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UTC Warrington students turn T Level success into STEM careers

Students at UTC Warrington are celebrating another successful Results Day, with strong achievements across the college’s specialist T Level pathways in engineering, science, construction and digital technology.

For this year’s leavers, Results Day represents much more than the qualifications they have achieved. It marks the beginning of their next chapter, with students progressing into university, higher and degree apprenticeships and employment across some of the UK’s leading STEM and technical industries.

As a specialist University Technical College, UTC Warrington combines technical and academic study with practical learning, substantial industry placements and direct engagement with employers.

This approach gives students the opportunity to develop both the technical knowledge and professional experience needed to progress confidently into their chosen careers.

Results highlights

This year’s T Level results include:

  • Digital & Cyber Security: 100% pass rate, with 93% achieving top grades
  • Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction: 100% pass rate, with 80% achieving top grades
  • Engineering and Manufacturing: 61% achieving top grades
  • Laboratory Science: 100% pass rate, with 57% achieving top grades

The achievements reflect the determination of students who have balanced demanding technical qualifications with industry placements, employer projects and practical learning throughout their time at UTC Warrington.

From T Levels to exciting careers

Students are now progressing to a wide range of impressive destinations.

Lucy T, who achieved a Merit in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, will progress to a Site Management Degree Apprenticeship with Read Construction after impressing the company during her T Level industry placement.

Beti V achieved a Distinction in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction and will now begin a Quantity Surveying Degree Apprenticeship with Avove Utilities.

Sean F achieved a Distinction in his Engineering T Level, demonstrating the technical knowledge, practical skills and commitment developed throughout his studies.

Matthew S achieved a Distinction in Digital with Cyber Security and will progress directly into employment with United Infrastructure as a Junior IT Analyst. Matthew completed his industry placement with the company, where his performance led to him being offered a permanent position.

Atrissa N achieved a Distinction in Laboratory Science and will progress to Liverpool John Moores University to study Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science. Atrissa has also received an Aldridge Foundation Bursary to support her progression into higher education.

Ethan Clare achieved a Distinction in Engineering and will progress to a Degree Apprenticeship with AstraZeneca, taking his next step with one of the world’s leading science and pharmaceutical organisations.

These destinations demonstrate the value of combining technical qualifications with meaningful industry experience.

Learning built around industry

Employer engagement remains at the heart of the UTC Warrington experience.

Students work alongside organisations including Sellafield Ltd, Endress+Hauser, Galloway Construction, AstraZeneca and Amentum, gaining exposure to real projects, professional environments and the skills employers are looking for.

Industry placements form a central part of every T Level, giving students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in professional environments while developing confidence, employability skills and industry contacts.

For many students celebrating today, those experiences have directly helped shape their career ambitions and secure their next opportunity.

Chris Hatherall, Principal at UTC Warrington, said:

“Today is an opportunity to celebrate not only some fantastic results, but the highly skilled and ambitious young people behind them.

“T Levels are designed to connect education directly with the workplace, and that is exactly what our students have experienced.

“They leave UTC Warrington with qualifications, experience and an understanding of their chosen industries, and it is fantastic to see so many progressing into university, degree apprenticeships and employment.

“I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved and grateful to our staff and employer partners for the expertise, encouragement and opportunities they provide.”

Preparing young people for tomorrow’s industries

UTC Warrington specialises in technical education designed around sectors where highly skilled young people are in demand.

Through pathways in engineering, digital and cyber, construction and science, students develop technical knowledge alongside practical experience and professional skills.

For this year’s leavers, Results Day marks the end of their time at UTC Warrington – but the beginning of exciting careers that will help shape the industries of the future.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026.

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Robotics Students Shine in Nottingham During Special Meeting with Lord Baker 

 

Four of our budding roboticists travelled to Nottingham Trent University recently to showcase their incredible work with XRP and FIRST robotics systems, presenting at both the Baker Dearing Trust National Conference and the Engineering Conference.
The trip featured an absolute highlight during lunchtime when Lord Baker, Life President of the Baker Dearing Trust and the driving force behind the University Technical College movement, took the time to speak directly with our students. He chatted at length with the team about their UTC journeys and future career ambitions, and was incredibly impressed by the innovation, technical skills, and professional attitude on display.
As a long-standing champion of technical education, Lord Baker’s praise reinforces the vital importance of the hands-on curriculum we provide here at UTC Warrington. Our students were excellent ambassadors for the college, and we hope their success inspires many more UTCs to join them in next year’s competitions!
Our thanks go to Michael Howey for supporting the students at the event and making this fantastic opportunity possible.

Higher Horizons Nomination: Ashlyn Higham!

 

We are thrilled to announce that Ashlyn Higham has been nominated for the Higher Horizons Teacher of the Year for Cheshire award!
Since taking on Careers Leader responsibilities in January alongside her Cover Supervisor role, Ashlyn has brought fantastic energy to the position. Her dedication has ensured that every single Year 10 and Year 12 student has had access to a university experience this year, opening doors and inspiring future pathways.
Please join us in congratulating Ashlyn on this incredibly well-deserved recognition!

Year 10 Work Experience: The Butcher, the Baker… Well, Not Quite! 

 

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker… well, not quite! However, our fantastic Year 10 students have been out across the region experiencing an incredibly diverse range of employment sectors for their formal Work Experience Week.
Stepping out of the classroom and into the professional world, students have been placement-bound in engineering firms, digital agencies, laboratories, and local businesses. This invaluable week gives our young people a genuine taste of the workplace, helping them connect their current technical studies with future career pathways. We have already received glowing feedback from employers praise-singing the maturity, punctuality, and enthusiasm of our students. A huge thank you to all the local businesses who hosted placements and supported the next generation of professionals.

CCF Camp: Trophies and Triumphs at Altca

 

Our cadets recently returned from an action-packed and highly successful annual camp at Altcar Training Camp.
Throughout the week, the group progressed from mastering essential fieldcraft, camouflage, and tactical paintball drills to executing advanced platoon-level manoeuvres across the Formby sand dunes. Alongside these intensive military exercises, the cadets enjoyed a thrilling day of water sports at the Liverpool Docks—tackling an inflatable assault course, paddleboarding, and kayaking—before taking in the sights of Liverpool city centre during a cultural afternoon.
The camp was also defined by outstanding competitive achievements that brought major trophies back to UTC Warrington:
  • Top Marksman: In marksmanship, LCpl (now Cpl) Louie Cornwell delivered a sensational performance on the live firing range, securing a incredibly tight 75mm grouping at 100 metres to win the Best Shot Trophy out of more than 750 competitors across the Northwest!
  • Military Skills Champions: Building on this success, our team entered the military skills section of the prestigious Altcar Trophy, defeating nine other cadet contingents in challenges like foot drill and mine clearance to bring home the trophy for the Best Military Skills Team.
We are incredibly proud of the resilience, teamwork, and elite skills our cadets demonstrated. What a phenomenal week!

Community Service: Supporting the Oaks Centre at St Paul’s Church 

Giving back is a core value for our students, and a dedicated team of Year 10 students recently volunteered their time to support St Paul’s Church at the Oaks Centre.
Braving the outdoors, the team spent the day clearing and tending to a heavily overgrown area of the garden at the centre. Their hard work has completely transformed the outdoor space, helping support a vital local hub and ensuring it remains a welcoming environment for everyone who uses it. This project demonstrated excellent teamwork and citizenship, making us thoroughly proud of how our Year 10 cohort represent our institution in the wider community.

Year 12 T Level Industry Placement Success: Lucy Secures Paid Summer Rol

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding success of Year 13 Civil Engineering T Level student, Lucy Taylor, who has turned a work experience placement into a paid summer role with Read Construction.
Lucy’s journey began following an inspiring careers presentation delivered by Read Construction right here at the college. Hooked by the presentation, Lucy joined their team at the Peace Centre project for an initial one-week placement. After making a stellar impression, she returned for a further three weeks to complete her T Level industry placement requirements. Thanks to her exceptional hard work, enthusiasm, and positive attitude, Read Construction has now offered Lucy a paid three-month summer placement at the Peace Centre site.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Lucy said: “Read Construction came to my college to deliver a presentation about the company and Read instantly stood out as a company I wanted to work with. My previous placement has already helped me expand my site knowledge and develop an understanding of the many responsibilities involved in managing a construction site. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and develop during my paid placement.”
This brilliant outcome perfectly illustrates how our curriculum bridges the gap between education and employment, providing students with direct pathways into industry. Huge congratulations to Lucy, and our sincere thanks to Read Construction for their continued commitment to investing in future talent.

Developing Industry Insights: Autodesk, Fusion 360, and the NW Tech Talent Consortium

This week, our staff team have been busy developing their own technical skills with Autodesk and the North West Tech Talent Consortium. Learning from top industry experts ensures our team remains at the cutting edge of design and engineering technology, directly benefiting our students by bringing industry-standard practices straight into our workshops and computer labs.
Our engineering instructors have been refining their Fusion 360 skills, whilst our digital team have been learning firsthand from premier industry leaders including Siemens, BAE Systems, and Arup. Investing in this high-level professional development ensures our curriculum directly mirrors the fast-paced demands of modern industry.

National Cyber Security Centre: CyberFirst Gold Award

We are thrilled to have been awarded the prestigious CyberFirst Gold Award by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This highly sought-after certification recognises excellence in cyber security education, highlighting our exceptional computing curriculum and the fantastic opportunities we provide to inspire the next generation of digital defenders. Remarkably, we are the only school or college in Cheshire and Warrington to hold this Gold status.
To celebrate this achievement, our Digital Team had the unique opportunity to collect the award directly from the team at GCHQ during a special event hosted at the BT Openreach headquarters in Manchester (though strict security meant absolutely no photos of GCHQ personnel were allowed!). Further completing a brilliant day, our Head of Digital was invited to join the expert panel to share professional insights into how our team successfully advanced our accreditation from Silver to Gold status.
Securing this exclusive recognition is a real credit to the team for their hard work and dedication, firmly placing our institution at the forefront of digital and cyber education regionally.

Mission 44: STEM Experience Day with Lewis Hamilton

During British Grand Prix week, two of our budding engineering students enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime by attending a STEM Experience Day hosted by Mission 44 at the iconic Silverstone circuit.
The event featured a special appearance by seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton alongside elite engineers from Ferrari. Our students engaged in high-energy, hands-on science and engineering challenges, gaining invaluable insight into the elite world of motorsport and the incredible career paths available within STEM industries. It was an inspiring experience that brought the world of high-performance engineering directly to life for our young people.

Upcoming Open Events:

Thursday 15th October, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Thursday 12th November, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

 

For more info and to register see our events page.

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