Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) has recorded superb A-level and Level 3 Technical results for the second year in a row, setting the school’s students up for success in apprenticeships or at university.
All 80 Year 13 learners studied for A-levels and/or Level 3 technical qualifications identified by the school’s employer partners as best equipping them with the knowledge and skills for successful careers within the engineering, digital and creative sectors.
The results are based on centre assessed grades submitted by the school which have been subjected to a process of moderation by Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator.
Highlights of an excellent A-level results day for Hull’s employer-led school included:
- 40% of all grades are A* or A.
- 86% of grades are A*-C.
- The average grade is a B, compared to the national average of C.
- Seventeen students have straight A* or A grades.
- The overall pass rate is 100%.
Ron Dearing UTC’s results for technical qualifications, including Engineering, Computing, Art & Design and Creative iMedia, are also outstanding, with the average grade being a Distinction, the equivalent to grade B at A-level.
Half of the year group are now destined for apprenticeships or employment, with the other 40 having applied for university places, seven of them with the Russell Group of elite higher education institutions.
Based on their results, Ron Dearing UTC is confident all students who have applied to go to university will secure places, most with their first choice destination.
Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “This has been the most extraordinary year at Ron Dearing UTC. We went from the high of achieving Outstanding in our first Ofsted inspection in mid-March, to having to close the school to all but a handful of students a week later and move from face-to-face teaching to online learning.
“This has been exceptionally stressful for our students who have had to deal with unprecedented challenges and make huge adjustments to the way they work. The commitment they have shown to their studies and their resilience under pressure has been nothing short of astounding.
“I am proud of every single one of them. I am also extremely grateful to their parents and carers who have worked in partnership with our staff throughout lockdown to minimise the disruption to learning.
“We were obviously all extremely anxious about whether the new way of accrediting students for their A-level and technical qualifications would be fair. I am very grateful to my staff who went about the process of awarding ‘calculated’ grades diligently and professionally.
“We are all exceptionally relieved that the overwhelming number of results do reflect the grades we believe the students would have achieved had they sat their exams. This means that all our students will progress onto a really great apprenticeships, jobs or university courses in September. Well done everyone!”
Ron Dearing UTC caters for students aged between 14 and 19 from Hull and the East Riding and offers a unique education model with a specialist focus on digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering.
The school is officially rated as “Outstanding” by Ofsted having achieved the accolade following its first official inspection earlier this year.
As well as the rating of outstanding for the school’s overall effectiveness, inspectors also marked the pioneering school as outstanding for quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management; and sixth form provision.
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 APD Communications, Arco, BP, C4DI, Fujitsu, Green Port Hull, Ideal Boilers, Ørsted, Sewell Group and Sonoco Trident.
Charlie Spencer OBE, Chair of Governors and Executive Chairman of Spencer Group, said: “These brilliant results say so much about the talent and dedication of our students and teaching team.
“They are a great tribute to the students’ resilience in overcoming the unprecedented challenges of the past few months and we’re all delighted they have gained the grades they deserved.
“Our employer partners have also shown tremendous support for the school during a very difficult period and have again made available dozens of apprenticeships to give our students a fantastic start to their careers.”
Ron Dearing UTC is now recruiting for students to join in Year 10 and 12 in September 2021. To apply or find out more click here.