Black Country UTC
| Black Country UTC | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Vernon Way , , WS3 2PA | |
| Information | |
| Type | University Technical College |
| Motto | Bringing engineering and science to life... |
| Established | 2011 |
| Closed | 2015 |
| Department for Education URN | 136933 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Age | 14 to 19 |
| Website | http://www.blackcountryutc.co.uk/ |
Black Country UTC was a university technical college (UTC) located in the Bloxwich area of Walsall, West Midlands, England. The University of Wolverhampton and Walsall College were the lead academic sponsors of the UTC, and Siemens acted as the lead business partner for the UTC. The UTC closed at the end of August 2015.
History
Black Country UTC opened in September 2011, and was the second university technical college to open in England as part of the university technical colleges programme.[1] The UTC was located on the site of the former Sneyd Comprehensive School, a secondary school in Walsall which closed during the Summer of 2011 due to falling pupil numbers.[2] The school site was extensively refurbished to accommodate the new UTC. A second phase of renovation was completed in September 2013.[1]
In April 2015 it was announced that Black Country UTC would close at the end of August 2015, with all pupils either graduating or being given places at other local schools. (which was not for filled) The decision to close the UTC was made after two Ofsted reports stated that the school required ALOT of improvement, and overall low student numbers.[3]
"In May 2015 all students were issued with a letter informing the students that the school would be closing this gave students little or no time to apply for a new placement somewhere else. The students then raised the matter with the local news which took the story very seriously. This college was proven to not be all it was put out to be and greatly let down all of the students there." - Ex Black country UTC student who was there at the time this happened.
Curriculum
The UTC specialised in engineering and science, and offered education for pupils aged 14 to 19. At ages 14–16, pupils studied a Higher Diploma in Engineering or BTEC First Diploma in Engineering in conjunction with a range of GCSE options. For sixth form education, students chose between three routes of study:
- The Technical and Academic studies route required all students to study an Advanced Engineering Diploma or a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering. In addition, all students were expected to study the German language. Students could also choose to study between 1 and 3 other subjects in addition to their core engineering studies.
- The Apprenticeships route required all students to study a Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeship in Engineering on a full time or day release basis in conjunction with Walsall College.
- The Pre Apprenticeship routes required all students to study a Performing Engineering Operations course, a BTEC First in Engineering and Functional Skills in English, Maths and ICT. Students also had the opportunity to retake GCSE English and Maths.
References
- ^ a b "Black Country UTC opens for learning". Utcolleges.org. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
- ^ Nick Mashiter's Olympics diary. "Closure date decision over doomed Sneyd Community School « Express & Star". Expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Black Country University Technical College to close". BBC News.