South Devon UTC Inspires Students at Careers and Opportunities Fair   South Devon UTC students gained valuable insight into their future career options during the school’s recent Careers and Opportunities Fair, held this month. The event was designed to introduce students to the wide range of pathways available after school, with a particular focus on opportunities within engineering and health-related industries. Employers, universities and training providers came together to showcase potential career routes and speak directly with students about their experiences. Students attended the fair in mixed groups, beginning with year 10, allowing them to explore the event together, share ideas and learn from one another. Year 11 students joined later in the day, bringing further enthusiasm and energy as they explored their next steps after GCSEs. In preparation for the event, students were given a set of questions to help guide conversations with exhibitors. This encouraged them to think carefully about their ambitions, ask meaningful questions and gather information about the different opportunities available. Sixth Form students also took part throughout the day, dropping in to speak with employers, universities and training providers about potential progression routes after their studies. The event created a lively and inspiring atmosphere across the school, with students engaging enthusiastically with representatives from a wide range of organisations and institutions. Engineering student James said: “It was great to see such a wide range of organisations here today and to hear about some very interesting career opportunities.” Another student commented that speaking with representatives from the Royal Navy had helped clarify their future plans, saying:“After chatting with them today I now know what I want to do.” The fair welcomed representatives from a wide range of organisations including universities, NHS services, training providers and major employers such as Network Rail, Babcock International, Kier Infrastructure, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force. Universities including Bath Spa University, Oxford Brookes University, the University of South Wales, Aberystwyth University and the University of Plymouth were also present, offering advice on higher education pathways. The college regularly works with employers and industry partners to ensure students are well prepared for the next stage of their education or career, helping them develop the knowledge, skills and connections needed to succeed in the world of work. Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said: “Events like our Careers and Opportunities Fair are incredibly important in helping students see the wide range of pathways open to them. By bringing employers, universities and training providers directly into the college, students can ask questions, build confidence and start to picture what their future might look like. It was fantastic to see the level of curiosity and enthusiasm from our students as they spoke with professionals from so many different sectors. Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: “Connecting students with employers and industry partners is a vital part of preparing young people for the world beyond school. South Devon UTC’s Careers and Opportunities Fair is a great example of how meaningful experiences and conversations can inspire ambition and help students understand the many routes available to them. We are grateful to all the organisations who gave their time to support and inspire our students.”    

Live Theatre Performance Inspires Students at South Devon UTC   South Devon UTC welcomed theatre company Narrative Alchemy for a powerful live performance this month on the theme of respect.  The production used storytelling and professional stage performance to explore important themes around relationships and personal responsibility. Delivered directly within the college environment, the performance provided students with the opportunity to experience live theatre while engaging with thought provoking ideas relevant to their everyday lives. Through strong acting and compelling storytelling, the performance captured students’ attention and encouraged meaningful reflection on the importance of positive attitudes and respectful interactions. The visit formed part of South Devon UTC’s wider commitment to supporting students’ personal development alongside their technical and academic studies.  Narrative Alchemy is run by Co-artistic directors Gemma Paget and Sean McGrath, who have built a shared career exploring storytelling and the human experience through theatre. They founded AlterEgo Creative Solutions, a theatre-in-education company whose productions addressing social issues reached hundreds of thousands of young people. Drawing on this experience, they launched their latest venture, Narrative Alchemy, which explores the transformative power of drama and story. Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said: “We were delighted to welcome Narrative Alchemy to the college. The performance was engaging, thought provoking and delivered important messages in a way that really resonated with our students. Opportunities like this help bring learning to life and support the personal development of our young people.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: “Experiences such as this show how creative arts can play an important role in education. Live performances can challenge perspectives, spark discussion and help young people reflect on their own actions and values. We are pleased that students at South Devon UTC had the opportunity to take part in such a meaningful experience.”

South Devon UTC Welcomes Police Dog Visit to Support Student Safety South Devon UTC welcomed officers from Devon & Cornwall Police this month as part of a planned visit aimed at educating students and reinforcing the importance of keeping schools safe.  The visit formed part of a wider initiative involving several local schools across Teignbridge, including a visit to another ESW school, Coombeshead Academy. During the session at South Devon UTC, police officers and a trained passive drugs detection dog visited a number of classrooms, speaking with students about the purpose of the visit and how schools and police work together to keep young people safe. The visit was led by passive drugs dog handler PC Steve Waters, alongside neighbourhood officers PC Jo Gilbrook and PC Claire Hurrell. The team were welcomed by staff at South Devon UTC and guided through a small number of lessons as part of the planned operation. During each classroom visit, students were briefly asked to leave the room one by one with their bags so the trained dog could passively detect any substances. The process was quick and designed to cause minimal disruption to learning, with students returning to lessons immediately afterwards. The initiative is designed primarily as an educational and preventative measure, helping young people understand the risks associated with drugs while demonstrating the strong partnership between schools and local police. South Devon UTC continues to work closely with local partners to ensure students learn in a safe, supportive and positive environment. Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said: “Keeping our students safe and well is always our top priority. Visits like this help reinforce important messages about making positive choices and show students that schools and police work closely together to support our communities. We are grateful to Devon & Cornwall Police for working with us and for delivering the visit in a way that was calm, respectful and focused on education.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: “These visits are about education and prevention. By working with the police we can help young people understand the risks associated with drugs and promote healthy, safe choices. We want students to see the police as approachable and supportive, and these visits help build those positive relationships.”  

Stover Pupils Experience Hands-On Engineering with South Devon UTC     Year 7 students at Stover School have completed their first term of Design and Technology sessions, delivered in partnership with South Devon University Technical College (UTC). The programme has offered students a hands-on introduction to engineering, computer aided design and practical manufacturing skills.  During the sessions, students designed their own pewter keyrings using computer-aided design software, then poured molten metal into moulds and undertook finishing processes including cutting, filing, soldering and polishing to create fully functioning desk balance toys to take home. The activities challenged students while providing a fun and engaging learning experience. The sessions were delivered by Will Bent, head of the Engineering faculty at South Devon UTC and supported by UTC students. The next cohort of students will begin sessions next term, continuing the partnership between Stover School and South Devon UTC, and providing more students with the opportunity to experience practical engineering and design in a real-world setting. Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said:+ “The first ever cohort of Year 7 Design and Technology students from Stover have been a real pleasure to work with. They have embraced every challenge, from using computer design software to making their pewter keyrings, and the excitement and pride they showed in their finished projects was as precious as gold dust.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “We are proud of the partnership between South Devon UTC and Stover School, which is giving students a fantastic opportunity to experience hands-on engineering and design. The UTC’s expertise and support are helping these students develop skills, confidence and a real passion for STEM at an early stage.”  

South Devon UTC Students Get on Track for Railway CareersFour year 12 students from South Devon UTC have completed an exciting four day work placement with Network Rail, gaining invaluable insight into careers within the railway and construction industries.The placement, delivered over two weeks, gave students the opportunity to experience the scale and complexity of major infrastructure projects first hand. Through a combination of site visits, practical experiences and talks from industry professionals, students developed a deeper understanding of engineering in action and the wide range of careers available within the sector.Students visited Bristol Temple Meads station, where they were introduced to a variety of ongoing and completed projects across the historic station. This provided a powerful overview of how large scale infrastructure improvements are planned and delivered.The second day began at the Dawlish sea wall, where students learned about coastal defence engineering and the challenges of maintaining critical rail links in extreme weather conditions. They then travelled to Exeter St David’s Depot with GWR, exploring train simulators, maintenance facilities and depot operations to see how rolling stock is serviced and managed.The final two days were spent visiting live project sites across Devon and Cornwall. Students observed bridge renewal works, new station developments and building refurbishments, working alongside construction managers and project teams to understand how projects are delivered safely and efficiently.The placement reflects South Devon UTC’s commitment to providing meaningful employer engagement and industry linked learning opportunities. By working directly with major organisations such as Network Rail and GWR, students are able to apply their classroom knowledge in real world settings and make informed decisions about their future pathways.Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said:“At South Devon UTC, we are passionate about ensuring our students experience education beyond the classroom. This placement with Network Rail gave our students an exceptional opportunity to see the scale, responsibility and teamwork involved in delivering major infrastructure projects.Experiences like this allow students to apply their technical knowledge in real settings, build professional confidence, and begin to see themselves as future engineers. We are incredibly proud of how our students represented the UTC and grateful to Network Rail and GWR for providing such an inspiring experience.”Daniel Parkes, Principal Portfolio Manager within Network Rail’s Integrated Infrastructure Team said:“All four students were an absolute pleasure and engaged throughout. We had really positive feedback from the rest of the team who supported the visits. At least two of the students seem set on being part of the railway industry going forward in their careers.”

South Devon UTC Students Attend National Baker Award Ceremony in London   Students from South Devon UTC travelled to London this term to attend the national Baker Award ceremony, an exclusive awards event open only to University Technical Colleges across the UK. Staff members accompanied six students to the capital to represent the college. The ceremony brought together students from 20 UTCs nationwide, celebrating achievement, resilience and employability skills. South Devon UTC is pleased to share that three of its students successfully completed the Baker Award and were presented with their certificates by Christopher Smith,  Head of UK Skills and Social Responsibility at Amazon. The Baker Award recognises students who demonstrate a strong commitment to developing essential employability skills, including teamwork, problem-solving and communication. To achieve the award, students completed two employer-led projects and took part in a formal interview, during which they reflected on their experiences and provided evidence of how they met each of the required competencies. The process gave students valuable insight into workplace expectations and the opportunity to articulate their personal and professional development. The college is extremely proud of the students’ achievements and their professionalism in representing South Devon UTC at a national level. Participation in initiatives such as the Baker Award reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for successful futures through meaningful employer engagement and high-quality technical education. Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said: “We are incredibly proud of the students who achieved the Baker Award and of all those who represented South Devon UTC at this national event. The award recognises exactly the skills we work hard to develop every day: confidence, teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Experiences like this help our students see what they are capable of and how their learning connects directly to the world of work.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “The Baker Award is a powerful example of how employer engagement can raise aspirations and prepare young people for their future careers. These students have shown real determination and maturity in completing the award, and their success reflects the high-quality technical education and strong industry links at South Devon UTC.”    

South Devon UTC Community Comes Together to Support Local Foodbank   Staff and families at South Devon UTC have once again demonstrated their commitment to supporting the local community through a successful foodbank collection. Since October, the UTC community has been donating essential items to support Teignbridge Homeless Action Today (THAT). The annual collection has become a well established tradition at the UTC, with students taking pride in giving back and helping those in need. This year’s initiative introduced an additional challenge for students, who were tasked with purchasing as many foodbank items as possible using a £5 budget. The competition encouraged creativity and teamwork, while also helping students develop valuable money management skills and an understanding of living on a budget, key preparation for life beyond education. The result was the largest collection the UTC has achieved to date, with an impressive volume of donations delivered to the local foodbank. The school would like to extend a sincere thank you to all staff, students and parents who contributed so generously. Claire Plumb, Headteacher at South Devon UTC, said: “I am incredibly proud of our students, staff and families for coming together to support such an important local cause. The foodbank collection is something our community really values, and this year’s response has been outstanding. The £5 challenge also gave students the opportunity to develop real-life budgeting skills while making a positive difference to others.” Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “South Devon UTC continues to demonstrate how education goes beyond the classroom. This initiative not only supports those in need within the local community, but also helps students build essential life skills such as teamwork, empathy and financial awareness. It is wonderful to see such strong community spirit across the school.”

South Devon UTC Foodbank collection. Thank you for all your generous donations. 

Whole College Christmas Lunch on 18th December.  We want to give any child the experience of Festive Lunch.

Reading in Industry – Year 10 Health and Social Care students visit Year 1 at Kingsteignton Primary School    Some of our Year 10 students enjoyed a lovely afternoon meeting the Year 1s at Kingsteignton Primary School. Our Health and Social Care students were able to put their learning into practise by using the skills they have learnt in their Child Development module to interact and read with younger pupils. It was great to see students, younger and older, coming together to share a love of reading and develop crucial reading skills together.