What are University Technical Colleges?

University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are government-funded schools that offer 14-19 year olds a great deal more than traditional schools. They teach learners technical and scientific subjects in a whole new way and are educating the inventors, engineers, scientists and technicians of tomorrow.

Skills for the future

The UK needs advanced technical skills at all levels if we are to prosper in the 21st century. Whether in manufacturing, wind farms, rail links or high tech hospitals we need a workforce that can develop new products, stretch and reuse existing resources, and meet all the challenges of the future.

There are now 48 UTCs open across England. Each of them is in a new building with excellent facilities. When full UTCs will provide around 30,000 learners with an excellent technical education and they will be able to contribute significantly to the skills shortage reported to be around 200,000 (Employer Skills Survey 2015).

UTCs tend to be smaller than other secondary schools with a capacity of around 600 learners. They recruit from a broad range of abilities and social backgrounds whilst seeking to ensure a high level of technical aptitude and interest.

A valuable technical education

UTCs integrate technical, practical and academic learning and create an environment where learners can thrive and develop the abilities that industry needs. To do this, a UTC:

  • Focuses on one or two technical specialisms
  • Works with employers and a local university to develop and deliver their curriculum
  • Provides essential academic education and relates this to the technical specialisms
  • Has the latest equipment and technology used by industry
  • Dedicates at least 40% of time to the technical specialism including design and building, working in teams and problem solving