School,
but different
University Technical Colleges or UTCs take a balance of a strong core curriculum and technical qualifications to give their students a more rounded experience of school.
We prepare our students for the world of work, through business hours and a tailored unique insight into the STEM industries. North East Futures UTC has an incredible Careers Programme that allows our students to liaise with industry mentors, work on professional projects and gain first-hand workplace experience.
We are state funded and therefore free to attend for all students.
We deliver a balance between a traditional education and a route into the world of work, ensuring our students achieve the qualifications and obtain the skills they need for the careers they want.
University Technology Colleges provide students with a unique experience that combines a traditional education with a specialist careers programme.
On enrolment, every student identifies an industry they wish to enter beyond their education. This becomes their desired destination. With continuous support from visiting professionals and school staff, students focus on achieving the qualifications needed for their pathway, as well as the necessary confidence to enter the world of work.
Along with business attire and longer working hours, a UTC student is prepared for post-18 life by attending regular meetings with industry professionals from their chosen profession who mentor and coach them. They are also given the opportunity to step foot into the work environment by first-rate work experience programmes.
A school but different, each UTC is supported and sponsored by local universities and successful businesses. These Core Partners provide their school with resources, knowledge and encouragement and are fully motivated to fill the skills gap for each region of the country.
North East Futures UTC puts your career front and centre. You will gain valuable careers advice straight from the top employers in the North East. Careers guidance is baked in as you will doing projects with employers who are all looking to recruit their next superstar employee.
We aim for all of our 6th form students to embark on the next stage in their education: an apprenticeship or university.
We help students consider the advantages and disadvantages of each choice and what would be most beneficial for their desired career paths.
Students wishing to undertake an apprenticeship have the advantage of accessing guaranteed apprenticeship places at local companies.
Students wishing to go to university have the benefit of our specialist knowledge of Higher Education choices in Health and Computer Science. We help 6th form students with their UCAS application process and encourage visits to universities.
Our specialist sectors tell a fantastic story about the opportunities on offer to young people. The 2017 Tech Nation Report shows phenomenal growth in the contribution of our region to the UK digital economy and the latest PWC report shows the average advertised salary in digital roles as 36% higher than the national average salary.
Not only does the NHS (the fifth largest employer in the world!) employ more people in the North East than elsewhere in the country, but the North East’s remarkable pharmaceutical industry also makes a disproportionately high contribution to the UK economy.
However, employers are increasingly struggling to recruit people with the right skills – and that’s where we come in! It’s not all about money, either; these are exciting and rewarding jobs offering the opportunity to make a real difference to the world.
Students are presented with a real-life industry problem by our one of our partners and asked to come up with a solution. This gives our students a hands-on approach to learning and skills application. Our partners offer support with the projects giving guidance and asking questions to keep students' minds engaged in coming up with a viable solution and how it could work in the real world.
All students receive regular mentoring from an industry professional at the UTC. Twice termly meetings (totalling six hours per year), helps them gain real insight into the world of work. Practical advice about expectations, first impressions, CV and personal statement writing, interview techniques and simply being a sounding board to their ideas can be valuable, helping to build self-esteem and maturity.
Keeping with our business driven education, our student will be expected to attend longer days. As a part of this we have made time in our school day for extra curricular activities. 6th form students are encouraged to set up their own Enrichment activities.
