We would like to hear your views on the proposal to change the admissions criteria for UTC Warrington. We are currently considering extending the age range at UTC Warrington to include Year 9 from September 2025, transitioning from the current range of 14-18 to 13-18. This proposal stems from our commitment to provide an inclusive and supportive environment that caters for the diverse needs and aspirations of our students.
There are several reasons for UTC to consult on the change of admissions criteria:
Community Dynamics: Traditional large secondary schools offer a wide range of opportunities and are perfect for many young people. However, there will always be some people who perform better in a smaller, more close-knit community. This change will enable us to provide a supportive environment where every student can thrive.
Extended Settling-In Period: Having students with us for three years instead of two offers an extended settling-in period. This additional time is instrumental in fostering student engagement and preparing them for the challenges of GCSEs.
Access to Specialised Facilities: Admitting Year 9 students ensures early access to UTC’s specialist facilities, laying a strong foundation in technical subjects not typically covered in an 11-16 school. This complements our commitment to offer a broad and balanced curriculum in Year 9.
Parental Input: We value the input of parents, and feedback suggests that a longer attendance period, such as three or five years, positively influences the consideration to move schools.
To support the Local Authority with the shortfall in school places and to enhance our provision, we are seeking views from parents/carers, community members, educational institutions, the local authority, and other stakeholders on our proposal to change the age range and admissions policy to admit Year 9 pupils from September 2025.
The proposal includes offering 90 places for learners in Year 9. In the longer term, we aim to adjust the Pupil Admission Number (PAN) in years 10 and 11 from 130 to 90, aligning with predicted falling student numbers. The total KS4 PAN at the UTC would change from 260 to a total of 270 (90 students in years 9, 10, and 11).
The consultation period will be open until Friday 5th January 2024. We invite you to share your views and comments on this proposal until this date either in writing by post to: Consultation Response, UTC Warrington, Dallam Lane, Warrington, WA2 7NG or by emailing us directly at info@utcw.co.uk with ‘Admissions Consultation’ in the subject line.
Moreover, we are hosting a consultation evening on Wednesday 13th December from 4:00 pm. This is an excellent opportunity for you to share your views and discuss the proposals directly with a member of the senior leadership team. If you plan to attend, kindly register your attendance by emailing info@utcw.co.uk.
Your support is instrumental in shaping the future of UTC Warrington, and we believe this change will create more opportunities for young people from Cheshire and Warrington to fulfil their ambitions in securing a future career in STEM and the technical disciplines that UTC Warrington is able to offer.
You can find a summary of our consultation responses here.
Please find the proposed admissions arrangements for extending the age range to include Year 9 here.