On Monday 11th July, we hosted a Parent Briefing session at The Centre, Birchwood Business Park for parents/carers of students who will be joining UTC Warrington from this September. Additional key notes to accompany this presentation are available for parents who were unable to attend on request.
Following the ‘Start with a BANG’ event held at The Pyramid on Thursday 17th March, please click below for a copy of the slides presented by our Principal & Chief Executive – Mr. Lee Barber. Continue Reading
Following our recent Engineering Master Classes event held at The Pyramid on Thursday 11th February, please click below for a copy of the slides presented by our Principal & Chief Executive – Mr. Lee Barber, Aidan McManus from Tenet Consultants and Rob Rowland from Atkins. Continue Reading
Following our recent Open Evening held at The Pyramid on Thursday 4th February, please click below for a copy of the slides presented by our Principal & Chief Executive – Mr. Lee Barber.
Following on from the recent success of the University Technical College (UTC) Warrington Launch Event in September, the October Taster Event held at The Centre on Birchwood Business Park on Thursday 22nd October once again proved extremely popular with both parents and students.
Parents were given an update on the latest project developments by Principal & Chief Executive, Lee Barber alongside an employer’s perspective on the college from Operations Director at Tenet Consultants and Project Steering Group Chair, Aidan McManus. Meanwhile prospective students took part in workshops arranged by staff from several of the college’s employer partners, including: Amec Foster Wheeler, Atkins, L J Create, Manchester Metropolitan University and Sellafield Ltd.
Students were split into groups, with each group working on a different project with their employer partner. Prospective Year 12 students working with John McCann, Principal Lecturer at the Manchester Metropolitan University, School of Engineering were given an insight into how engineering has a key part to play within sport followed by a group electronics task.
Meanwhile, prospective Year 10 students working with Rob Rowland and Mike Roberts from Atkins Nuclear where set a number of challenges to solve during their workshop session. One of which required the students to work together and guide each other on a project which simulated moving a nuclear rod from one area to another. The task relied heavily on communication skills as the operator was blind folded and had to listen to their team members to make it safely across without dropping their ‘nuclear rod’.
Of the workshop, 13 year old Sam from Westbrook said “Working with Atkins Nuclear at the UTC Taster Event was really fun. I enjoyed working on the different tasks we were set, especially when we were blindfolded and moved nuclear rods from one box to the other.”
Other workshops included Sellafield Ltd’s session on creating a structure that could withstand an earthquake using ‘Shake Tables’ created by some of their current apprenticeship students; a virtual world exercise with L J Create, which challenged students to make their island run on green energy, with the most cost effective solution and a nuclear power station task hosted by Amec Foster Wheeler.
Employers were asked to select one participant from their workshop group to win a prize for their contributions during the workshop session. Iain and Tim working with the L J Create team couldn’t separate students Cerys and Brandon in their group and decided that they would award the prize based on who gave the best presentation at the end. But both Cerys and Brandon did a fantastic job and as a result were both awarded a prize on the night along with winners from all of the workshops.
All of the groups presented back to the audience on what they had done in each of their workshops, with some students taking the lead for their whole group and others sharing the presentation between them. Many parents commented afterwards how impressed they were that their son/daughter had stood up and presented to such a large audience. Parent, Sarah-Jane Cleverly said “I couldn’t believe it when Jamie stood up at the front of the auditorium, let alone explained what he had been doing. I felt extremely proud of him and his team.”
The team to win the overall prize of best workshop was headed up by John Royle and his team of apprentices from Amec Foster Wheeler. Students studied a schematic diagram of a nuclear power station, before having to work together to bring to life a presentation on how a nuclear power station works. The interactive demonstration encouraged all of the students in the group to work together. Each student in the group won a UTC Warrington goody bag to take home.
If you are interested in finding out more about applying to become a UTC Warrington student then why not come along to our next event on Thursday 19th November, 5.30pm – 8.00pm, at The Pyramid, Warrington. You can find out more information and register for your workshop place at www.utcw.eventbrite.co.uk.
Alternatively visit www.utcw.co.uk for further details about the University Technical College.
Applications are welcome until 29th February 2016, however all applications received before the 30th November will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad.
You can apply online here or click here to download a copy of the application form.
Applications to study at the first University Technical College in Warrington are coming in fast following a huge turnout and a great atmosphere at the official ‘Launch Event’ for University Technical College Warrington on Thursday 17th September.
Specialising in energy and engineering, University Technical College (UTC) Warrington will open in September 2016 as part of the new Stadium Quarter development in Warrington town centre. The £10 million project will be conveniently located just yards away from Warrington Central train station and Warrington Bus Interchange making it easily accessible to students from across the North West. Further information on the curriculum, specialisms and how to apply can be found at www.utcw.co.uk.
The ‘Launch Event’, held at The Pyramid in Warrington town centre proved so popular prospective students and their families were queuing out of the doors as they waiting for the event to start.
The evening comprised of presentations from newly appointed Principal & Chief Executive – Lee Barber on the curriculum, facilities, culture and opportunities available to prospective students who opt to become students at UTC Warrington. Meanwhile, more than 15 employer partners of the college were on hand to discuss they types of opportunities available within their businesses for UTC Warrington students and explain how they intend to work with students on technical projects, workshops and masterclasses to help relate what students study in the classroom back to real life experiences.
Employer partners demonstrated some of the technology and equipment that will be made available to students who join including augmented reality, 3D printing, robotics, AutoCAD and a virtual welding machine. Students really enjoyed getting hands on and talking to current apprentices. Meanwhile, parents had the opportunity to speak to key team members from employer partners to gain a real insight into why there is a need for so many more engineers in the UK and how their businesses intend to use the opportunity to work with UTC Warrington as a means of identifying their employees of the future.
At the event Principal & Chief Executive, Lee Barber said: “I am overwhelmed by the turnout and enthusiasm for UTC Warrington by students, parents and employers alike. Not only do employers have a need for a more highly skilled workforce, but aspirant young people are looking for alternative routes into a career in Engineering or access to Engineering degrees at University. We are pleased to be able to bring together these groups and provide unrivalled facilities and a bespoke curriculum to ensure our students gain the very best, forward thinking education”.
The college will deliver exciting and engaging qualifications to 14-19 year olds, alongside employer partners such as Sellafield Ltd, Amec Foster Wheeler, Rolls-Royce, National Nuclear Laboratories, Atkins, Fircroft Engineering, Kawasaki Robotics and Jungheinrich. Alongside university partner Manchester Metropolitan University.
Commenting on the partnership between Manchester Metropolitan University and UTC Warrington, Professor Philip Wheater, Dean of Faculty and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University, said:
“We are very pleased to be part of UTC Warrington. Our world-class engineering research and teaching complements our partner employers’ expertise to provide first-class opportunities for 14 – 19 year old students. The training and education at UTC Warrington will equip students with the crucial skills needed to tackle the industrial challenges of tomorrow”.
Applications to be part of the September 2016 intake must be made by 29th February 2016. However, students who apply before the 30th November will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad. There are a limited number of places available for 2016, 100 places for Year 10 students, and 120 places for Year 12 students. Young people currently in Year 9 or Year 11 from across Warrington and surrounding areas can apply for a place to start in September 2016.
The next UTC Warrington event is planned for Thursday 22nd October at The Pyramid in Warrington town centre. The event will take a slightly different format as students will have the opportunity to take part in taster workshops in teams with representatives from Sellafield Ltd, Atkins and Kawasaki Robotics. Places at the event are limited, so make sure you visit www.utcw.eventbrite.co.uk to book a place as soon as possible.
With construction now underway at the site on Dallam Lane students can look forward to watching their new college take shape over the coming months. The iconic building will be clearly visible from several vantage points across Warrington, especially to anyone travelling into the town on the Central station line or travelling along Midland Way alongside the Golden Square.
