We have developed an extensive Phased Re-opening Plan for Years 10 and 12, with effect from w/b 15^th June. The safety of staff and parents is our first priority.

This plan has followed consultation with the Department for Education, teacher trade unions, all staff, our Parent Teacher Association and our Governing Board.

Here are the details.

What the government has instructed secondary schools to do

• “Provide some face-to-face support to supplement the remote education (online learning) of Year 10 and Year 12” from 15th June.    
• Limit the numbers of students in school at any one time to “a quarter of the Year 10 and Year 12 cohort” in order to “control the numbers attending school to reduce the risk of increasing transmission”.
• Continue to deliver online learning as “the predominant form of education”.
• Avoid students and staff using public transport during peak travel times.
• Limit class sizes to allow for social distancing – 2m apart.

 

Our priorities

• Maximise the safety of staff and students.
• Reduce transmission of COVID-19.
• Provide a valuable learning experience – not ‘paying lip service’.
• Ensure all subjects are covered during face-to-face learning.

 

Consultation

• Our phased re-opening plan has been carefully put together in consultation with:
  • The Department for Education.
  • Teacher trade unions.
  • All staff.
  • The Parent Teacher Association.
  • The Governing Board.
• Thank you to everyone involved!

 

Year 10

Hours:  10.30am – 3.00pm.

• Maintain existing online learning programme via Teams, including live meetings.
• Introduce weekly in-school learning programme:
  • W/b 15^th June    Options A & B.
  • W/b 22^nd June   English & Maths.
  • W/b 29^th June    Science
  • W/b 6^th July       Option C & English.
  • W/b 13^th July      Reviews
• Divide year group into four groups.
• Ensure class sizes do not exceed 10 students.
• Every student will attend one full day per week.

 

Year 12

Hours:  10.30am – 3.00pm.

• Maintain existing online learning programme via Teams, including live meetings.
• Introduce weekly in-school learning programme:
  • W/b 15th June     A Level subjects.
  • W/b 22nd June   Technical subjects.
  • W/b 29th June    Technical subjects.
  • W/b 6th July       A Level subjects.
  • W/B 13th July     Reviews
• Ensure groups sizes do not exceed 10 students.
• Student attendance per week will vary depending on courses being studied.

 

Strategies in place to minimise risk of transmission

1) Social distancing

• Arrival: Students queue at 2m outside RDUTC – SLT to manage entrance – everyone to adhere to 2m social distance on entrance to building.
• Classrooms set out as follows:
  • Separate seats 2m apart.
  • 10 students max.
  • 2m barricade for teachers – front row of desks.
  • Laptops on desks.
• Breaks to be taken in seats in classrooms.
• Lunch: Classes to be escorted to and from dining areas by SLT – staggered movement time.
• Departure: Classes to be dismissed by SLT – staggered.

 

2) PPE / hygiene

• In addition to handwashing / sanitiser / deep cleaning etc:
  • RDUTC to provide students with a ‘COVID-kit’ to include: hand sanitiser; tissue packs; wipes; pen; pencil; ruler; rubber; calculator.
  • RDUTC to provide students and staff with washable, non-medical face coverings which MUST be worn:
    • On entry to school.
    • When moving around corridor.
    • In dining areas.
    • In classrooms IF the teacher requests it.
    • On public transport to and from school, if relevant.
  • Staff and students to wipe down work areas / keyboards before and after use.
  • Rooms and equipment to be cleaned before and after each lesson.

 

3) Response to symptoms

• Where possible, staff and students to test temperature before setting off for school. If temperature is above 37.5 degrees:
  • Stay at home and self-isolate
  • Call Attendance line to report absence.
• Temperature reader at entrance barriers to screen staff and students. If temperature is above 37.5 degrees:
  • Go to COVID Isolation Room (Reception).
  • Temperature retested after 15 mins.
  • Temperature still above 37.5 degrees:
    • Students: parents contacted to collect.
    • Staff: go home.
• Students displaying symptoms during the day: Call out to alert SLT – face covering on – sent immediately to COVID Isolation Room. Parents contacted to collect.
• Staff displaying symptoms during the day: Mask on – alert SLT for cover – go home.

 

Note to parents and students

• It is essential that all staff and students comply with ALL the strategies in place to protect students and staff and minimise the risk of transmission.
• If students are unable or unwilling to do so, they will NOT be able to return for face-to-face learning for the time-being.
• PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ ALL THE GUIDENCE CAREFULLY AND CAN COMPLY.
• Whilst we want as many students as possible to take up the offer of returning to school, we understand that not everyone will feel safe to do so. There will be NO sanctions if students do not attend.

 

Note to parents

• If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 infection you and your son / daughter should self-isolate and must not come into the RDUTC building.
• If you wish to drop-off and / or collect your son / daughter from school by car, you must use the History Centre car park behind RDUTC and remain in your car.
• If you wish to walk with your son / daughter to and from school, you must leave them and pick them up from an area more than 50m from RDUTC.
• You must not gather at entrance doors or the area immediately surrounding RDUTC.
• You must not enter the RDUTC building unless you have a pre-arranged appointment.
• Please phone Reception on 01482 222299 to arrange a meeting.

 

Daily safety checks: Students

Before coming to school each day, please check the following:

• You are not currently suffering from any of the following:
  • A fever (high temperature).
  • Persistent cough.
  • Breathlessness
  • An altered sense of taste / smell.
• No-one in your household is currently suffering from any of the above.
• No-one in your household is currently self-isolating due to local guidance on COVID-19 infection.
• You have no reason to believe that you are at genuine risk of having been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
• No-one in your household has received a positive COVID-19 test result in the past 14 days.

If you are unable to answer ‘yes’ to one or more of the above statements you must NOT come to school.  Please ring the Attendance line on 01482 222299.

 

Next steps

• RDUTC staff to phone ALL parents to see if their son / daughter is returning w/b 15^th June and answer any questions.
• RDUTC to send students’ individual timetables for 15^th June in post and via email.
• Heath and Safety Inspection to be carried out on Friday, 12^th June to test readiness to re-opening.
• RDUTC phased re-opening to start Monday 15^th June PROVIDING:
  • RDUTC passes the Health & Safety Inspection
  • the Department for Education gives final approval for secondary schools to re-open.
• Text and email to be sent home Sunday, 14^th June to parents / students to confirm.

Hull’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC), has been rated as “Outstanding” across the board in its first Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors visited the school for an in-depth review in March, before the lockdown period, and gave it a glowing verdict in their report published today.

As well as the rating of outstanding for the school’s overall effectiveness – the highest level in the Ofsted grading scale – the inspectors also marked the pioneering school as outstanding for:

• Quality of education.
• Behaviour and attitudes.
• Personal development.
• Leadership and management.
• Sixth form provision.

Ron Dearing UTC is believed to be only the sixth school in England to be rated as outstanding under the Government’s new Education Inspection Framework, which was introduced last year and has made achieving the top grade even more difficult.

 

The Ofsted report is broken down into three sections:

• What is it like to attend this school?

Inspectors said Ron Dearing UTC “has all the hallmarks of a school that could be viewed as a guiding light in the educational sector” and students are “fortunate to receive an exceptional quality of education”, with parents and carers noting their children have changed for the better since joining the school. They said students are “mature and act professionally at all times” and their behaviour is “exemplary”.

• What does the school do well and what does it need to do?

The report recognises the important role of the school’s partners and the industry-led projects set for students, which “brings learning to life”. The inspectors said: “The curriculum is superbly designed to ensure pupils develop a readiness to learn new content and skills.”

They also paid tribute to the commitment, enthusiasm and morale of the staff and said governance is “outstanding”, with governors and trustees knowing the school “inside out”.

• Safeguarding

Inspectors said safeguarding arrangements at the school are “effective” and the safeguarding curriculum and procedures to keep pupils safe are “very well led”, with staff ensuring students learn about the risks they may face in work and outside school.

Very unusually, the Ofsted team were unable to identify a single area for improvement.

 

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Ofsted has judged Ron Dearing UTC to be outstanding in every aspect of its provision.

“We’re supported strongly by the University of Hull and some of the region’s leading employers, who have been proactively involved in developing a highly-ambitious vision for the school and holding me to account to deliver on it.

“We’re also acutely aware that our students and their parents and carers put their faith in us by moving to a brand new school which hadn’t been tried and tested. We will be eternally grateful to them for their support and trust and we have worked tirelessly to ensure their decision to join us proved to be the right one.

“It’s fantastic to have confirmation from Ofsted that the education we provide for our students is of the highest quality. Ofsted raised the bar when it introduced its new Education Inspection Framework, which made it even more difficult to achieve an Outstanding rating. This makes the achievement even sweeter.”

Ron Dearing UTC opened in September 2017 in Kingston Square, Hull, offering a unique education model for students aged 14 to 19, 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 UTC is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners.

The Ofsted inspectors said attendance rates at Ron Dearing UTC are much higher than the national average and school leaders set high expectations, ensuring students behave in a professional and mature manner.

The report also says the school’s personal development curriculum is “worthy of being shared with others” and is carefully planned to enable students to develop their employability skills, while also praising the school’s enrichment activities.

Ron Dearing UTC’s sixth form received high praise for its “highly-specialised curriculum” which saw 2019 student A-level outcomes place the school in the top 1% of schools nationally.

 

Charlie Spencer OBE, Chair of Governors and Executive Chairman of Founding Partner Spencer Group, said: “To be rated as Outstanding overall, as well as across the board in every aspect of provision, is an absolutely tremendous achievement and one that the entire Ron Dearing UTC community can be justifiably proud of.

“The Governors would like to thank our Principal, her entire staff team, our students, their parents, the University of Hull and all our employer partners for their contribution to this success.

“The Ofsted findings demonstrate the power of bringing together educators and industry to create a curriculum and learning culture that develops young people with the practical skills, qualifications and confidence to thrive in the world of work.”

The school’s Patron, former Hull West and Hessle MP and Education Secretary Alan Johnson, said: “There was never any doubt in my mind that Ron Dearing UTC would be a success. The business community in Hull were totally supportive, as was Hull City Council Chief Executive Matt Jukes and his colleagues.

“However, even I didn’t contemplate success of this magnitude so quickly. Hull now has one of the best schools – and the best UTC – in the country and these results are a magnificent tribute to Sarah Pashley and her team.”

To view the full Ofsted inspection report for Ron Dearing UTC, click here.

Ron Dearing UTC is now recruiting for students to join in Year 10 and 12 in September 2021. To apply or find out more click here.

 

We’re absolutely delighted that Ofsted have judged Ron Dearing UTC to be outstanding in every aspect of its provision.

The school is fortunate to be sponsored by the University of Hull and some of the region’s leading businesses. They’ve been very proactively involved in developing a highly-ambitious vision for the school and holding me to account to deliver on it. Nothing less than outstanding would have been good enough for them!

In addition, we’re acutely aware our students and their parents and carers took a big risk putting their faith in us, moving to a brand new school which hadn’t been tried and tested. We’ll be eternally grateful to them for their support and trust.

We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure their decision to come to Ron Dearing UTC was the right one. It’s fantastic to have confirmation from Ofsted that the education we provide for them is of the highest quality.

Ofsted raised the bar when it introduced its new Education Inspection Framework in September 2019. It is now even more difficult to achieve an Outstanding judgement.

I believe we’re only the sixth school in the country to have been judged outstanding since the new inspection framework was introduced. This makes the achievement even sweeter.

There are a number of reasons why Ron Dearing UTC is an outstanding school.

Firstly, I’m exceptionally lucky to lead a highly-experienced, well-qualified, creative and dedicated team. Their enthusiasm for our unique, employer-led curriculum and their commitment to implementing it engages our students effectively, encouraging them to fulfil their potential and make outstanding progress, both academically and personally.

Our staff have embraced completely our exciting philosophy of ensuring our students apply the theory they learn in the classroom to real projects designed and delivered by our university and employer partners. This methodology is one of the many things which sets Ron Dearing UTC apart from other schools and colleges in the region.

Secondly, we couldn’t implement our unique educational approach without the incredible support of our university and employer partners, who bring an exceptional level of expertise to the design and delivery of our curriculum.

This partnership between educators and industry experts ensures our curriculum produces young people with the qualifications, skills and personal attributes which businesses are looking for. It is the bedrock of our educational offer.

We have extremely supportive parents and carers who completely understand what we’re striving to achieve. They take an interest in their children’s education and let us know what they think is working and what could be improved. They back us 100% to implement our policies and trust us to act in the best interests of their children.

We’re privileged to work with the most amazing set of young people. Our students have made a deliberate choice to come to Ron Dearing UTC in the full knowledge that our expectations are exceptionally high and that they will work harder and for longer than they would anywhere else.

They respond exceptionally well to the demands we place upon them and the support we give them. They recognise that staff will always go the extra mile for them, to enable them to achieve their potential and feel safe and happy at school. In return, they go the extra mile for us.

We’re a very caring and happy community at Ron Dearing UTC where staff and students are able to be themselves and thrive. This is the aspect of our school that I’m most proud of.

Finally, Ron Dearing UTC wouldn’t exist without the vision and support of Hull City Council, our Patron Alan Johnson and our Chair of Governors, Charlie Spencer. Everyone at our school owes them a huge debt of gratitude for bringing a UTC to Hull.

I’m extremely excited about working with them, our university and employer partners, our staff, students and parents to take Ron Dearing UTC to even greater heights.

Sarah Pashley

Principal

Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners have spoken of their pride and delight at the school’s “Outstanding” Ofsted rating.

 

University of Hull

Professor Stephen Kelly, Special Projects Officer (Research & Enterprise) of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “The guiding principle from day one has been attaining excellence in everything the school does.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to see Ron Dearing UTC rise up from architects’ plans on paper into the thriving and highly-successful school it is today”.

KCOM

Sean Royce, Managing Director of KCOM Retail, said: “We’re delighted to see Ron Dearing UTC achieve such fantastic recognition while helping its students to achieve great results and reach their full potential.

“The school has become a highly-respected and important local institution within a very short space of time and this hugely-impressive Ofsted report is due to the great work of its leadership team, teaching staff and all that work there.”

RB

Dr Bruce Charlesworth, RB Chief Medical Officer, said: “Ron Dearing UTC is an outstanding school and the recent Ofsted inspection affirms that our employer partnership is delivering results.

“Our ambition for the UTC is to improve the employability of young people, giving them a genuine insight into future careers and building the skills required. As one of the largest employers in the region, we have much to give in terms of shaping an engaging curriculum and ultimately employing apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC to help in our pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world.”

Last year we saw the first great exam results and now we have this outstanding report. What a journey!” Kevin Wilkinson

Siemens Gamesa

Kevin Wilkinson, Head of Commercial Services, Siemens Gamesa UK, said: “This result is down to the vision, talent, hard work and dedication of all involved with the school.

“I have had the pleasure of seeing the school grow from ideas, plans and recruitment, through construction to opening. Last year we saw the first great exam results and now we have this outstanding report. What a journey!”

Smith + Nephew

Kris MacDonald, Senior Director, Manufacturing Engineering, said: “We are proud to support Ron Dearing UTC.

“Considering the calibre of students we interact with through their school projects, and now working on our site, we are not surprised to see such fantastic results.”

Spencer Group

Yvonne Moir, Human Resources Director, said: “We’ve been closely involved with Ron Dearing UTC since before it opened and we have always been incredibly impressed with the passion, skills and dedication of all of those involved.

“The quality of the students and the exam results achieved have exceeded all of our expectations and it is wonderful to see the hard work of the staff and pupils has now been officially recognised with the Outstanding Ofsted report. We look forward to continuing to work with the UTC and welcoming more talented students into our business.”

Our sixth form students are helping identify local businesses and charities in need of face shields to protect staff against coronavirus.

Six Year 12 students have been tasked with contacting hundreds of organisations, taking orders for personal protective equipment (PPE) and collecting important information to assist with distribution.

 

The students are working in pairs from their individual homes to target specific postcode areas across Hull, identifying a need for approximately 500 face shields in each area. It requires excellent communication, organisation and research skills.

The project is part of a wider PPE manufacturing and distribution initiative led by the University of Hull, our leading education partner. The university has enlisted the support of sixth form students across the region to establish the need for more than 20,000 face shields it has made with the help of local businesses.

Businesses and organisations identified as requiring face shields include small convenience stores, care homes and counselling services, and delivery is coordinated by the University of Hull. Each business has requested between five and 50 face shields to protect their staff.

Alex, our Sixth Form Pastoral Manager, said: “I’m really proud of all the students involved and the engagement has been extraordinary.

“They have figured out a way to help people in a risk-free way and support their local community.

“They were so eager to get started and asked plenty of questions. This will be a fantastic skill and experience to add to their CVs, as part of future job applications or as part of their personal statement to apply for a university place in the future. It will really make them stand out from the crowd.”

 

The sixth form team comprises of Natalie Bamforth, James Dannatt, Tegan Green, Dominik Gal, Joshua Lake and Harvey Easton-Minns.

Natalie said: “I wanted to get involved in this project to help people who have to continue working. I’m really grateful for this opportunity.”

James said: “I feel proud to be able to give back to the community. The people I’ve spoken to were really appreciative of the help Ron Dearing has given.”

Area Lead Karen Arundel, from the Schools & Colleges Engagement team at the University of Hull, praised the students for their efforts.

She said: “The students have shown real commitment in reaching out to find the people in need of help. They have worked in an organised way to do this, demonstrating excellent team working, prioritisation and project management skills.  A massive well done to each student involved.”

The project involving sixth form students is the latest step we’ve taken to help the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Glenn Jensen, our Head of Engineering, is leading a drive to create face shields for at-risk key workers. To date, 10,495 face shields have been produced and donated.

Our creative digital students have designed their own industry-standard advertising material to promote the school to prospective learners and their parents.

 

The class of six Year 13 diploma students used Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator software on the brief set by teachers Kate Blowman and Carrie Goodman, completing the project at home while the school is closed under current UK government guidelines.

They were asked to produce an advertising campaign to promote the school across social media channels, on billboards, at open evenings and other local external advertising platforms.

This included identifying the key messages of the campaign, learning more about advertising, photography, research, planning and understanding the associated technical and creative elements, promoting Ron Dearing UTC in the most positive and eye-catching way possible.

 

Luke Thornton, Managing Director of Influence Media at tech hub C4DI in Hull’s Fruit Market, also ran a workshop, sharing his knowledge on what makes a successful campaign and top tips on how advertising products can differ across various platforms.

Kate, our Art and Creative Digital Teacher, said: “I wanted our students to have a shot at promoting Ron Dearing UTC in their own way, as they are among those best-placed to do so based on their experience.

“They took their own images, created pre-production and visualisation documents, and pitched their ideas. The end products are amazing and this project stands them in good stead for working in the creative digital sector.

“The fact they were able to finish their work to such a high standard at home during lockdown is amazing.”

Luke, who also ran a photography masterclass with a group of our Year 12 students last year, said he thoroughly enjoyed helping on the project.

He said: “The students were really enthusiastic, open to ideas and keen to bring everything we discussed to life. We went through real life examples I’ve produced for clients and they came up with their own.

“During my presentation, they were able to ask questions to gain a deeper understanding, and it was a really positive project. They have a great knowledge base to help them in the future.”

The team behind a drive to create face shields for at-risk key workers is calling on the local education community to unite in the fight against coronavirus.

Hull’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing UTC, is working with the University of Hull’s Aura Innovation Centre in Hessle to design and 3D print the protective equipment and is calling on other schools and colleges with 3D printers in Hull and the East Riding to support their goal.

 

Glenn Jensen, Head of Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, the University and Aura are urging them to either produce the prototypes themselves using a pre-prepared file, or loan their digital printers to Aura where a 3D printing hub can be created and staffed.

Glenn said hundreds of face shields could be produced every day with an increased number of 3D printers and the right supply of materials, and initial prototypes have already been requested by local pharmacy teams and other key workers anxious for protection against COVID-19.

He said: “Due to the current situation, lots of schools and colleges are closed and students and staff are working from home. Some of them have 3D printers which could be working 24/7 to produce these face shields for key workers who are desperate for them.

“It’s important to stress the shields have not been tested to meet any medical PPE standards, but they can be disinfected and used again.

“We want the educational 3D printing community in Hull and the East Riding to work collaboratively on this. If schools are shut over the half term, we can come and collect the printers, or they can be dropped off at Aura, where they also benefit from clean energy generation to power the printers.

“This is an opportunity to really make a difference and support and protect key workers locally and potentially nationally.”

The team is currently assessing how to source more materials to continue their drive, as well as looking at costings and another potential design which does not involve 3D printing.

 

Dr David Richards, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Hull, said: “The unprecedented events we have seen in recent weeks with coronavirus have seen businesses and communities rally together in support of key workers.

“It is great to be working as part of a partnership which includes the Aura Innovation Centre, the University’s Department of Engineering, its Business School and Ron Dearing UTC to 3D print vital supplies which will ultimately save lives.

“In theory, if you have a 3D printer at home or in your business, you can join the national effort and support the NHS and health care organisations at this important time. We at the University want to build on this collaboration and keep the momentum going.

“If you are in a position to help, please do get in touch.”

 

Innovation from the University of Hull’s Department of Engineering will also be shared with a consortium of organisations in Manchester, to allow them to produce faceguards for the NHS and other healthcare providers in their region.

Hull University Business School is also establishing a network to co-ordinate all companies, schools and colleges across the region with 3D printing capability to get involved in this initiative.

• Anyone who has a 3D printer and would like to get involved, or loan their equipment to the team, is asked to email aura@hull.ac.uk

 

Sixth Form students are using state-of-the-art technology skills to help create a visual walkthrough of the world’s first purpose-built centre of its kind for veterans.

Year 12 engineering students from Ron Dearing University Technology College (UTC) in Hull are learning how to use Autodesk Revit 3D building information modelling (BIM) software, used by leading architects, to assist in the creation of a virtual reality tour of the Hull 4 Heroes Veterans Village.

The Veterans Village is championed by TV celebrity Nick Knowles and aims to be a self-sustaining site providing transitional support for ex-service personnel and their families, creating a safe and stable environment to help them adjust to civilian life. It will include housing, training and support facilities, as well as a visitors centre for the wider community.

 

With the support of Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Hull 4 Heroes charity has secured a 22-acre site next to Priory Road in Hull, extending into the boundaries of both authorities.

Seven Ron Dearing UTC students are currently involved in the project outside their usual school studies after completing their Computer-aided Design (CAD) unit to distinction level months ahead of schedule. More students are expected to join the team, working closely with Cleethorpes-based Hodson Architects and the Hull 4 Heroes team over the coming months.

Working with Hodson Architects, the students are using the architectural design drawings to bring the Veterans Village to life, enabling people to have a detailed view of the charity’s vision through virtual reality technology. The end product will be used to attract potential funders and investors, while also showcasing the project to other interested parties.

 

The students’ work illustrates the advanced tech skills developed by students at the employer-led school, which specialises in digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering and is supported by a host of leading businesses.

Glenn Jensen, Head of Engineering and Employer-led Projects at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This is the first time our students have been involved a project like this, particularly at this level, and the skills and software they are using have been identified as critical in the architecture and building industries.

“This is another string to their bows and the skills they are learning are massively transferable to the careers they hope to progress to.

“It’s fantastic for learners of this age to contribute to a flagship project to help support the rehabilitation of veterans, which is so important and will change lives for the better.”

 

The Veterans Village is the brainchild of Hull 4 Heroes Chairman Paul Matson, who founded the charity in 2016 following his own struggle after leaving the Army, and TV presenter Nick Knowles, with support from Project Manager and Hull 4 Heroes Trustee, Trevor Fishburn.

Inspired by the work on the BBC One’s popular DIY SOS programme, presented by Nick, and backed by a team of supporters and a local professional design team, the charity developed the idea to house and support those in need.

The Veterans Village will include 48 homes for individuals or families, which they can live in and access tailored support for up to two years. It is hoped this village will be the first of many and the model will help veterans transition back into civilian life for decades to come.

 

The Ron Dearing UTC students have been using their school layout to learn and practice their new-found software skills through virtual reality technology, by assessing any future structural changes required for the building, creating virtual furniture and bringing the reception area to life, before starting work on the Veterans Village.

Sixteen-year-old Josh Lake, a Year 12 student involved in the project, said: “It’s an amazing experience and I’m learning new skills for the future. The Veterans Village is a great idea and I’m really proud to be involved.”

Fellow Year 12 student Sam Malone, 17, said: “The software enables you to look at materials, change the shapes of buildings and create bespoke elements such as tables, doors and windows. It feels really good to be part of something which will help change lives.”

Paul said the students were the first of their age group to be involved in the project on this level.

He said: “Getting young people involved and drawing on their industry-level skills and inspiration is the best part of it. They are so intelligent and can bring more light to this project than ever before.

“It’s great to work together and it’s something the students can always be proud of. Of the Hull and East Riding population, 10% are veterans or are members of the veterans community. The Hull 4 Heroes Veterans Village will save countless lives and these students are playing their own part in that.”

Trevor, a former Royal Navy Artificer (skilled mechanic) and Weapons Engineer, added: “This is the talent of today helping the veterans of yesterday. They are helping the community to grow while supporting veterans to adjust back into civilian life.”

Nick praised Ron Dearing UTC students for their contribution to the Hull 4 Heroes project, which he has championed.

He said: “It’s important to us at the charity to make sure when we build the village, it’s ecologically sound and that we are using cutting-edge technology, water management, eco power creation and building materials to provide the best possible environment in which our veterans can work, live and prosper.

“To have young people who are developing new skills every day involved from an early stage to further their abilities and represent our vision to the greater public and possible investors is both exciting and critical to the success of the venture.”

For more information about Hull 4 Heroes, visit www.hull4heroes.org.uk

A Year 11 student has become the first from Ron Dearing UTC to be invited to a national summer school for the UK’s elite young mathematicians.

Kelham Hillier, 16, was one of about 40 students to take on this year’s Intermediate Mathematical Challenge in school, with an ambition to progress into further rounds of the national competition.

The initial challenge was a 60-minute, multiple-choice competition designed to make students across the UK think, encouraging mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve problems – all without the use of a calculator. It was taken under exam conditions and the results were marked externally.

Although Kelham was one of five students to receive the top gold award and progress into the next round of the challenge, he has now become the only student – and the first ever from Ron Dearing UTC – to be offered a place at the summer school following his outstanding performance.

He is one of just 48 students nationally to receive an invitation and is among the top 1.5% of those who entered the challenge across the country.

Kelham said: “I didn’t expect to get to this point and I’m really happy and overwhelmed. I would like to go into a career involving maths, as I love problem-solving and getting to the root of something.

“It’s nice and gratifying to know I’m one of the best in this subject. I’m looking forward to meeting other people at the summer school and being able to push maths as far as I can while learning new things.”

Organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT), the summer school is one of four planned to take place in July and August, with the 57^th event to be held at Woodhouse Grove School, in Leeds, from July 26 to 31. It will be led by experienced educators, who are enthusiastic mathematicians and UKMT charity volunteers.

Kelham is no stranger to success after claiming six awards at our annual Celebration of Achievement Evening last year, including the University of Hull Award for Academic Excellence.

Lisa Regan, our Lead Practitioner, said: “We are thrilled to have students of Kelham’s quality at Ron Dearing UTC.

“His achievement shows how hard he has worked on his mathematical knowledge and the application of that to solve problems.

“His enthusiasm shines through and he is among an elite group of students who have been invited to the summer school from across the country.

“It will be an opportunity for Kelham to meet with like-minded students, get a better view of future career possibilities and potentially look at new avenues of study he hasn’t considered before.”

Other students also entered the challenge, with bronze awards secured by eight Year 10, four Year 11 and five Year 12 students, and silver certificates awarded to three Year 10, one Year 11 and four Year 12 students.

Gold awards were secured by two Year 10 and three Year 11 students, including Kelham, and they all progress to the Pink Kangaroo round, a 60-minute, multiple-choice competition consisting of 25 problems.

Meanwhile, three Year 12 and one Year 13 student also competed in a Senior Team Challenge against other students from the local area in November 2019. Although they didn’t place, Lisa said they showed excellent teamwork and skill in solving complex mathematical problems.

Lisa added: “Our students have been entering the UKMT events for the last three years, but this year’s cohort really are exceptional, with five Intermediate students getting through to the next round.

“All problems set by the UKMT are calculated with only pen and paper, so strong numeracy skills are absolutely essential, which is something we have a real focus on as soon as students join us in Year 10.”

Our Engineering Design students at have created their own versions of smart thermostats in a project set by leading experts in the heating industry, Ideal Boilers.

The brief, set by the Research & Development and Internet of Things teams at Ideal Boilers, challenged Year 11 students to research the innovative product and the current variations on the market.  They then had to design and prototype their own smart thermostats, using digital technology and 3D printing techniques.

Following the entire design process, they drew 2D sketches and created cardboard prototypes before generating digital 3D models using the skills required by engineers employed by Ideal Boilers, one of the school’s Major Partners.

40 Year 11 students completed the project as part of their OCR National qualification.  It was so successful that it is now being repeated with 60 Year 10 students.

 

Glenn Jensen, our Head of Engineering and Employer Projects, said: “The students’ 3D work is absolutely fantastic. It’s very unusual for students of this age to use software like this and they have really enjoyed it.

“It’s a breath of fresh air to have a project which follows industry, step by step, and goes through the same problem-solving and thought processes that you would find in a design department.

“The backing from Ideal Boilers has been excellent in terms of supplying the brief, which gets the students thinking about sustainability and design, enabling them to live that process and communicate it professionally to people in industry.”

Glenn said the students had to carry out thorough research for the project and check it against the brief, creating the prototype before final production. Manufacturing, sustainability and materials were also carefully considered in the design process, particularly from an environmental perspective.

Glenn said: “The plastic they’ve used to create their designs using the 3D printers is 100% recyclable and biodegradable and any scrap is recycled into fresh materials. The importance of sustainability is really important to us at Ron Dearing UTC and our students are very environmentally aware.”

The 3D designs, including the thermostat casing and shell, were created using 3D printers from Hull-based digital design and fabrication experts NFire Labs Limited, based at C4DI , Hull’s innovative Digital Tech Hub.

Ideal Boilers, which has more than 100 years’ innovation and experience in the heating industry, also works with local companies to create global products, including leading C4DI-based software company, Sauce.  Sauce is the tech partner that designed the software behind Ideal Boilers’ smart heating systems.

Dr Elaine Lancaster, Chief Technical Officer at Ideal Boilers, based in National Avenue, west Hull, said: “As we grow and expand in the digital technology sector for future products, projects like this really help students to understand the type of technology we may be looking for in the future and it is a pathway for student development.

“It has been wonderful to hear how engaged the students have been. This experience will make them more equipped for jobs and this is how we can create ready-made engineers of the future.”

Year 11 student Kelham Hillier, 16, who completed the project, said: “It taught me a lot about how I can improve the way I think about design and I really enjoyed it. I definitely think this is a path I could take in the future.”

 

Fellow student Amy Rickles, 16, added: “I gained a lot of computer-aided design (CAD) skills and found out how to create engineering drawings linked to design ideas and thermostat shapes.  I would like to be an engineer and design buildings. Doing a project like this gives me ideas for the future and the type of software I could use.”