Plans for Derby’s first University Technical College (UTC) which will work closely with engineering and manufacturing employers in and around the city have been given official funding approval by the Department for Education.
Derby Manufacturing University Technical College (UTC) will be based at an £8 million campus on Locomotive Way, Pride Park, subject to planning permission being granted by Derby City Council.
The key partners – Derby College, the University of Derby, Rolls-Royce Plc, Bombardier, Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd and Derby City Council – have been working together to finalise plans for the UTC and inviting expressions of interest from potential students.
In a letter to Derby Manufacturing UTC Trust chair Graham Schumacher from Rolls-Royce plc, Secretary of State for Education Lord Nash said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the great commitment and energy which you and your colleagues have shown in reaching this point.
“The Trust’s efforts in achieving such a milestone are testament of its passion to opening a unique and exciting school with engineering and technology-based specialisms supported by nationally and internationally renowned universities and employers.
“UTCs are an important part of our schools reforms and the Derby Manufacturing UTC will make a vital contribution to help raised educational standards and prepare young people for work in highly technical industries.”
The UTC will then open in September 2015 for the first intake of students in years 10 and 12 – providing young people with the skills needed in engineering and manufacturing, including the rail industry.
The UTC will have capacity for up to 600 young people aged 14 to 19. They will study core GCSE’s, A levels and engineering qualifications enhanced by project based learning, work placements, employer site visits and industry expert lectures.
Graham Schumacher said today: “Confirmation of the official funding agreement is indeed a major milestone for Derby Manufacturing UTC and we can now step up our work to recruit the first cohort of students for September 2015 and develop working relationships with local employers who will be so crucial in this new education facility for the city.
“Work placement opportunities will be core elements of the work programmes where learners will be able to put into practice the skills they have learnt in the classroom into work activity, supported by mentors from local companies.
“We have around 50 employers involved in the UTC at present and plan for this to increase to around 150.
“We are particularly keen to involve small and medium sized businesses from sectors such as the rail industry in the UTC who can utilise the creativity and problem solving skills of our students and to demonstrate to them just how beneficial it is to have young people involved in their operations.
“We are confident that this involvement will not only benefit the businesses involved but will also create job and apprenticeship opportunities for our students after they leave the UTC.”
- For more information about how to apply and forthcoming events, please visit the website http://www.derbymanufacturingutc.co.uk/
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