen could potentially be working on exciting projects from the Global Combat Air Programme to the Dreadnought Submarines Programme.

Jon Milner, Capability Lead at BAE Systems, a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC, said: “Many of our senior leaders across the business started their careers as apprentices and they are very valued. We ask a lot of our apprentices, but we give them a lot of support, help and knowledge too.

“Imogen’s apprenticeship is more than just engineering. We’re supporting her to develop as a person and she will also have the opportunity to travel as part of her role in the future.

“We’re delighted to be a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC and it’s a great opportunity to shape our future workforce and develop the talent pipeline needed to deliver engineering capability.”

Rolls-Royce Submarines is another major business which has taken on a former Ron Dearing UTC student as a Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer Degree Apprentice.

Oliver Moss, 19, works at the company’s Operations Centre in Derby while also studying at the University of Derby. He is the second Ron Dearing UTC student to be taken on by the company after Evie Hadfield began a Project Management degree apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce in Derby in 2022.

 

Opened in 2017, Ron Dearing UTC caters for students aged between 14 and 19, offering a unique model of employer-led education with a specialist focus on creative arts, digital technology, computing and engineering.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “We’re so proud of all of our students moving on to amazing destinations and carving out such brilliant futures for themselves.

“Working with our fantastic Employer Partners who help to shape our unique curriculum, we equip our students with crucial skills and opportunities to set them up for life.

“We love hearing the many success stories from our alumni and the incredible feedback from the employers who open the door for them to excel in their chosen careers.”

Students studying Digital Media at Ron Dearing UTC have received a glimpse into the real-world opportunities waiting for them when they leave school after connecting with businesses working in the industry here in Hull.

The group of Year 12 students took part in a three-week industry programme at Hull’s tech hub, C4DI, to help them gain new skills and insight into the industry.

The students engaged in sessions with some of the C4DI businesses which are working in a variety of digital media sectors including Meehan Media and Comms, Influence Media, Larkin PR, Future Humber, Mattix Design and T=Ø.

 

Topics included changes in technology, job opportunities in digital media, career pathways, attributes that employers look for and much more.

The students also had the opportunity to practice their communication skills by pitching questions to people already working in the industry and networking with business leaders.

C4DI’s Head of Partnerships, Linsey Brown, said: “One of the key reasons we’re passionate about supporting these initiatives is our commitment to growing local talent. By opening our doors and sharing our expertise, we’re creating pathways for young people to understand and access careers right on their doorstep.

“We know that the media industry, like many other creative and technical sectors, thrives on fresh perspectives, new voices, and up-and-coming professionals who bring energy and innovation.

“By supporting students and teachers through these sessions, we hope to inspire the next generation, ensure the continuity of skills in our local area, and contribute to a thriving community where homegrown talent can flourish and shape the future of the industry.”

The programme was managed by C4DI’s Projects Assistant, Ellie Parsons, who is herself an alumna of the UTC.

Ellie’s own journey—from student to professional—perfectly illustrates how Ron Dearing’s unique, employer-engaged curriculum sets its students up for successful careers.

Having come through the UTC’s supportive environment, she’s now in a position to give back, guiding new students towards opportunities that can kick-start their own paths to success.

Ellie said: ”Attending Ron Dearing UTC was a life-changing experience that gave me the guidance, skills and confidence to pursue qualifications towards the career I would like to follow.

“The teachers were incredibly supportive, helping me every step of the way and opening doors to future opportunities. If you get the chance to join RDUTC, take it – it’s an opportunity that can shape your future.”

 

Ron Dearing’s Lead Practitioner – Creative, Kate Blowman added: “Thank you to C4DI and all the businesses involved for providing this fantastic opportunity to our young people.

“It was a great chance for the students to expand the knowledge they’ve learnt in the classroom and hear real experiences and advice from professionals in the industry.

“It was also fantastic to see our former student Ellie thriving in her career and sharing her experiences with the next generation of students. It was really inspirational for our current students hear about Ellie’s journey.”