Dear Parent/Carer,
I am writing to you in relation to the recent Ofsted inspection, which took place at UTC Warrington on 14th May and 15th May 2019. They concluded UTC Warrington is Good in all areas. This is our first Ofsted inspection as an institution and as such, we are hugely proud.
The HMI and 2 inspectors were extremely impressed by what they saw, particularly the progress made by students joining us in Year 10 and 12 and the destinations that our leavers progress onto. A UTC is very different from a school, focusing on technical skills and knowledge, employability, and personal development; this has been recognised by Ofsted.
They commented that ‘the college has developed and improved over its first three years’ and that senior leaders and staff ‘have worked together to ensure that it provides a good quality of education.’ Inspectors also stated that our students ‘have a positive attitude towards their learning and have changed their approach to education since joining the UTC’ and that ‘pupils are motivated by the curriculum and how learning is organised. The college is effective in helping them to understand what attitudes they need to be successful in their learning. Pupils’ positive attitudes to their learning are sometimes very different from the negative approach to education that they had before they joined the college.’
The report acknowledges ‘the quality of teaching in the sixth form is good. As in the rest of the college, teachers are knowledgeable about their subjects and are respected by students’. Ofsted reinforced our belief that students in the sixth form receive a good quality of teaching and that partnerships with local and national employers ‘provide meaningful work experience’. They commented that our ‘visits very effectively enliven the curriculum and prepare students for life at work’.
I am very proud that Ofsted has recognised the strong relationships between staff and students and the extra mile staff go to secure the best possible career paths for our students once they leave the UTC. Our journey began in 2015 in the pre-opening phase of the college. I truly believe this Ofsted judgement shows how much progress we have made in delivering an excellent UTC experience for our students.
Mike Houghton, our Chair of Governors, in offering his congratulations, stated that:
“The Ofsted judgement confirms what we have known for some time. We are a good college, delivering a high quality STEM curriculum and providing amazing career prospects for our students. This judgement marks a significant milestone in our journey and provides a platform for the next exciting stage of the college’s development.”
I look forward to working with staff, students, parents, and governors to achieve the next steps in our journey. Many thanks for your continued support.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Lee Barber
Principal & Chief Executive