UTC Portsmouth

Collaborating regularly with employers and partners is very important to UTC Portsmouth. Our founding members are:

• The University of Portsmouth,
• Portsmouth City Council,
• the Royal Navy,
• BAE Systems,
• QinetiQ, and
• Salterns Academy Trust.

Other key partners include Raymarine, Airbus and NATS.

Our partners work with teachers on the design of projects, to put learning into context. They also organise group work, site visits, work experience and seminars.

UTC Portsmouth is also a:

• Lead school for the Institute of Physics
• Lead school for the careers hub of the Solent LEP
• Lego Innovation Education Studio

For further information and to register your interest, visit the UTC Portsmouth website.

1. STEM college. UTC Portsmouth is a specialist STEM college. This means that the university and industry-led curriculum is specifically designed to educate students with a passion for elements of science, technology, engineering and/or maths. It’s an academic curriculum (rather than ‘hands on’). It also benefits from the involvement of industry partners.
2. GCSEs. Students at UTC Portsmouth study all the sciences, as well as maths, English language, English literature, design and technology and engineering manufacture. They then have the chance to choose two GCSE preferences from: statistics, computer science, engineering principles and geography.
3. Local skills gap. UTC Portsmouth is here to help fill a skills gap. At the moment, there aren’t enough 18 year-old school graduates with the skills to go into STEM careers or university degree courses. Also, more girls than average come to UTC Portsmouth. This is because employers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics careers are recruiting more women to fulfill vital roles.
4. A four year education. Students should see this as a 4 year education and a way to succeed in their sixth form studies. UTC Portsmouth doesn’t offer apprenticeships or courses to gain a ‘trade’. A sixth form centre on the top floor of the college has been set up, to offer students dedicated spaces just for them. This includes study and social areas, as well as a careers and progression space. The sixth form curriculum offers three distinct pathways: A-levels, engineering diplomas, or a combined route. The combined route is unique in the area, and gives students the chance to get an engineering certificate (which is the same as one A-level) with their choice of two or three A-levels.
5. Love maths. It’s essential that all UTC Portsmouth students enjoy and are confident about maths, because maths is an important part of our curriculum.
6. Longer day. UTC Portsmouth operates a longer day and longer lessons. Students must be able to cope with the longer day. Year 10 and 11 students start college lessons at 8.30am every day and don’t finish until 4.40pm at the earliest.
7. STEM learning habits. The STEM habits of mind are: resilience, creative problem solving, teamwork, responsibility, communication skills and curiosity. All students are expected to embrace these habits; this will be assessed regularly.
8. Independence and responsibility. Year 10 & 11 students are given ‘independent study’ work instead of homework. This is mostly completed during dedicated time in the college. There is always a teacher available to help during the session if any student needs it. Technology is at the heart of independent learning. Every student learns with the help of a Chromebook. These are used in lessons as well as for independent study. Using their Chromebooks, students can interact with their learning resources through the Google Classroom. There are no bells, and students are responsible for getting themselves to where they need to be at the correct times each day.
9. Training and Enrichment. All students are required to participate in extra training and enrichment during the college day. Training allows students to gain extra skills, awards and qualifications. Students can choose from a wide range of enrichment activities, including: Duke of Edinburgh, reverse engineering, sport, strategic board games, and many more. Sixth form students also have training and enrichment as part of their timetables.
10. Standards of behaviour. UTC Portsmouth is a calm, ordered and adult learning environment. All students show excellent learning behaviours at all times. Students have excellent attendance and punctuality, which are required in order to be involved in the large amount of project and group-based learning. All of these are seen as essential life skills, and are demanded by all of our employer partners.