Ron Dearing UTC students wowed global research and development (R&D) leaders in an international event celebrating science and sustainability.

Year 12 engineering students snapped up the opportunity to share their inspiring ideas with the Reckitt Global Research and Development (R&D) Leadership Team, led by Chief R&D Officer Dr Angela Naef, in a Festival of Science organised by Reckitt, one of the school’s Founding Partners.

The festival was part of the company’s second global three-day The Science Inside Symposium, which brought together 250 Reckitt scientists, partners and leaders from across the globe, in person and online, live from the company’s Hull Campus.

Four groups of Ron Dearing UTC students presented their thoughts on how the world-leading health, hygiene and nutrition business could become more sustainable in its approach to water, heating, transport and waste before answering questions from the experts.

Ideas from Ron Dearing UTC students ranged from rainwater harvesting benefits and plastic bottle recycling options, to reducing carbon emissions through heating modifications and electric transport.

 

The winning UTC teams, voted by Reckitt experts, will be announced in the coming weeks and they will have one-to-one sessions with the company’s sustainability experts, as prizes for Best Innovation and Best Presentation.

Dr Naef said: “I’m always blown away by the creativity and boundless, unexpected ideas the students share with us. It’s this little gift of great imagination.

“I fundamentally believe the responsibility of professionals, like us, is to be role models to the next generation. This is the opportunity and responsibility we have to continue to build the future of scientists, engineers and experts.

“I hope all of the children went home and shared their day with their families and loved ones and were able to shine in that moment because of the experience they had. But I also know we went home with those stories and memories too. It’s amazing to feel inspired and excited by this event and their ideas.”

The Festival of Science celebrated the power of science and aimed to inspire the next generation of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) leaders.

The Science Inside Symposium incorporated Reckitt’s annual Sustainability Conference, reflecting the importance of science in developing sustainable solutions for a greener future.

The event was supported by The Sir James Reckitt Charity, which was founded by industrialist, Quaker and philanthropist Sir James more than 100 years ago.

The involvement of young people in the event underlined Reckitt’s commitment to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of scientists, especially in the city where the business was founded 184 years ago.

Since its humble beginnings as a starch mill in Hull in 1840, Reckitt has grown to become the globally trusted business it is today, and its brands, including Dettol, Gaviscon, Nurofen, Strepsils, Vanish and more, are household names.

 

The event also showcased careers in science, technology and engineering, while nurturing students’ enthusiasm to potentially follow those paths as they consider their next steps after sixth form.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This opportunity from Reckitt is so important because it helps our students to build resilience and confidence, while also allowing innovation to flow freely.

“Every Ron Dearing student who chooses engineering as a subject studies sustainability and it’s in the hands of every individual to become more sustainable.

“The more engineers we can produce for industry who have this mindset, the better. We’re incredibly proud of our students’ ideas and efforts, and also grateful to everyone at Reckitt. It’s an excellent opportunity for them on a global scale.”

Dr Bruce Charlesworth, Chief Medical Officer and Hull Campus Lead at Reckitt, said: “I love the students’ unfiltered enthusiasm. We often put too much realism and practicality into things, looking at what we can’t do. They have totally focused on the art of the possible.

“Days like this give them genuine presenting experience and I hope it inspires them because that’s what it’s all about. They will need these skills in the workplace in their future careers.”

Ron Dearing UTC students who competed in the world’s largest Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition have reflected on their incredible achievements and experience following the event.

Ron Racing finished fifth overall in the F1 in Schools UK National Finals out of 32 teams and third overall in England. They also ranked first out of all UTCs competing.

The first day of the competition saw Ron Racing finish with the fourth fastest car nationally and the second fastest overall time, including reaction time.

The team, comprising of Year 13 students Heidi Porter, Harry Tyler, Jasper Gourley, Elliot Johnson and Will Jones, travelled to the National Finals at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Sheffield two Porsche Taycan electric sports cars.

The cars were donated by Porsche Centre Hull, a Major Partner of Ron Dearing UTC and the team’s official Sustainability Partner, to offset the team’s carbon footprint.

 

Heidi, 17, who is studying Triple Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC’s sixth form, said: “The F1 in Schools journey was great fun. I learnt how to lead a team and be more confident when presenting.

“The engineering and leadership skills I’ve gained will help me move forward into the engineering industry and I’m excited to see where that takes me in the future. It was a fantastic experience and I’m really pleased I took part.”

Harry, 18, who is studying Double Engineering and Physics at the UTC, said: “F1 in Schools is a great first step into the motorsport world.

“It has given me baseline knowledge of designing cars using Computer Aided Design (CAD), which will give me an advantage at university when studying motorsport engineering.”

The F1 in Schools challenge sees more than one million school children from 40 countries take part annually. Each team designs and manufactures a miniature car based on the official F1 model using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM).

 

The cars are powered using CO₂ cartridges and are attached to a 25m track by a nylon wire and raced. The teams also design their own branding and logos, plan social media and marketing strategies to promote themselves, deliver presentations and raise sponsorship for their teams.

The first stage of the competition saw Ron Racing go head-to-head with 19 other teams from schools and colleges to take pole position in the regional finals at the National STEM Learning Centre in York earlier this year. The team also won the award for Best Pit Display.

This is the third consecutive year Ron Dearing UTC students have entered the development class of competition and secured the top spot in the Regional Finals.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, and Cieran Dowling, the UTC’s F1 in Schools Coordinator, supported Ron Racing throughout the F1 in Schools competition.

Glenn said: “We’re incredibly proud of the whole Ron Racing team following their success in this year’s competition. They put so much hard work and effort into every element of the challenge, they all looked the part and their pit display was outstanding.

 

“They conducted themselves in the most professional manner and finishing fifth overall is a fantastic achievement.

“All of the students gained some really important skills throughout the competition which will help towards their goals for the future, and the judges were really impressed with their presentations.

“F1 in Schools is a wonderful opportunity for young people across the world and we’re delighted our students continue to experience this.”

Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy returned to Ron Dearing UTC to see how the school’s Eco Club members are continuing to support a major wildlife project in the city.

The Eco Club is part of an extensive enrichment programme to broaden students’ horizons outside the classroom.

They have worked with Hull City Council to plant an area of Kingston Square, opposite the UTC in the city centre, with butterfly, bee and bat-friendly plants to increase biodiversity and pollination, applying their creative and scientific knowledge.

This is also part of the Butterfly City project, led by Emma, which aims to increase the wild butterfly population, particularly Brimstone butterflies, into the city by planting butterfly-friendly borders.

The Brimstone butterfly’s favourite plant is Buckthorn and Emma and her team, including Senior Researcher Sean Clough, donated three Buckthorn bushes for the UTC’s Eco Club to plant in the Kingston Square wildflower border.

The Buckthorn bushes were grown by the team at Mires Beck Nursery in Brough and funded by Reckitt, one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners.

Rory Graham, Ron Dearing UTC’s Eco Club Leader and Biology Teacher, said: “Butterflies are not only beautiful animals for our gardens but one of our key pollinators which we rely on to ensure food security.

“Working with the amazing horticultural team from Hull City Council, our Eco Club has planted up two large borders in the Kingston Square garden with a range of plants which attract bees, butterflies, wasps, bats and other pollinators.

“The Buckthorne trees are a great addition to these borders and we’re looking forward to seeing the beautiful Brimstone butterflies that we hope they’ll attract.”

As well as adding the Buckthorne bushes, the Eco Club members sowed a range of different wildflower seeds in raised beds in the UTC’s own garden.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We haven’t got a great deal of outside space at the UTC, so it’s really important we make the most of the space we have.

“Last year the Eco club planted up three large borders at the front of the school with bee and butterfly-friendly plants and the stunning borders were buzzing with pollinators from May right through to November.

“The additional borders in Kingston Square are an exciting development this year and we hope our new raised beds full of wildflowers will encourage even more wildlife into the area.”

Shadow Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell also visited Ron Dearing UTC with Emma in December last year, meeting Eco Club members. Emma’s return visit enabled her to see how the beds have progressed over the last few months and find out more about the work the Eco Club members have undertaken.

Eco Club founding member and Year 13 student Fran Wilkes-Oliver, 18, said: “It has been great to be part of this project and really good to see how the project has grown from a basic idea to everyone working together to make our city a better place for wildlife.”

Emma said: “Kingston Square is a treasured area of greenery and a lovely, tranquil space where people can escape the bustle of the city centre.

“It was wonderful to return there again to see the progress being made by the young people at Ron Dearing UTC, nurturing and enhancing the natural environment as key partners in the Butterfly City project.”

Year 10 Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) student Charlie Powell has been selected to represent his country in an international ice hockey tournament this month.

Charlie, 15, will travel to Tilburg, in the Netherlands, to play for the England Under 15s in the competition.

The weekend-long tournament at the home of the Tilburg Trappers will see countries from across Europe competing across 12 games.

It will be the first time Charlie, who is studying Engineering, Design and Photography at Ron Dearing UTC, has travelled abroad to compete.

He has played for the youth teams at Kingston Sharks since he first took up the sport at the age of six and says he can’t wait to represent his country in the Netherlands.

 

Charlie, who plays right ring, was selected following trials in Sheffield.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I’m a little nervous too, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy it when I’m out there.

“I’m proud to have been selected to play for my country – it’s a great achievement for everyone in the team.

“The hours training are long and hard but I’m dedicated to both ice hockey and my studies.

“Everyone at Ron Dearing is so supportive. They treat you like an adult and really want to see you succeed.”

Charlie said he enjoys the pace of the game, which he first discovered when his parents took him ice skating when he was little.

 

“I just love it,” he said. “It’s really fast-paced. With other sports, you can have strengths and weaknesses, but in ice hockey you have to be able to do it all. You have to be quick, you have to be strong and you have to think all the time.

“I’d love to be able to carry on as I am and eventually move up to the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).”

Charlie trains for 10 hours every week, which he juggles with his 40-hour school week.

Natasha Whitehead, Attendance Manager and key member of the Student Support Team at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “We’re all so proud of Charlie. He trains every night of the week but he’s always at school on time, getting on with his work.

“He’s got a lot going on, especially after now being selected for England, but he manages it all and he’s doing so well.

“Charlie’s really conscientious and makes sure he doesn’t fall behind with his studies, even though he puts so much into his ice hockey. He’s a role model for other students at the school.

“Everyone at Ron Dearing is wishing him the best of luck in the tournament.”

The team behind Porsche Centre Hull have helped a Ron Dearing UTC student grow in confidence and set her sights on a social media marketing career.

Year 13 student Lily Knight completed a three-day work experience placement at Porsche Centre Hull in Hessle, one of the UTC’s Major Partners.

She shadowed the front of house team and immersed herself in the social media marketing side of the business as she aspires to secure an apprenticeship or paid work in the sector when she leaves the UTC this summer.

Abbie Jackson, Digital Marketing and Events Manager at Porsche Centre Hull, said: “Lily was really keen to get involved with front of house and share ideas with the team to create social media content for the dealership.

“After a couple of days shadowing the team, Lily soon built up confidence to answer phone calls, greet customers and complete admin tasks. She started as a showroom host at the beginning of the week before moving to different departments within the business to see how they work together.

 

“Lily had a really positive experience with us and soon became part of the team. She was keen to help out with dealership events outside of her work experience and popped by to say hello, which shows the impact the experience had on Lily.”

Abbie said work experience is vital to give young people a true insight into the world of work.

She said: “We believe hands-on experience is so important for young adults because it helps to build motivation and confidence which is vital before moving on to further education or into the workplace.

“We’ll continue to take on as many work experience students as possible. We want them to experience all departments to give them a good overview of working life.”

Lily, 18, who is studying Photography and Creative Digital at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “I shadowed the showroom hosts on the front desk, listened while they answered the phones so I could then do the same and transferred calls to the right place.

“I greeted and made tea and coffee for customers, created videos of the cars for social media and marketing and drafted social media posts in line with the brand.

“It was a great placement and I really enjoyed it. I was offered further work but I needed to concentrate on my studies first.

“The placement helped me to realise I’d like to work in social media marketing and I like talking to people. I got a real insight into the day-to-day running of the business.”

Other Ron Dearing UTC students also completed work experience in the automotive side of the business at Porsche Centre Hull.

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal – Horizons Professionalism at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “Lily thoroughly enjoyed her time with the team at Porsche Centre Hull and clearly learnt a great deal during her placement, which is wonderful to see.

“The fact Porsche wanted to bring Lily back for some additional work alongside her studies is testament to the impression she made on them during her work experience placement.

“We’re looking forward to working with the team at Porsche centre Hull to offer similar opportunities to some of our other students in the future.”

Ron Dearing UTC students are now securing work experience placements for this summer. Businesses that would like to offer opportunities are asked to email Lisa Regan via [email protected]

A Ron Dearing UTC sixth form student has helped design marketing material for Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub during a two-week work experience placement.

Harrison McLaughlin, 17, completed the placement, working on a brochure to promote the business to corporate clients.

Linsey Brown, Head of Partnerships at C4DI, one of the UTC’s Major Partners, and Tina Swann, C4DI’s Community Engagement Manager, said they were impressed by Harrison’s approach to the placement and response to the brief they set for him.

Linsey said: “Ron Dearing UTC students are so mature and have great confidence when they leave school, which ensures they’re work-ready.

“Harrison went through an interview process for his work experience placement, so it felt more formal and enabled him to sample what it’s like when applying for a job. We treated him as a member of the team for the whole placement and he was so enthusiastic.

 

“We’d definitely consider taking on one or more Ron Dearing students for work experience in the future, looking at mini projects and tasks at C4DI.”

Year 13 student Harrison, who is studying Maths and Physics at Ron Dearing UTC, will be acknowledged in the marketing material when it is printed.

Harrison said: “It was a great two-week placement during the summer holidays and kept me busy doing something I’d never tried before.

“I spoke to various business owners at C4DI about my future and what I wanted to do when I leave the UTC, which helped me to network with lots of people.

“I enjoyed choosing the colours for the marketing material and designing it to ensure it keeps the reader’s attention for longer. I learnt a lot and I would 100% recommend C4DI for work experience.”

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal – Horizons Professionalism at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This was the first time C4DI took on a Ron Dearing UTC student for a work experience placement and it worked brilliantly.

“Harrison loved working on their corporate client marketing brochure, managing the product from start to finish with various members of the team.

“This was a step outside of Harrison’s usual comfort zone and he said it helped him to become more confident in the knowledge he is skilled in a wider range of areas than his current academic focus.”

Ron Dearing UTC students are now securing work experience placements for this summer. Businesses that would like to offer opportunities are asked to email Lisa Regan via [email protected]

A Ron Dearing UTC student who aspires to become an architect says work experience with a Hull-based architecture company has opened her eyes to a world of possibilities.

Jess Sanderson completed a three-week placement at Studio Six Architecture.

The company, based in Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub in the heart of the city’s Fruit Market, provides unique and sustainable architecture and creative designs for homes and businesses.

Matt Riley, Director at Studio Six, said: “It was the first time we’d offered work experience to a Ron Dearing UTC student and Jess was great.

“We interviewed eight students who were all very good and they demonstrated their excellent 3D modelling and engineering skills. We immediately knew Jess was very artistic and also excellent in a customer-facing role.

 

“We gave her some marketing tasks to complete and she came up with various ways we could improve our online and social media presence, so we were able to learn from her too.”

Matt said providing work experience opportunities to young people is imperative as they make decisions about their next steps.

He said: “When I was at school, I was told you couldn’t do an apprenticeship in architecture even though that was the path I wanted to take. I managed to do it anyway and I want to provide that opportunity to other young people.

“You don’t have to follow conventional routes in architecture and you can work for a few years first to see if you like it, or see which area you’d like to specialise in.

“We were as honest as possible with Jess about what’s involved in the day-to-day job because it’s not just about drawing pretty pictures.

“Jess was very enthusiastic, punctual and keen to learn. We would consider further opportunities for Ron Dearing UTC students in the future.”

Jess, 17, who is studying Art and Design and Creative Digital in Year 13 at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The placement was amazing and the Studio Six team couldn’t have been any more welcoming and helpful.

 

“They showed me so much and took me on a visit to see what they do when they’re measuring up in people’s homes.

“I completed drawings, write-ups and learnt more about heritage statements, which are needed when you have to ask the council for permission to make certain changes to homes.

“I loved every moment of the placement and I found out more about the technology and software used in the industry. I learnt a lot and it will be great to include on my CV.”

Lisa Regan, Assistant Principal – Horizons Professionalism at Ron Dearing UTC said: “The architecture placement was a very popular one for our students and Matt also offered advice support to the students he wasn’t able to provide a placement for.

“Applicants were asked to interview at C4DI and took along a few examples of work such as drawings, 3D models and sketches.

“It was a brilliant experience for Jess and one which will help her as she plans for her future.”

Ron Dearing UTC students are now securing work experience placements for this summer. Businesses that would like to offer opportunities are asked to email Lisa Regan via [email protected]

Almost 40 English and Creative students from Ron Dearing UTC visited Berlin as part of an inspiring trip to support their studies.

The 37 Year 10, 12 and 13 students and five staff flew from Birmingham via Amsterdam for the four-day trip, which included visiting the Brandenburg Gate, the Topography of Terror history museum, various war memorials and museums, Checkpoint Charlie and art galleries.

The English students are currently reading and studying The Handmaid’s Tale and Berlin is where the author, Margaret Atwood, wrote most of the popular novel.

Jack Campbell, Head of English at Ron Dearing UTC, said the author’s observations whilst living in West Berlin during the Cold War inspired her construction of the totalitarian state of Gilead. She drew inspiration from the control imposed on citizens under Soviet control, such as Checkpoint Charlie, to create the book.

The novel is based on some of the darkest parts of human history and the opportunity for Ron Dearing UTC students to explore Berlin brought parts of the book to life.

 

Jack said: “It was fantastic to see our students engaging in mature discussions around the context of the novel and applying these discussions to the text.”

The Creative, Photography, Fine Art and 3D Design students took inspiration from art galleries including Berlinische Galerie, Konig Galerie, East Side Gallery, Hamburger Bahnhof and Neue  Nationalgalerie.

Lynn Garland-Collins, Director of Creativity at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students were amazing and got so much from the trip.

“This was our first international creative visit and everything went really well. We organised a photography competition on the last night and the students will be able to bring everything they saw and learnt back to school to support their studies.”

Year 12 student Matthew Bestley, 17, who is studying Fine Art, 3D Design, Graphics and Digital Media, said: “I took so much inspiration from the art galleries and culture in Berlin.

 

“I’d love to be an artist in the future, or go into animation and graphic design. This trip encouraged and supported that. It was a great experience.”

Fellow Year 12 student Taylor Beaden, 17, who is studying Photography, Graphics and 3D Design, said: “It was an amazing trip and a brilliant opportunity to see and appreciate so much art.

“The trip helped me to grow in confidence with meeting new people and it opened my eyes to understand more about art. I didn’t realise Berlin is such an artistic place. I loved it.”

Year 12 student Fearne Hepworth, 17, who is studying England Language and Literature, Art and 3D Design, added: “We saw the Berlin Cathedral and the visuals inspired our artwork, and we visited the Jewish Museum as part of our English work.

“Visiting Berlin helped me to understand more about The Handmaid’s Tale and what inspired the author. I’m really pleased Ron Dearing UTC offered us this opportunity.”

Ron Dearing UTC students have been crowned regional champions in the world’s largest Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition for the third consecutive year.

Ron Racing went head-to-head with 19 other teams from schools and colleges to take pole position in the regional finals in the F1 in Schools challenge at the National STEM Learning Centre in York.

The team, comprising of Year 13 students Heidi Porter, Harry Tyler, Jasper Gourley, Elliot Johnson and Will Jones, also won the award for Best Pit Display.

They will now go on to compete in the national finals at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Sheffield on March 14 and 15.

 

Heidi, 17, who is studying Triple Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC’s sixth form and would like to pursue an engineering-based career, said: “We had a great day at the regional finals. We put in a lot of hard work but there were lots of other very good teams, so we didn’t expect to win.

“It’s been a really good experience and I’ve learnt lots from it. We met people from lots of different companies, my communication skills have improved and I’ve learnt a lot more about engineering.

“It will be a big step up from the regional finals but I’m looking forward to the nationals and we’re ready for it.”

Harry, 17, who is studying Double Engineering and Physics at the UTC, hopes to become a Formula 1 aerodynamicist in the future.

He said: “Winning was the most exciting part of the regional finals, closely followed by sending the car down the track.

“Being part of F1 in Schools has helped with my public speaking and confidence and also improved my Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills.

“It’s a great stepping stone to get into the F1 industry and it’s brilliant to have on your CV if you want to go down that route.”

This is the third consecutive year Ron Dearing UTC students have entered the development class of competition and secured the top spot.

Previous Ron Dearing teams included Mach Racing and Vortex Racing and various awards were secured, from Lightening Reaction Time and Star Quality: Verbal Presentation, to Team Identity and Sponsorship and Marketing.

The F1 in Schools challenge sees more than one million schoolchildren from 40 countries take part each year. Each team designs and manufactures a miniature car based on the official F1 model using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM).

The cars are powered using CO₂ cartridges and are attached to a 25m track by a nylon wire and raced. The teams also design their own branding and logos, plan social media and marketing strategies to promote themselves, deliver presentations and raise sponsorship for their teams.

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, and Cieran Dowling, the UTC’s F1 in Schools Coordinator, are supporting Ron Racing throughout their F1 in Schools journey.

 

Porsche Centre Hull, a Major Partner of the employer-led school, is the team’s official sustainable partner and donated two Porsche Taycan electric sports cars to transport the team to and from York, offsetting their carbon footprint.

The business also hosts regular fundraising events for the teams, enabling them to showcase their work and pitch their ideas to potential sponsors at the Porsche showroom in Hessle.

 

Glenn said: “We’re so proud of the Ron Racing team and these accolades are testament to all the hard work they have put in over the past 18 months as they worked towards the regional finals.

“They have really put themselves out there, presenting pitches to our governing board, potential sponsors and working with the team at Porsche Centre Hull to ensure they approached everything in the most sustainable way possible.

“Their pit stand was outstanding and really stood out from the crowd. The judges were highly impressed by their engineering portfolio and everything they’ve done to make their team a success.

“It’s fantastic to see how our students have put their mark on this global competition and we wish them every success for the nationals next month.”

Ron Dearing UTC students have secured jobs at school to earn money and develop new skills alongside their studies.

Fourteen Year 11, 12 and 13 students now receive bursaries as payment for being IT assistants, site assistants and attendance runners, and complete their jobs on a weekly basis.

The opportunity enables the students to manage their school diaries and timetables while earning £5 per hour in their jobs.

IT assistants check laptops and recycle components where necessary, carry out equipment checks, complete software updates and report any damages. Site assistants support with recycling throughout the school, refill stationery and printers and maintain the outdoor green planted areas.

Attendance runners support the Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 attendance team for three hours per week, helping with admin, delivering letters and checking teachers take registers on time. They also learn the importance of punctuality.

 

Year 13 student Charlie Pepper, 18, the site assistant responsible for recycling, said taking on a paid role for five hours per week has helped him to grow in confidence. The level of recycling at the UTC has doubled since he started.

Charlie, who is studying Double Engineering and A-level Maths in Ron Dearing UTC’s sixth form, said: “I always get up early and arrive at 7.45am, ready to put my gloves on and empty the recycling bins of paper, plastic and cans.

“It’s a great starting point for a part-time job and it’s helping me to add to my CV and personal statement in my university application. I talk to a lot of people, I’ve made new friends and I really enjoy it.”

Fellow Year 13 student Skylar Dawson, 18, has been employed as a site assistant for more than a year and is responsible for everything from planting up the UTC’s bee and butterfly friendly herbaceous borders to refilling stationery for seven hours per week.

Skylar, who is studying Chemistry and Double Engineering in the UTC’s sixth form, also supports Year 11 engineering students who are studying courses she has previously completed, sitting in lessons to answer any peer-to-peer questions.

 

She said: “I’ve met a lot of students and staff through my work and it helps you to get used to working and earning some money.

“It’s fun and a great thing to do alongside studying because I’m helping to make a difference in the environment I’m also learning in. It’s a really good responsibility to have.

“I enjoy planting and looking after the beds outside school and in Kingston Square opposite our building.”

Students complete an interview process before they are offered the roles, enabling them to experience applying for a job and gain interview techniques.

Year 12 student Edward Tevenan, 16, works six hours per week as a site and IT assistant while studying Maths, Physics and Double Engineering in the UTC’s sixth form.

 

Edward said: “I always thought going to work would be boring but I’m really enjoying it. I arrive early and get on with it and it’s satisfying to know I’ve done a good job. That’s what motivates me.

“I empty the bins, top up the classroom supplies, refill printer paper and check the laptops are charged and working correctly. It’s good to play a part in keeping the school well maintained.

“These are all transferable skills for maintenance jobs in engineering, as I’m looking at an engineering apprenticeship in the future. It’s also nice to have money in my pocket and feel independent.”

Hugh Boughton, Operations Manager at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students are doing a fantastic job.

“We’ve offered these paid opportunities for a while and the roles have evolved over the years. The students learn really quickly, they’re very communicative, we train them to multi-task and it enables them to learn different skills.

“From a future employer perspective, these are great attributes to have and it shows the students have made great use of their time.”