Ron Dearing UTC named among England’s best schools for A-level progress

Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) has been named as one of the best schools in the country for the progress made by A-level students.

New league tables released by the Department for Education show Hull’s employer-led school is ranked 15th of all schools and colleges in England, including fee-paying independent schools, for the progress made by students who took their A-levels last summer.

Excluding independent schools, Ron Dearing UTC is ranked as the 6th best for student progress, with a progress score of 0.72, which is officially rated as “well above average”.

Students celebrate their A-level results at Ron Dearing UTC last summer. The school has now been named as one of the best in the country for the progress made by A-level students.

 

You can see the top-rated schools and colleges in England for student progress here.

Ron Dearing UTC is also the No. 1 ranked school or college in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. You can see the ratings for Hull here.

The scores record how much progress students made between the end of key stage 4 (GCSEs) and completion of their A-level studies, compared to similar students across England.

Also known as “valued added” ratings, the scores are calculated by comparing A-level results of students at each school or college with the A-level results of students in schools and colleges across England who started with similar results at the end of key stage 4.

A score above zero means students made more progress, on average, than students across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 4. A score below zero means students made less progress, on average, than students across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 4.

The Ron Dearing UTC progress score recognises the exceptional progress made by students who left other local schools following their GCSEs to join in the sixth form when the new school opened in September 2017.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “To be ranked as the top school or college in our area for value added progress at A-level and the 15th best in the country is phenomenal and a great tribute to the students, their parents, our fantastic university and employer partners and all our talented staff.

“However, I am not a big believer in league tables.  They only measure one aspect of a school or college’s educational provision – exam results.  Great schools and colleges are about so much more.

“Whilst I am extremely proud of our students’ examination success, I am equally proud of the progress they made in terms of their personal and employability skills and the fact that they have gone onto exciting careers within the tech and engineering industries or to study these subjects to degree level at university.

“Ron Dearing UTC was established to ‘do education differently’ and to provide a talent pipeline for our university and employer partners and the wider engineering and tech sectors and we’re delivering on that vision.

“Last year 60% of our students progressed onto apprenticeships compared to only 6% nationally.  This proves that our unique employer-led model of learning not only delivers outstanding examination results, but, most importantly, creates outstanding employees who can make a valuable contribution to society and the economy.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s opening day in September 2017. The school has now been named among the very best schools in England for the progress made by A-level students who joined on the first day.

 

Ron Dearing UTC is a school that means business, with a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering. The school is focused on equipping 14 to 19-year-olds with the knowledge and skills to give them the edge as they make their way into employment.

The school’s Founding Partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith & Nephew and Spencer Group. The school is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners, including Major Partners APD Communications, Arco, Bonus, BP, C4DI, Green Port Hull, Ideal Boilers, Fujitsu, Ørsted, Sewell Group and Sonoco Trident.

Ron Dearing UTC is due to reach its full capacity in September this year, 12 months earlier than originally scheduled, due to continuing strong demand for places.

Students who wish to join Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 next September should register by January 31. Applications can still be made after that date, but earlier applications will be considered first. Students wishing to apply for Year 12 places can continue to apply until the end of August.

Applications should be made online here.

Baroness Bottomley visits Ron Dearing UTC after praising school’s ‘remarkable success’

Ron Dearing UTC has hosted a visit by the Chancellor of the University of Hull and former Cabinet minister Baroness Bottomley.

The former Health Secretary and National Heritage Secretary visited the school to meet students and tour our amazing facilities.

 

Baroness Bottomley is a proactive advocate of technical and vocational education and was a close friend of Lord Ron Dearing, after whom the school is named.  She is also a friend of Lord Baker, Chairman of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust which champions the UTC movement.

Baroness Bottomley recently participated in a debate in the House of Lords when she spoke passionately about the huge benefits of technical education and named Ron Dearing UTC as an example of good practice.

In her speech, Baroness Bottomley described Ron Dearing UTC as a “most remarkable success”, with the support and active involvement of leading businesses a vital element.

“There is strong local business investment and involvement and the business leaders provide time and resources,” she told the House of Lords. “The curriculum is not just intended to get someone a job but is much broader, developing the whole person – and this is only the beginning.”

A link to the transcript of the debate can be found here.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “It was a pleasure and a great honour to host Baroness Bottomley’s visit.  She was extremely impressed by our students, who all spoke articulately and enthusiastically about their experience of Ron Dearing UTC and how they feel it is helping them to prepare for carers in the engineering, tech and creative industries.”

The University of Hull is a Founding Partner and Lead Educational Partner of Ron Dearing UTC and Baroness Bottomley’s visit is the latest recognition of Ron Dearing UTC’s reputation as a leader in employer-led education.

Huge demand for places will see Ron Dearing UTC hit capacity a year ahead of schedule

Ron Dearing UTC will reach its full capacity in September 2020, a year ahead of schedule, due to strong demand for places.

Almost 1,000 prospective Year 10 and Year 12 students, their parents or carers have attended two recent Open Events at the school, with the hope of securing a place next year.

The school’s senior team had originally predicted full capacity of 600 students would be reached by September 2021, but continuing strong demand for places and having a full and strong teaching team in place ahead of schedule means it will hit the target 12 months before that date.

Ron Dearing UTC opened its doors in September 2017 and the first three years have all been oversubscribed. Just 300 places are currently available for September 2020 and 275 external applications have already been received.

The final Open Event for the September 2020 intake will take place on Thursday, January 16, from 6pm to 8pm and interested students and their parents are being urged not to miss out.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We could have hit capacity earlier, but it was important we grew the staff team. We have an amazingly strong, high-quality teaching team now and that means we will hit 600 by September 2020, one year early.

“We’re delighted at what we have achieved over the last two years. We’re most proud of pioneering a different approach to education and that everyone is buying into it.”

Ron Dearing UTC works in partnership with many of Hull’s leading businesses to equip 14 to 19-year-olds with the knowledge and skills to give them the edge as they make their way into employment.

Visitors to the latest Open Event were told 94% of last year’s Year 11 students stayed on in the school’s Sixth Form this year, while 99% of parents and carers stated they would recommend Ron Dearing UTC.

 

Kingsley Abel, 13, who hopes to join Year 10 in September, and his mother, Tiffani Taylor, find out about Ron Dearing UTC from former student George Mellonby, who is now a Commercial Apprentice with Spencer Group.

 

Kingsley Abel, 13, who hopes to join Year 10 in September 2020, attended with his mother, Tiffani Taylor.

He said: “I really like making things and I want to go into engineering. I think it’s a great school and I even came for a look around last year because I was so interested.

“There are more opportunities for me here and the Open Event gave me a more visible idea of what is on offer. It is useful because you can learn a lot from talking to students and the employer partners.”

Tiffani added: “I really want Kingsley to come to Ron Dearing UTC because the learning style is totally different and it sets young people up for the future, preparing them for the world of work.”

Former Ron Dearing UTC students George Mellonby and Matthew Hunter are now apprentices with Spencer Group and returned to the school to tell visitors to the latest Open Event how they got the edge in the competition for jobs.

 

Highlighting the school’s vision, values and excellent support and guidance on offer, Sarah told attendees how Ron Dearing UTC’s pioneering education model was a huge success, proved by outstanding GCSE, A-level and technical qualification results published for the first time this year.

She added: “We want to develop well-rounded individuals who love coming to school. We want the right students here because we are right for them – those who will benefit from being here and who will maximise the opportunities available to them.”

Students who wish to join Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 next September should register by January 31. Applications can still be made after that date, but earlier applications will be considered first. Students wishing to apply for Year 12 places can continue to apply until the end of August.

  • To register for the January 16 Open Event, download an application form, or find out more, click here.

Scholarships help former Ron Dearing UTC students thrive at the University of Hull

Two former Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) students are thriving at the University of Hull, having been awarded scholarships to support them in their studies.

Jacob Harrison and Joely Rhodes, both 18, joined Hull’s employer-led school as Year 12 Sixth Form students when it opened its doors in 2017 and excelled in their chosen subjects.

After achieving exceptional grades, they were successful in applying to join the University of Hull and were awarded scholarships, becoming the first students from one of three UTCs partnered with the university to benefit from the opportunity.

Jacob was awarded a £4,000 Achievement Scholarship to support him in his Biomedical Engineering degree, while Joely secured a £2,000 Merit Scholarship for her degree in Pure Chemistry.

Jacob has high functioning Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism which means he sees, hears and feels the world differently to others, often finding busy environments, social interaction with others, and change can cause him considerable anxiety.

But, having achieved two Distinction* and a Distinction in his OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, Jacob said he was determined to show how his condition was no barrier to success.

Jacob Harrison has overcome Asperger Syndrome to excel at Ron Dearing UTC and progress to the University of Hull, where he is studying for a Biomedical Engineering degree, supported by an Achievement Scholarship.

 

He said: “The teachers at Ron Dearing UTC make the difference and they treat everyone as an individual. They really helped me to come out of my shell.

“My mother has always told me that Asperger Syndrome is not a disability, it’s a gift, and I have used it to the best of my academic possibilities. It was a hindrance in the past, but not anymore.

“I think this is a really good way of showing your condition doesn’t define you; you define your condition.

“This scholarship will help to pay for my books and the rest can be saved, or used for my degree. Going to university is the next step of my journey and I’m excited about what the future will bring.”

Joely achieved a Distinction* in Creative Digital in addition to A-levels in Maths and Chemistry to gain her place at the University of Hull and be awarded the Merit Scholarship.

She said she was thoroughly enjoying her Pure Chemistry studies and aspires to work in pharmaceutical research in the future, in particular cancer and drug research after her grandmother Anne died following a cancer diagnosis four years ago.

Joely Rhodes has progressed from Ron Dearing UTC to the University of Hull and has secured a Merit Scholarship to support for her Pure Chemistry degree studies.

 

Joely, who has bought her first car thanks to the scholarship, said: “This type of research means a lot to my family and I want to contribute to the battle against cancer.

“I was originally due to go to the University of Leeds to study Medicinal Chemistry, but joining the University of Hull instead and receiving the scholarship has been a real boost.

“I absolutely love university life, I love chemistry and I’m really enjoying myself.”

Joely said Ron Dearing UTC had helped to prepare her for university life and her future career.

She said: “Ron Dearing UTC is a really professional environment and it builds you up to become more confident and motivated.

“The school instilled workplace values in us and that has really helped me with speaking to people at different levels.”

Former Ron Dearing UTC students Jacob Harrison and Joely Rhodes in the laboratories at the University of Hull, with UTC Principal Sarah Pashley, left, and Karen Arundel, the university’s UTC Partnerships Manager.

 

Ron Dearing UTC in Hull city centre caters for students aged between 14 and 19 from Hull and the East Riding and offers a unique, employer-driven education model, with a specialist focus on digital technology, digital engineering and creative digital.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said Jacob and Joely were shining examples of what the school’s students can achieve.

She said: “Jacob and Joely’s results were absolutely outstanding and what they have achieved is incredible.

“When Jacob came here, he wouldn’t enter the conference centre. But when he left, he was presenting to 200 people there, including his fellow students and employers. That shows how comfortable he felt in the environment we create within the school.

“Joely has done exceptionally well too and I’m delighted to see them both progressing so well in their university lives.

“People at this school accept everybody for who they are and understand people have different challenges and strengths. They let each other be themselves and support them to realise their potential.”

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.

Karen Arundel, UTC Partnerships Manager at the University of Hull, said: “Everyone is delighted for Jacob and Joely. They have done amazingly well.

“They are the first students from any of the three UTCs we are partnered with to be awarded scholarships. We are thrilled Jacob and Joely have joined us as they continue their learning journeys.”

Pictures: Neil Holmes Photography.

Programme inspires students to embrace Hull’s cultural offerings

Year 10 and 11 students at Ron Dearing UTC are being rewarded for embracing culture and broadening their experiences outside the classroom.

The school’s Culture Vulture programme was launched at the start of the academic year and encourages students to make the most of Hull and East Yorkshire’s cultural opportunities, including visiting art galleries, museums, theatres, sports events and festivals.

The school team circulates details of events to students through its weekly update to parents and students. In turn, students receive bronze, silver or gold awards based on the number of venues and events they visit.

Activities are completed by students in their own time, in addition to cultural events supported by the school. For example, all Year 10 and 11 students recently attended Blood Brothers at Hull New Theatre, which contributed to the Culture Vulture programme.

Year 10 student Makenzie Bailey receives his Culture Vulture bronze award from Vice Principal Mark Ollerenshaw.

Vice Principal Mark Ollerenshaw said: “The programme recognises the importance of the arts and responds to the emphasis on developing ‘cultural capital’ in the Ofsted framework.

“We’re focused on developing students into work-ready young people and having an awareness of culture and the impact it can have on personal wellbeing, health and happiness is a really important part of that.

“Programmes like this help to develop well-rounded citizens and unlock interests the students may not know they have. Taking part in the Culture Vulture programme can ignite an interest they can then pursue further for themselves.”

Students record the cultural activities and visits they have completed in their own “Culture Vulture Passport” and are awarded bronze, silver and gold certificates for completing each level.

Year 10 student Makenzie Bailey, 15, was the first to be awarded his bronze certificate and further awards will be handed out to students in the New Year.

Makenzie said: “I have visited some museums, football matches and a concert, as well as seeing Blood Brothers. I feel proud and excited to achieve this award.

“It’s important to get involved in cultural activities because, when you are looking for a job, it shows you also do interesting things in your own time. I’ve really enjoyed it.”