Black Country UTC

Last updated

Black Country UTC
Address
Black Country UTC
Vernon Way

, ,
WS3 2PA

Coordinates 52°37′13″N2°01′47″W / 52.62035°N 2.02983°W / 52.62035; -2.02983 Coordinates: 52°37′13″N2°01′47″W / 52.62035°N 2.02983°W / 52.62035; -2.02983
Information
Type University Technical College
MottoBringing engineering and science to life...
Established2011
Closed2015
Department for Education URN 136933 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Age14to 19
Enrolment157 (on closure)
Capacity480 [1]
Capital investment£9.5 million
Website http://www.blackcountryutc.co.uk/

Black Country UTC was a university technical college (UTC) located in the Bloxwich area of Walsall, West Midlands, England. The University of Wolverhampton and Walsall College were the lead academic sponsors of the UTC, and Siemens acted as the lead business partner for the UTC. The UTC closed at the end of August 2015.

Contents

History

Black Country UTC opened in September 2011, and was the second university technical college to open in England as part of the university technical colleges programme. [2] The UTC was located on the site of the former Sneyd Comprehensive School, a secondary school in Walsall which closed during the Summer of 2011 due to falling pupil numbers. [1] The school site was extensively refurbished to accommodate the new UTC. A second phase of renovation was completed in September 2013. [2]

In April 2015 it was announced that Black Country UTC would close at the end of August 2015, with all pupils either graduating or being given places at other local schools. The decision to close the UTC was made after two Ofsted reports stated that the school required improvement, and overall low student numbers. [3]

Curriculum

The UTC specialised in engineering and science, and offered education for pupils aged 14 to 19. At ages 14–16, pupils studied a Higher Diploma in Engineering or BTEC First Diploma in Engineering in conjunction with a range of GCSE options. For sixth form education, students chose between three routes of study:

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References

  1. 1 2 Nick Mashiter's Olympics diary. "Closure date decision over doomed Sneyd Community School « Express & Star". Expressandstar.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Black Country UTC opens for learning". Utcolleges.org. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  3. "Black Country University Technical College to close". BBC News.