2014|2015 COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE FOR 14–19 YEAR OLDS PROSPECTUS 2019-20 ENTER A BE INSPIRED 1 WORLD OF NEW As you approach the beginning of GCSEs or Post-16, you’ll be facing some important choices about your learning. You’ll know that getting these decisions right will set you on the path to a great career. We’re really pleased that you’re thinking of coming to UTC Reading and taking advantage of the many opportunities we OPPORTUNITIES… can offer you. With us, you’ll be able to follow your areas of interest in either computer science or engineering while studying GCSEs, A-levels and getting invaluable practical skills from the best in the industry. This is because UTC Reading has the support of local, high profile industry and academic partners who help to shape the curriculum and work closely with our students. BE INSPIRED 1 We believe that students who attend UTC Reading are given the best start in a variety of progression routes. ACTIVATE LEARNING EDUCATION TRUST 2 Last year our students progressed on to university, an apprenticeship, a sponsored degree programme or OUR LEARNING PHILOSOPHY 3 employment. FIND OUT ABOUT UTCs 4 UTC Reading will offer you something different. And we expect you to want something different: DIVERSITY IN STEM 6 A WELCOME FROM OUR STUDENT PRESIDENTS 8 to follow your interest in computer science or engineering while studying for your GCSEs or A-levels STUDENT DESTINATIONS 9 to embrace opportunities to work through challenges and projects set by our industry partners OUTSTANDING UTC AND WORLD CLASS SCHOOL 10 UTC READING – LEARN FOR THE REAL WORLD 12 to want the best chance of moving into employment or further and higher education in your chosen field PIPELINE PROGRAMME 13 COTEACH 14 If you want to benefit from the latest technology, be in an environment that feels more like being at work than school and benefit from our wide industry links then UTC Reading could be for you. SPECIALIST ENRICHMENT 15 THE KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM 16 We hope our guide will inspire you to find out more about the great opportunities we have to offer at UTC STUDY OPTIONS POST-16 18 Reading and we would warmly welcome you to join us in September 2019. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 20 LEARN IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART ENVIRONMENT 22 Jonathan Nicholls, Principal EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS 24 LEAD PARTNERS 25 JOIN UTC READING 26 FIND OUT MORE 28 INNOVATIVE, EDUCATING EMPLOYER- THE NEXT FOCUSED GENERATION OF SCHOOL FOR 14 OUTSTANDING TO 19 YEAR OLDS ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS AND INDUSTRIAL INNOVATORS UTC READING | GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS | www.utcreading.org.uk 3 2 ACTIVATE LEARNING OUR LEARNING EDUCATION TRUST PHILOSOPHY UTC Reading is a member of Activate Learning Education Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) At UTC Reading, our approach to teaching and learning is driven by a distinctive Learning Philosophy. established by Activate Learning. This philosophy has been developed by members of the Activate Learning group and recognises Activate Learning Education Trust exists to deliver excellence in education and transform lives three essential elements for effective learning: through learning. Our schools to date are UTC Reading, UTC Swindon, UTC Oxfordshire, UTC Heathrow, Bicester Technology Studio, The Bicester School and Theale Green School. BRAIN – our brains are capable of incredible things. From the study of neuroscience we know how the As a member of Activate Learning Education Trust, UTC Reading benefits from the following: brain forms networks and how learning takes place when neurons connect. We know how to deepen these connections through ongoing practice and how to replace poor learning with good habits. Excellent leadership being spread across all partner schools Leadership development that happens across all partner schools MOTIVATION – while our brains may be capable of learning anything, we are only likely to use them if we are motivated to do so. Our approach to learning helps to demonstrate the relevance and impact Sharing of resources without any barriers of new skills and knowledge so that students maintain motivation. Shared contracts across the group, reducing costs EMOTIONS – the biggest barrier to Having a greater ‘clout’ across the whole group’s community effective learning is our emotional response. Learning involves taking risks and students must feel safe, secure and confident to do this. At UTC Reading, this philosophy translates into an educational experience which offers: Activate Learning Education Trust’s core purpose is to deliver excellent teaching, learning and assessment and opportunities to test new skills through a high quality learner experience, underpinned by high practical, real-world projects expectations and fostering high aspirations for all. experiences of work which demonstrate UTC Reading provides a high quality technical the relevance and impact of knowledge education, co-created with employers, giving students a focus on developing independent a clear line of sight to work. Through the learning learning skills, communication and philosophy, students are able to fulfil their potential and teamwork develop into positive, motivated, employable young a supportive learning environment which encourages students to take risks and learn from mistakes people when they leave education. Find out more about how our Learning Philosophy is inspiring new approaches to teaching and learning Lee Nicholls throughout this prospectus. Executive Director, Activate Learning CEO, Activate Learning Education Trust UTC READING | GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS | www.utcreading.org.uk 5 4 FIND OUT ABOUT UTCs 79,000 ENGINEERING-RELATED ROLES TO ARISE PER YEAR. www.utcolleges.org 124,000 A UTC is different from the average school because it has support and backing ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS WITH CORE ENGINEERING from local, high-profile industry partners who are involved in the development of the curriculum. Each UTC also has academic partners who help make sure SKILLS REQUIRED PER YEAR. that it really can offer students the best of both worlds. This means you can take advantage of real-world The UK needs advanced technical skills at all levels if based study of a UTC’s specialist subjects while still we are to prosper. Whether in manufacturing, wind Caitlin Sutherland left UTC Reading in summer 2018, having taking the GCSEs and A-levels that you would at farms, rail links or high-tech hospitals, we need a secured a degree apprenticeship with Peter Brett Associates school. workforce that can develop new products, stretch and (PBA), and a place on the civil engineering course at Kingston reuse existing resources, and meet the challenges of University. UTCs are for students aged 14 to 19, as this is the age the future. UTCs are meeting the needs of the skills when you’ll have a better idea of what you are really gap and by 2018 around 30,000 students will be able Caitlin joined UTC Reading in 2014, at the start of Year 10. She interested in and whether you would enjoy learning in to follow this new technical education pathway. said: “When I started at the UTC, I wanted to study computer high-tech surroundings. science. It was during an open evening that I discovered that I had a passion for engineering. It was something that I had never tried and nowhere had offered me before, but the UTC provided this and I have studied engineering ever since.” CASE STUDY “The links with industry that UTC Reading provide really helped me. It gave me knowledge about the different companies and an ability to work closely with them on projects, and gain valuable work experience.” “Since Year 10 I knew that I wanted to work for a civil engineering company. UTC Reading has a partnership with Peter Brett Associates and this helped me gain work experience with them. After spending a weekCASE STUDY there, I knew that I wanted to go on and eventually work for them, and after telling the UTC how much I loved it, they kept presenting me with opportunities.” Summing up her time at UTC Reading, Caitlin said: “I really enjoyed my time studying at the UTC and I feel that the help and support I got from the teachers have got me to where I am today.” UTC READING | GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS | www.utcreading.org.uk 7 6 WE WANT TO SHOW EVERY GIRL DIVERSITY IN STEM IN THIS COUNTRY, AND HER FAMILY, THAT SHE COULD HAVE A UTC Reading celebrate diversity and create an inclusive community where WONDERFUL FUTURE IN SCIENCE everyone can be successful. AND ENGINEERING. “WE ARE CREATING A PLACE OF LEARNING FOR EACH AND HRH The Princess Royal, Royal Patron of WISE (WISE annual report 2016) EVERY STUDENT IN OUR CARE AND NOTHING WILL STAND IN THE WAY OF THIS ENTITLEMENT. ALL OF OUR STUDENTS Year 13 students, Megan Williams and Sophie Denson, secured a place on the prestigious ‘Girls Go Technical’ work HAVE THE RIGHT TO GROW INTO WELL-INFORMED, experience programme with BMW, joining a small group of CONFIDENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE students from across the country. The programme gave the students the opportunity INDEPENDENT LEARNING AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR to experience, first-hand, the day-to-day challenges ATTITUDES TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.” encountered by engineers and technical apprentices in their fascinating, world-class BMW factory. ONE Megan said: “It was an opportunity we just wouldn’t get One of the areas UTC Reading is committed to anywhere else. It gave me hands on experience of working life in the industry and a real insight into the theory side of it supporting is girls who choose to study STEM as well.” subjects and build a career in technical industries. THIRD Sophie said: “I was really keen to do work experience, so was very interested when this opportunity came about.