Some of our top female tech talent have attended an inspiring and empowering “Lunch & Learn” session hosted by one of our Major Partners, leading technology company APD Communications.

Hull-based APD supplies critical, life-saving software to police forces and emergency services organisations across the UK and supports critical control operations internationally.

 

APD Senior Software Tester Keeley Barrick led the presentation to a group of female sixth formers, plus one Year 10 student, with fellow APD colleagues Wendy Hiley, Talent Business Partner, and Jo Ward, Head of Development Delivery.

The interactive session looked at the past achievements of female tech pioneers, including 19^th century mathematician and visionary Ada Lovelace, known as “the prophet of the computer age”.

Keeley moved on to discuss present-day examples of influential women in tech such as Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and YouTube Chief Executive Officer Susan Wojcicki.

Keeley said: “It’s extremely important to encourage the next generation of women into tech careers because the proportion of females in this industry is still so small.

“Hull is a great area for growing talent and all the initiatives by companies such as APD and by Ron Dearing UTC give more hope and opportunity to students and graduates to go for a career in technology.

“These female students show how attitudes are changing. Hopefully they will be inspired to overcome gender stereotypes and progress into tech careers.”

 

Year 12 engineering student Ellie Clayton said: “I’m interested in working for Smith & Nephew or Siemens, who are both Ron Dearing UTC partners. They’re big companies and lots of people want to join them, but I think having high aspirations just helps you to work harder.

“I also used to want to work for the police but until today’s Lunch & Learn event with APD I didn’t realise there were so many tech jobs within the police service. It’s quite inspirational to see what we can do.”

Year 10 student Zoe Brown said: “Most jobs in tech are male dominated, so it’s important to see females in top roles in software companies. It shows girls they can get jobs in tech.”

Other topics covered in the lunchtime session included how gender bias can deter females from choosing careers in technology and how more role models were needed to encourage women into the tech roles.

The nine engineering, maths and computer science students then heard about how forward-thinking APD empowers its workforce regardless of gender, with many women in senior positions at the company.

Wendy Hiley said: “I’ve seen the roles of women in tech change over the years, so it’s really important for us to inspire the next generation of females into the industry.

“We’re always looking for new and exciting ideas from the next wave of talent, so we’re keen to continue to develop our links with schools like Ron Dearing UTC and universities.

“APD is such a forward-thinking company and we’re all so passionate about the work we do – which is literally saving lives through tech. Hopefully these sessions will inspire students to think of APD when they’re deciding on a career.”

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Students at Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) had their eyes opened to numerous exciting opportunities available to them at a special careers event.

Hull’s pioneering digital technology and engineering school held its second annual Apprenticeships Expo, with students given the chance to meet with a wide range of employers and find out more about apprenticeships and other career opportunities.

The event was again organised by Ron Dearing UTC partner employer, recruitment specialist Emmerson Kitney, and more than a dozen businesses including Spencer Group, Swift, Groupe Atlantic and Sypro.

It gave the sixth form students who are due to leave this summer the inside track on sought-after training roles with many of the area’s best employers.

 

Spencer Group, one of the school’s Founding Partners, currently has 14 apprentices who joined the Hull-based engineering business from the UTC and four of them attended the expo to talk to students about their own positive experiences.

Engineer Thomas Inglis said: “We brought our own apprentices so the students could relate to them.

“We have an idea of how many apprentices we want to take on this year, but if we find extraordinarily high talent in the group leaving the school, we will take more on. Last year we didn’t intend on taking on 14 but the students were of such a high standard that we decided we would.

“The students here are very talented and enthusiastic.”

 

Cottingham-based caravan, motorhome and holiday home producer Swift attended again, after taking on four apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC last year.

Richard Monk, Technical Trainer at Swift, said: “We are looking for practical people because it is a very hands-on industry.

“Four of last year’s intake of apprentices were from Ron Dearing, joining us in September. They have been brilliant and are doing really well. The skills they developed at Ron Dearing prepared them really well.”

Software company Sypro, based in Hull, has a customer service support engineer position currently available.

Marketing Manager Olivia Toplass said: “All of our roles tend to have a technical aspect. The position we have available will be supporting our technical customer service and this was a really good option for us to come here.”

Maria Shepherd, HR Advisor Development at Groupe Atlantic, the parent company of Hull-based Ideal Boilers, added: “We want to make sure local talent stays with us and the digital focus here at Ron Dearing really links in with our research and development teams.

“The facilities here are state-of-the-art. They are second to none.”

 

More than 200 students who will be leaving Ron Dearing UTC in July after the successful completion of their studies attended the event. Students from Year 11 were also given the opportunity to speak to employers, to enable them to start thinking about their next move at an early stage.

Sam Caley, Joint Head of Sixth Form, said it was a fantastic opportunity for the students to find an exciting position as the school aims to repeat its success of last year, when 100% of students who left secured an apprenticeship, other employment or a place at university.

He said: “We’re really focused on the progression routes for our students once they leave.

“We specialise in this area and all the companies represented here know we work with our students to ensure they have excellent employability skills.”

Ron Dearing UTC opened in September 2017 offering a unique education model with a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering.

Specialist subjects studied at the Kingston Square school, in Hull city centre, include digital technologies, computing, digital media and engineering in a range of disciplines including design, manufacture, electrical and mechanical, systems control and automation.

Tim Watson, of Emmerson Kitney, said: “This event has helped all these businesses connect with local talent, specialising in engineering, technical and digital skills.

“These young people are the future leaders in our region.”

Please click here to read our weekly update

Please click here to read our weekly update

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 15^th 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 6^th best for student progress, with a progress score of 0.72, which is officially rated as “well above average”.

 

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 15^th 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 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.

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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.

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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 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.”

 

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.