South Devon UTC has been judged ‘good’ in all areas by Ofsted last month.

The UTC joined Education South West team of schools formally on February 1^st 2021, having previously been supported by the Trust from September 2020. The Trust worked swiftly alongside staff and governors of the UTC to make key changes to curriculum and delivery and are delighted that Ofsted has judged provision to be ‘good’, having previously been judged less than ‘good’ at inspection in 2018.

The UTC is the only centre in the area providing a dynamic curriculum focused on employability in the Engineering and Health Care sectors for students aged 14-19.

The report published to parents and carers on 4 November describes ‘South Devon UTC is an exciting place to learn’ where leaders from the college and the multi academy trust have created a ‘vision which is ambitious’.

Ofsted recognised the high-quality resources in Health Care and Engineering which means that learners are more likely to gain employment in these sectors and that the college ‘actively prepares learners for work’. The curriculum offer from the college expands further in September 21 to a further pathway in Digital Technology.

Ofsted place a strong emphasis on what students’ study and they identified that ‘pupils learn a well-designed curriculum’ with well-planned links with employers in Engineering and Health Care Science. This focus on a technical education means ‘pupils develop a strong work ethic’ because they want to be studying these courses. 

Highlights of the report includes ‘South Devon UTC is an exciting place to learn’ with high quality resources in Health Care and Engineering. The college and Education South West have worked together to create a ‘vision which is ambitious’ with a ‘well-designed curriculum’. The report also stated that ‘Pupils develop a strong work ethic’ and ‘there are well planned links with employers’. We are particularly pleased that Governors support the wellbeing of staff and staff are proud to be part of the college

We would like to thank the students, staff and you, our community of families, for your support during our improvement journey. We are delighted that everyone’s hard work has been recognised by this ‘good’ judgement.

Executive Headteacher, Robert Coles, said that he was thrilled by the outcome for Education South West South Devon UTC. “The team at the college, supported by other leaders from across Education South West, have been working tirelessly to achieve a vision for young people where they can continue to build strong skills in the core subjects of English, maths and science as well as invest in their future employment prospects. The quality of resources we have at the UTC means that we can provide young people with a realistic work-based experience which is relevant, stimulating and supports their long-term goals in Engineering, Health Care and from September 2022 in Digital Technology.”

Head of College, Claire Plumb, who has been leading the UTC during the last 3 years and all the challenges of the pandemic affirmed, “I am delighted that the UTC has been deemed a ‘good’ College. The is testament to the hard work and the commitment to the staff and students over the last 3 years. Our college is a unique place to work where we change lives for students and I am proud to lead the college.”

Chief Executive and Trust leader of Education South West, Matthew Shanks commented “it is good to see the principles of education supported by this judgement. Providing young people with specific skills they need to succeed in their areas of interest is exactly what UTC education is about. I am grateful for all those who have supported us in making this possible and look forward to the offer at the college going from strength to strength.” A huge thank you goes out to the students, staff, governors, parents and employer partners who have invested so much time in the development of South Devon UTC.

 Executive Headteacher, Robert Coles said that to ‘achieve this ‘good’ judgement at this point in the development of the college is testament to the role technical education has to play in our community. Parents and carers considering our college as a route for their child at 14+ know that their child is receiving a world class education which will open doors for their future.’ 

To visit the college as a prospective student for either Year 10 or Year 12 entry in September 2022 then please click here or email studentrecruitment@southdevonutc.org.uk.