Artwork created by three Ron Dearing UTC students will be viewed by world leaders at a globally critical climate change conference.

COP26, the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, will see governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), businesses and trade unions meet in Glasgow to review and negotiate global action on the climate crisis.

Year 11 Ron Dearing UTC students Molly Warburton, Scarlet Wedgner and Katie Hatfield, all 15, recently produced artwork for a major arts competition run by environmental conservation organisation Planetary International, titled “Words and Pictures for Your World”.

They were asked to show how they see Hull in 50 years’ time if action on climate change is not taken now and they used art to show the city underwater, including landmarks such as The Deep and the Fruit Market, as well as cream coloured telephone boxes.

All of their work was shortlisted and open to a public and student vote on Planetary International’s website, which means it will be shown in two zones at COP26, including online, and viewed by world leaders and members of the public. Their work will also be included in an upcoming anthology.

 

Molly, Scarlet and Kate entered the poetry, art and photography competition through the UK School Sustainability Network (UKSSN), which brings together a regional network of students to connect and collaborate with peers, and students from across the UK took part.

Scarlet said: “It hasn’t sunk in that world leaders will look at our artwork. Not many people have this opportunity and I’m pleased we’ve been able to show our ideas about climate change through art.”

Molly said: “I’ve always loved art and it was fun to take part in the competition. Knowing our work will be seen at COP26 is amazing.”

Katie said: “When we submitted our entries, we didn’t think they would be seen outside the classroom. This is a really good opportunity for us.”

The students’ artwork will also contribute towards their ideas for a mural as part of the Shorelines Project in Hull, which is raising awareness of climate change and flooding, and the impact it could have on the city and its young people in the future.

 

The students are preparing to work with world renowned digital street artist Erin Ko to create a mural highlighting the issue and will share their designs with her to help form part of the final piece at Ron Dearing UTC.

Lynn Garland-Collins, Senior Assistant Principal and Creative Director at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “To have leaders from across the world looking at our students’ artwork is amazing and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Art is a visual language and is understood globally, and opportunities like this and the Shorelines Project don’t come along very often. Molly, Scarlet and Katie have created these pieces to show their concerns about global warming and I’m really proud they’ve taken this opportunity.”

Hundreds of prospective students who hope to join Ron Dearing UTC next year attended an the first of three Open Events to find out more about the pioneering school.

Potential students and their parents heard from Principal Sarah Pashley, met the Ron Dearing UTC team, University and Employer Partners and current and former students, as well as enjoying a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities.

Those who hope to join Year 10 and Year 12 in September 2022 asked questions about Ron Dearing UTC’s curriculum and specialisms while finding out about potential opportunities open to them, such as apprenticeships, work experience placements, further and higher education options and a host of enrichment activities designed to develop their personal and employability skills.

 

The Ofsted Outstanding school has been oversubscribed every year since it opened its doors in 2017. A total of 300 places are available in September 2022 and over 450 applications have already been received.

Tom Pollard, 13, from Beverley, attended the event with his parents, Ian and Emma, and hopes to secure a place in Year 10 next year.

Tom said: “I’m really interested in art and I’m very impressed with the facilities at Ron Dearing UTC. I looked it up online and I’m glad I came to have a look around. You work a 40-hour week here, which I wouldn’t mind.”

Dad Ian said: “I like the way learning is structured into a proper working week at Ron Dearing UTC and the professional environment it offers. They give the students more responsibility and opportunities while treating them as adults.”

 

Mum Jade Smith took her daughter, Mercedez, 13, to the Open Event and said she sees great potential in her daughter becoming a Ron Dearing UTC Year 10 student.

Jade, from north Hull, said: “I think Mercedez will grow and learn so much here and there will be so many opportunities for her. The school is amazing.”

 

Joe Benson, 13, from east Hull, enjoyed the Open Event with his parents, Donna and Keith, and found out more about engineering from Clive Isaacs, the school’s Engineering Instructor for Manufacturing.

Joe said: “I prefer practical learning such as programming and designing and I want to try everything. I like the equipment and 3D printers at Ron Dearing UTC and I really hope I get a place in Year 10 next year.”

 

James Taylor, 15, from Anlaby, was accompanied by his parents, James and Siobhan, at the Open Event and hopes to join Year 12 in September 2022.

James said: “Having so many great Employer Partners involved in the school sets you up for the future and they have a big focus on behaviour and professionalism, which is great. The school days may be longer, but it helps to get you ready for work.”

Former Ron Dearing UTC student Elliott Sargeson joined Major Partner Arco as a Business Analyst Apprentice last year and returned to the school to speak to prospective students about the opportunities available to them in the future.

Elliott said: “Being a student at Ron Dearing UTC is such a big opportunity and I’ve never looked back. It’s such a supportive and encouraging environment and it gave me so much confidence to progress. It’s great to meet so many prospective students and share that with them.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, Reckitt, Siemens Gamesa, Smith + Nephew and Spencer Group. The school is also supported by other industry leading businesses and organisations including Hull City Council, Arco, INEOS, C4DI, Ideal Boilers, Fujitsu, Luxinar, Kohler Mira, Sauce, Sonoco Trident and more.

 

Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We had a fantastic response to our first Open Event and we were delighted to meet so many prospective new students and parents who were all eager to learn more about Ron Dearing UTC.

“We love the opportunity to showcase our amazing school and share with people the opportunities available here. It’s also fantastic to be reunited with so many of our ex-students who have gone on to great careers with our Employer Partners and attend our Open Events to talk about their experiences.

“We could have filled our school three times over last year and the demand for places continues to grow.  It’s extremely rewarding that so many young people and their parents believe in our radical employer-led approach to the curriculum and want to be a part of our school community.

“We’re proud to produce young people who are ready to hit the ground running when they leave, taking with them the professional values and behaviours we instil and making really valuable contributions to the regional and national economy.

“Places for our next two Open Events  on November 11^th and January 13^th are filling up fast and we encourage those who wish to join us in Year 10 or Year 12 next year to book a place and find out how we can help them get the edge.”

Applications for places in Year 10 must be received by January 31^st 2022 at which point the over-subscription criteria will be employed to allocate the 150 places. Year 12 students need to apply as soon as possible, and no later than May 2022.  To find out more, apply and/or book onto an open event, click here.

Year 13 Ron Dearing UTC students became reporters during Hull’s Freedom Festival, giving them behind-the-scenes access to capture the magic and excitement of the popular event.

The festival is the highlight of the city’s annual artistic and cultural programme and this year saw it span 17 days to allow as many people as possible to access the event safely.

Due to Covid-19 guidelines, events were held in theatres, museums, galleries, empty shops and some public spaces in Hull city centre.

This is the second time Ron Dearing UTC students have been involved in the festival through a partnership between the employer-led school and the festival organisers, Freedom Festival Arts Trust.

Students Sanzi Vetis, Francis Johnson and Kelsey Hearne completed interviews, took photographs and recorded their thoughts for their coursework as part of their reporting roles.

 

Sanzi, 17, viewed Luke Jerram’s Gaia exhibition in Hull Minster and attended a concert set against the huge world backdrop in the historic building.

She said: “I really enjoyed the experience because it was so atmospheric and magical. The music was beautiful and very moving. I took a lot of notes and pictures and I’m going to try and articulate my thoughts and feelings in an article. I loved the opportunity and I’m so glad I took it.”

Kelsey, 17, attended Marco Barotti’s Woodpecker installation in Humber Street and interviewed him about how it worked through electromagnetic radiation and smart technology, as well as how he thought the audience would react.

She said: “It was really interesting to talk to him and a very unique opportunity. I’m grateful Ron Dearing UTC has enabled this to happen for us.”

Francis, 17, attended Mark Copeland’s 21 Remarkable People tour at Hull’s Maritime Museum, which included portraits, photographs and heirlooms, and carried out an interview with the artist about his inspiration for the show.

He said: “It was really interesting and a new experience for me. I wouldn’t normally put myself out there but I enjoyed being a reporter. Freedom Festival puts Hull on the map in a really positive way.”

Artwork created by Year 13 students Evie Hadfield and Amber Van Raamsdonk was also displayed in the event main ticketing and information shop in Whitefriargate during the festival, while additional student artwork was displayed at Ron Dearing UTC.

 

Jayne Gross, Head of Communications at Freedom Festival, said: “We let the students decide what performances or themes of the festival they would like to report on and created an individual programme for each student, which included going behind the scenes and speaking to the artists, as well as reporting on performances.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to allow them to focus on areas they were most interested in and to be creative in their approach.

“I had three sessions with the students before the festival and was really impressed with how their ideas developed each time I spoke to them and the level of creativity on display. It was also a pleasure to bump into them during the festival and see their enthusiasm in action.

“Freedom Festival is very proud to be involved in the young reporters initiative and we look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with Ron Dearing UTC, its students and staff in the future.”

Lynn Garland-Collins, Senior Assistant Principal and Creative Director at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The students’ dedication to the young reporter initiative was brilliant.

“This experience gave them a brilliant insight into how an event of this scale is run and the different roles people have. I’m really proud of the students for always stepping up and embracing the opportunities offered to them.”

A former Ron Dearing UTC student who excelled in his studies has secured an exciting position at an award-winning smart tech company.

Lewis Taylor, 18, recently left the employer-led school’s highly successful sixth form after securing a double Distinction in Engineering and a Distinction in Digital Tech.

He is now studying a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Newcastle University but has also secured paid employment as a Support Analyst at Sauce, one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Major Partners.

Lewis, the first Ron Dearing UTC student employed by Sauce, worked full-time for the leading Hull-based software company over the summer and will now work flexible hours remotely on a part-time basis alongside his university studies.

Sauce is based at Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub and specialises in working with large, traditional companies as their digital partners, creating solutions to key business challenges to keep them ahead of the technology curve.

 

The business’ clients include global wind power leaders Siemens Gamesa, technology innovator Giacom and the world’s largest food and beverage company Nestlé, among others.

Lewis, who provides technical support for Sauce’s clients, said: “I’m so happy to join the team at Sauce and I’m really enjoying it. It’s a great company to work for, a brilliant team and a nice office space.

“I learnt so much at Ron Dearing UTC which applies to my job and the workplace, including project management and Digital Tech skills. The Employer Partners know what kind of student the school produces, what we’ve studied and the skills we have.

“Without a doubt, being a Ron Dearing student has helped me to prepare for work and given me valuable skills, such as public speaking and great qualifications, to enable me to secure this job. I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s Employer Partners contribute financially to the school, play a key role in developing the curriculum and set industry-standard projects for students to work on.

They also support students by providing careers information, advice and guidance, as well as offering work experience opportunities and potentially apprenticeships.

The employers help to equip Ron Dearing UTC students with the skills they want to see in their future employees, ensuring they are work-ready when they leave school.

Rachael Taylor, Business Strategist at Sauce, said: “Lewis is an outstanding young person and we’ve been blown away by his maturity and work ethic. He’s already excelled in this short space of time and we know he’ll go far.”

Rachael said there will be other potential opportunities for Ron Dearing UTC students to join the Sauce team in apprenticeship, full-time or part-time positions in the future.

She added: “Due to the pandemic, it’s unlikely this industry will ever go back to full-time office-based working, and will instead operate a hybrid approach to also working remotely. We trialled a new way of work experience with four Ron Daring students over the summer to help them understand remote working.

“We set the students a UX-based project, had daily stand-ups and offered them learning resource sessions before they presented their work to us and we gave them feedback.

“We want to show how they would apply for a position online and how they would interact with that employer to help them prepare for the future.

“The Ron Dearing link is fantastic for us and we’re proud to be a Major Partner.”

Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal for Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “We’re delighted Lewis has secured this fantastic position at Sauce and we know he has a bright future ahead of him.

“Opportunities like this are brilliant for our students and this is yet another example of why employer-led learning works.

“We wish Lewis all the very best for the future and look forward to seeing him shine in this important growing and evolving sector.”

Students at Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) have once again achieved exemplary GCSE and Level 2 technical qualification results, excelling in their studies despite unprecedented challenging times.

Highlights of the GCSE results achieved by the employer-led school’s 155 Year 11 students include:

• 87% of students achieved grades 4-9 in both English and Maths
• 60% of students secured grades 5-9 in English and Maths

Students studying the school’s specialisms have also performed incredibly well, with a significant number achieving the highest grades:

• 57% of students achieved Distinction* or Distinction in Digital Technology
• 53% achieved Distinction* or Distinction in Engineering Design
• 30% were awarded Distinction* or Distinction in Engineering Systems and Control
• 30% of students achieved Distinction* or Distinction in Creative iMedia

 

Due to Ron Dearing’s growing excellent reputation, competition for places in the school’s Sixth Form has been even more intense than previous years, with almost 400 students applying for the 150 places in Year 12 for this coming September.

Peter Sword, 16, achieved six GCSEs all at grade 9, including Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as a Distinction* in Engineering Systems and Control and a Distinction* in Digital Tech.

He is returning to Ron Dearing to study A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English at Sixth Form as he works towards a career in genetics.

Peter said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic with my results. I thought I might get a few 8 grades – I didn’t expect them to all be grade 9!

“I’m coming back to the Sixth Form because this is just a brilliant school. It’s very professional and I feel that this is the best place for me to help me achieve my ambitions.”

 

Twins Freya and Yaqub Ilyas, 16, were also delighted with their results.

Freya achieved seven GCSEs, including grade 8 in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics and English Language, and a Distinction in Engineering.

She is now looking forward to studying Chemistry, Biology and Maths at Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form and hopes to become a paediatric doctor in the future.

Freya said: “Ron Dearing UTC has helped me to progress and enjoy my subjects more. I’m looking forward to the challenge of Sixth Form because I need A grades to go to medical school.”

Yaqub achieved seven GCSEs, including grade 9 in Physics and Maths and grade 8 in Biology and Chemistry, as well as Distinctions in Creative iMedia and Digital Tech.

He is also returning to Ron Dearing’s Sixth Form and will study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

He said: “I’m delighted. Ron Dearing is just such a good place to be and I love it here.”

 

Serghei Glinca, 16, achieved six GCSEs, including grade 9 in Chemistry, Maths and Physics, as well as a Distinction * in Digital Tech and a Distinction in Engineering Manufacturing.

He was also thrilled with his grade 7 in English Language, which is his third language after Romanian and Russian.

Serghei, who wants to work as an Aerospace Engineer in the future, is returning to Ron Dearing to study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science at Sixth Form.

He said: “I’m really pleased. I’ve worked hard for this and the staff here have helped me along the way.”

 

Isabella Acaster has her sights set on a career in medicine after achieving Distinctions in Engineering Manufacture and Engineering Systems and Control, as well as four grade 9 and two grade 8 GCSEs.

She will now study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English at Ron Dearing’s Sixth Form.

Isabella, 16, said: “I’ve been looking forward to getting my results and I’m really happy with them.

“I have a great relationship with the Ron Dearing UTC teachers and they’re really supportive.”

 

Cohen Morfitt was determined to collect his results in person despite needing crutches after injuring his ankle playing sport.

His effort was rewarded as he achieved six GCSEs, including four at grade 9, a Distinction in Engineering Design and a Distinction* in Digital Tech.

Cohen, 16, who will now study Maths, Further Maths and Double Computer Science at Ron Dearing Sixth Form, said: “I’m really happy because my grades are better than I expected.

“I’d like a job in computer programming in the future and I know I’m in the best place to achieve that.

“My grades have shot up since I moved to Ron Dearing UTC and the teachers are great. They’ve given me so much support to get to this point.”

 

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “Yet again our students have demonstrated incredible determination and resilience in extremely difficult circumstances.

“I am so pleased that they have achieved such brilliant results, which have ensured that all of them are able to go on to exciting post-16 education opportunities.

“I’m also delighted that over 130 students have achieved the required grades and chosen to continue their education in our outstanding Sixth Form.”

Rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted in its first official inspection last year, Ron Dearing UTC caters for students aged between 14 and 19, offers a unique model of education with a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering.

Richard Martin, Chair of the Governing Board at Ron Dearing UTC and Digital Director at Major Partner Arco, said: “It’s fantastic to see how many existing Ron Dearing UTC students have chosen to stay on in our Sixth Form and continue their education with us.

“Employer-led learning works for them and they want more of it, as they can see its potential and how it is helping to pave the way for incredibly bright futures with amazing opportunities.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith+Nephew and Spencer Group.

The school is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners, including Arco, C4DI, Fujitsu, Green Port Hull, Ideal Boilers, INEOS Acetyls, Kohler Mira, Luxinar, NEC Software Solutions, Ørsted, Sauce, Sewell Group and Sonoco Trident.

Students who wish to join Ron Dearing UTC in September 2022 can apply online via https://www.rondearingutc.com/apply/ from September 1^st.

Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) students have spoken of their delight after hitting new heights in A-level and Level 3 technical results, paving the way for bright futures in their chosen paths.

The majority of the 116 students are the first cohort to complete four years of study at the employer-led Hull school, as they joined as Year 10 students when it opened its doors in 2017.

Highlights of Ron Dearing UTC’s excellent A-level results include:

• 100% pass rate – in line with 2019 and 2020.
• 43% of all grades are A or A* – an increase of 3% on 2020.
• 92% of grades are A* to C – an increase of 6% compared to last year.
• Eighteen students have straight A* or A grades.

Ron Dearing UTC’s average grade for technical qualifications, including Engineering, Computing, Art and Design, and Creative Digital, is a Distinction, the equivalent to grade B at A-level.

Just under half of the year group are now destined for apprenticeships or employment with the school’s Employer Partners or other leading businesses, and just over half are taking up university places, including seven with the Russell Group of elite higher education institutions. The overwhelming majority have achieved the grades required for their first choice university.

 

Identical twins Tom and Olly O’Loughlin recorded an amazing double success, achieving exactly the same grades in the same subjects. They will now move on to the same Civil Engineering apprenticeship at one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, Spencer Group.

The 18-year-old brothers were delighted to each achieve a double Distinction* in Engineering and a C in A-level Maths.

Tom said: “I feel really proud and I can’t wait to get started at Spencer Group. I’m interested in marine engineering in the future and this is the best start I could have.”

Olly said: “I’ve had so much one-to-one support at Ron Dearing UTC and it was a great decision to come here.

“I’m really looking forward to going into the world of work properly. I want to build bridges and Spencer Group is a leader in that field.”

 

Rana Maglad, 18, cried tears of joy as she opened her results envelope to reveal she had achieved a double Distinction* in Digital Tech and a Distinction* in Creative Digital. She will now study Graphic Design at the University of Hull.

Rana said: “I’m so happy, as my results are much better than I expected. The teachers at Ron Dearing UTC give 100% support to the students and they know how to help.

“It hasn’t been easy during the pandemic, but we all did the best we could and I’m really pleased with the outcome.”

Owen Millard, 18, achieved an A* in Maths, B in Further Maths, A in Physics and a Distinction* in Engineering. He has secured a Wind Turbine Technician apprenticeship at Founding Partner Siemens Gamesa.

“I’m really pleased with my results and am now looking forward to my apprenticeship, as I’ve always wanted to go straight to work,” said Owen. “I’ve done loads of research on Siemens Gamesa and it’s an amazing company to work for.

“Hull is the wind turbine capital of the world and I can stay at home to complete my apprenticeship, which is great.”

 

Ryah Russell, 18, achieved a double Distinction in Engineering and has secured a three-year Wind Turbine Technician apprenticeship with RWE Renewables. She will spend her first two years in Wales, before working offshore on the Triton Knoll wind farm, off the Lincolnshire coast, in her third year.

She said: “I’ve worked really hard for this and the staff at Ron Dearing have been there to support me all the way. They’ve really helped build my confidence, on top of the academic side of things.

“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I first came here but it’s blown me away. It’s been amazing.”

Brandon Gurnell, 17, was delighted to achieve an A* in Maths, A in Physics and a Distinction* in Engineering. He is now looking forward to starting a three-year Operations Technician apprenticeship with Centrica.

“I came here to do Engineering and it has been fantastic,” said Brandon. “I’ve learned so much and gained a lot of confidence along the way.”

 

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “This has been a very challenging year for our students, their parents and our staff, and I’m delighted the Year 13 students have achieved such amazing results.

“They’ve worked exceptionally hard and dealt with all the challenges that Covid-19 has thrown at them admirably. It’s a huge relief and a massive credit to them that they have maintained their engagement with learning throughout the past two years, both online and face-to-face in school.

“They’ve shown impressive maturity, resilience and dedication, and I’m extremely proud of each and every one of them. I’m also delighted they have secured such brilliant destinations. Results are extremely important but, ultimately, it’s about where the students go to and what they do once they’ve left school.

“They have exceptionally bright futures ahead of them and I can’t wait to see what they go on to achieve next.”

Rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted in its first official inspection last year, Ron Dearing UTC caters for students aged between 14 and 19 and has a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering, offering a unique model of education.

Richard Martin, Chair of the Governing Board at Ron Dearing UTC and Digital Director at Major Partner Arco, said: “This is the first cohort of students to spend four years at Ron Dearing UTC and they have achieved outstanding results despite continuing to study during exceptionally challenging times.

“I’m incredibly proud of all of the students and these results are further confirmation that employer-led learning and education works.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith+Nephew and Spencer Group.

The school is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners, including Arco, C4DI, Fujitsu, Green Port Hull, Ideal Boilers, INEOS Acetyls, Kohler Mira, Luxinar, NEC Software Solutions, Ørsted, Sauce, Sewell Group and Sonoco Trident.

Students at Ron Dearing UTC have been learning about how to tackle climate change at a special summer school.

Around 40 students either joining the school or moving from Year 10 to Year 11 in September took part in a week-long series of activities to raise their awareness of the climate emergency and develop valuable new skills.

The summer school had the theme “Five Days to Save the World” and began with a keynote address from author Robert Bell. It then saw the students take part in biology, physics and futurology workshops, all with an environmental focus. They also enjoyed a trip to The Deep to discover more about the planet.

In the second half of the week the students were tasked with designing their own sustainability-themed computer platform games, based on what they had learned in the first part of the week.

 

Working in teams, they adapted a basic template to create their own bespoke games. Each team then delivered a presentation on their game to the whole cohort.

Chris Berry, Lead Practitioner for English, led the week with Assistant Principal Joanne Campbell.

He said: “The students have all been brilliant and we saw them really flourish throughout the week.

“They developed a much broader understanding of environmental issues and the difference they can all make, worked in teams, delivered presentations and learned about computer coding, so it was a really valuable experience for them.”

 

Students Francesca Wilkes-Oliver and Adam Salter, along with their teammates Katie Hatfield and Grace Massam, created a game about saving animals from forest fires in Australia.

Francesca, 15, said: “The week really opened my eyes to what we can all do to help save the planet.

“It raised my awareness about the issues and the part we can play to tackle the problems. We can all make small changes which, together, can make a big difference.”

Adam, also 15, said: “It’s been a really interesting week and I’ve learned a lot. We’ve worked in teams and developed new skills, so it’s been great.”

Six Year 12 Ron Dearing UTC students who have excelled this year have had their achievements recognised at a special awards ceremony.

The Ron Dearing UTC Partner Awards took place at the school on July 20^th and were supported by Founding Partners KCOM, Reckitt, Siemens Gamesa, Smith+Nephew and Spencer Group, as well as the University of Hull, the school’s leading education partner.

Awards were presented for a range of successes, from Outstanding Academic Achievement and Best Communicator to Inspirational Leadership, Outstanding Contribution to the Community, and more.

Nominations and decisions for each award were made by staff and Employer Partners, and representatives from the sponsoring companies attended the ceremony alongside the students’ parents and members of the UTC’s Senior Leadership Team to celebrate their success.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We’re so proud of the students and all they have achieved.

“Whilst we weren’t able to run our annual awards in their full capacity this year, due to Covid-19, it was fantastic to bring our Founding Partners, students and parents together for this special occasion.

“It has been a challenging time and our students have truly excelled on so many levels under difficult circumstances. They are all fully deserving of these awards and have incredibly bright futures ahead of them.”

 

Catherine Crees, 17, was presented with the Spencer Group Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community by Yvonne Moir, Ron Dearing UTC governor and the company’s Head of HR.

Catherine’s achievements include becoming the Junior Chairman of Skirlaugh Young Farmers, which requires leadership and organisational skills, and achieving a Level 2 NVQ Medicines Counter Assistant course to expand her knowledge and take on more responsibility in her work at a local pharmacy.

The judges said: “Catherine has proved herself an extremely valuable member of the Ron Dearing UTC community this year. She has seized every opportunity available to her to get involved in collaborative projects both in and out of school.

“Above all, Catherine is a people person who makes a fantastic contribution to the school and the local and global community.”

Catherine, who is studying Engineering, Maths and Physics, said: “I’m really pleased, proud and shocked to win this award. Ron Dearing UTC gives us some of the best opportunities people our age can have and it’s lovely to have a celebration like this.”

Kelham Hillier, 17, won the Siemens Gamesa Quality Excellence Award, recognising his “exceptional passion and enthusiasm for learning”.

The judges said: “Kelham consistently demonstrates dedication, resilience and an attention to detail in every task he undertakes. His ideas are always clearly presented and his responses to questions are mature, structured and logical. His drive for perfection makes him the perfect recipient of this award.”

Kelham, who is studying Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Engineering, was presented with his award by Laura Botham, HR Partner at Siemens Gamesa.

Kelham said: “I’ve worked hard this year and it’s really nice to receive this award. Events like this encourage you to try even harder.”

The full list of winners are:

• The University of Hull Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement: Jasveer Jabbal
• KCOM Award for Best Communicator: Linas Domarkas
• Reckitt Award for Inspirational Leadership: Oliver Peers
• Siemens Gamesa Quality Excellence Award: Kelham Hillier
• Smith+Nephew Award for Innovation: Sam Osborne
• Spencer Group Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community: Catherine Crees