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This week, we have been celebrating T Level Week and the positive impact that studying a T Level can have on students’ career aspirations. Our Year 12 Civil Engineering students have been completing their CSCS card assessments, which will enable them to access on-site construction industry placements.

Our Year 12 T Level students have also been working on their professional profiles on LinkedIn, helping them to build their online presence and connect with potential employers. Meanwhile, our Digital T Level students continue to expand their industry networks — this week, they received a masterclass from Dr. Terry Critchley, an industry behemoth in mainframe computing.

Looking ahead, from 26–28 November 2025, competitors will showcase their talents at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, taking place across venues in South Wales.

The National Finals mark the culmination of months of hard work, dedication, and training — a true celebration of technical achievement across more than 40 skill areas. This year, two of the UTC’s T-Level Engineering alumni have qualified for the Additive Manufacturing competition.

Owen, now a Mechanical Engineering Design Degree Apprentice with Tenet Consultants, and Toby, an Assistant CAD Technician at Eric Wright Water, will compete in the National Finals in Cardiff at the end of November – both pictured below.

The additive manufacturing sector is growing rapidly with the emergence of innovative 3D printing, scanning, and forming technologies, leading to increased industry adoption and integration into education and research sectors.

This competition focuses on the essential skills needed for a successful career in Additive Manufacturing — specialising in CAD software design, FDM 3D printing, and 3D scanning. Competitors will be tested on their ability to use these technologies to prototype and produce 3D models and products.

We are delighted that Owen and Toby have reached this stage and secured national recognition for their engineering skills and competence. We wish them the best of luck in the competition!

On Friday, we were delighted to welcome our local MP, Sarah Hall. Sarah was keen to learn about the extensive work we have been doing to support our students and staff through the recent building disruption. As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Inclusion and Nurture in Education, Sarah works closely with key charities, including Nurture UK, to advocate for social and emotional development in schools. She was particularly interested in the proactive steps our team is taking, including the successful implementation of the Boxall Profile, to understand and meet the emotional needs of our students. Sarah was really impressed by the dedication of our staff and the nurturing environment we are maintaining. We look forward to welcoming her back before Christmas to provide our students with the valuable opportunity to discuss her role as an MP.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, our Year 12 civil engineering girls were interviewed for a ‘Women in Construction’ podcast featuring Renee Preston, the CEO of Galloway Construction. Renee is a powerful advocate for women in the sector and served as an outstanding role model for the students.

Also on Wednesday, our T-Level Engineers embarked on their next employer-set project, visiting Amazon’s state-of-the-art fulfilment centre in Bolton. This field trip offered a brilliant opportunity for students to experience a live brief within an organisation that is a market leader in automation and AI systems. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions our learners develop off the back of their trip!

This week, we also held two excellent Remembrance Assemblies on Tuesday, perfectly synchronised between our two sites. A special thank you to Dave Beggs and the cadets for leading and presenting the assemblies with such professionalism and respect.

Students plan for life on a Jupiter moon

This week, UTC engineering students took part in the DSTL Callisto Moon Base Challenge — an exciting STEM activity where they designed a habitable base on Callisto, one of Jupiter’s moons.

Working in teams, students took on a range of engineering roles — from designing sustainable habitats and managing life-support systems to planning for crew health, communication, and survival in space.

The project gave students the opportunity to apply their science, technology, engineering, and maths skills to a real-world scenario, encouraging creativity, teamwork, and innovative problem-solving. Our Year 12 team really stepped out of their comfort zone in preparing and presenting their solution to a panel of scientists and engineers from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

This week we welcomed Alex from Youth for Christ, who delivered an engaging assembly on the theme of tolerance, explored through the lens of Christian values. Using interactive discussions and real-life scenarios, students reflected on how they can challenge prejudice, overcome stereotypes, and act as positive role models both in school and in the wider community.

This week, we welcomed back Detective Constable Andrew Kevan from Cheshire Police.

Andy, who works in the Cyber Crime, Economic Crime and Major Crime units, spent over an hour sharing practical advice and insights on:

• Cybercrime and online safety
• Password security and good practices
• The risks of deepfakes and AI misuse
• The impact of personal or financial mistakes made with technology, including the link to suicide
• Treating mobile phones as “mini-computers” and using them with caution

His session highlighted the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to keep ourselves and our communities safe online.

Our Digital students had a double dose of cyber-crime awareness, as DC Kevan’s colleague – PC Stu Campion from Cheshire Police – also delivered sessions to our Year 11 and T Level Digital students on the Computer Misuse Act, Police Powers, and Careers in the Police Force and beyond.

It’s so important that our students remember why they’re studying Cyber Security — and how the skills they learn can be used positively to defend and protect.

This year, UTC is proud to launch a brand-new course in Electrical Installation, delivered in partnership with Training for Electricians.

Designed specifically for young people at risk of becoming NEET, the programme provides the essential skills and experience needed to secure employment as an electrician’s mate or progress to a Level 3 apprenticeship.

We’re excited to see how these students grow over the academic year — developing their Aldridge Attributes while gaining valuable, real- world, on-site experience.