UTC PORTSMOUTH
UTC Portsmouth has celebrated a strong performance with its first set of GCSE results.
The university technical college, which opened two years ago, had an anxious wait to see how its first group of students performed.
The college was established to provide 14 to 18-year-olds with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) focused education.
The college excelled in these areas with 77 per cent of students attaining grades 4 to 9 in maths and 56 per cent scoring grades 5 to 9. In the sciences, 78 per cent of pupils achieved grades 4 to 9 in biology, 88 per cent in chemistry and 83 per cent in physics.
Principal Ciaran O’Dowda said: ‘We’re really delighted with our first set of GCSE results. These students joined us in September 2017 to undertake a specialist STEM education and the results vindicate their choice.’
One of the fundamental principles of a UTC is to provide a more vocational pathway to employment.
It’s a route which paid dividends for Oliver Germain, 16. After collecting his results he will begin a technical apprenticeship with RollsRoyce in Goodwood.
Oliver, who scored one 8, two 7s, two 6s and five 4s, said: ‘I wouldn’t have got this opportunity if I hadn’t of gone down the STEM route at UTC.
‘I’m really pleased with my results and have done better than expected.’
The college hope this year’s positive results will encourage more girls to pursue a STEM based education
Taya Fitzgerald, 16, who attained five 5s, one 6, one 8 and one 9, said: ‘I was particularly pleased with English and maths which I got an 8 and 9 in.
‘I really didn’t expect these results.’