University Technical Colleges

Pioneered by former Education Secretary Lord Baker, University Technical Colleges are schools for students aged 14 to 19 which specialise in technical studies and are sponsored by a university or FE college.

They offer full time courses which combine practical and academic studies. Employers are involved from the outset in shaping the curriculum.

UTCs are new schools formed as a type of academy under procedures in the Academies Act 2010. The University or FE College will be the principal sponsor and will appoint the majority of governors. There may also be a business co-sponsor. With typically 500-800 pupils, UTCs specialise in subjects such as engineering and construction and offer clear progression routes into higher education or work-based learning. They teach these disciplines alongside business skills and the use of ICT. Pupils study core GCSEs alongside technical qualifications. All applications for UTCs follow a set process and are approved by the Department for Education with support provided by the Baker Dearing Trust. The first wave of applications was submitted to the Department in June 2011.

We assist UTC and Studio School sponsors every step of the way during the application process providing support on the key legal and commercial steps including: