The UTC curriculum is unique and takes a very different approach to other schools. The curriculum is designed to inspire and challenge all learners so they build their confidence, become responsible citizens and prepare for their future careers. Key principles behind the curriculum are:
- It is employer led. The UTC was set up to provide a skilled future workforce for businesses in the region. This means a focus on developing the workplace skills and technical knowledge most desired by employers. Employers are directly involved in the selection of courses and design of the wider curriculum.
- It is destination focused. The crucial focus of our work is in supporting young people to outstanding careers. Students are more engaged in their learning when they understand why it’s important and where they are heading. High quality internal and external careers advice, combined with CV writing and practice with interviews and assessment activities ensure that students are well prepared for their next step.
- It provides a balance of academic, technical and workplace learning. We recognise that students have a broad interest in STEM subjects and that the curriculum is balanced to give students a taste of a range of areas, including some choice of specialist qualifications. We are clear during the recruitment process that the UTC is only suitable for young people who are focused on STEM subjects.
- It promotes student wellbeing. We recognise that our students join the UTC from a variety of different contexts. We aim to stretch them but crucially we must help them build their confidence and sense of self. Our curriculum plan is built around a challenging academic and technical core but needs to respond to individuals and their starting points; this might mean a reduced or tailored curriculum for some individuals.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 you'll follow a core curriculum of English, Maths, Science and Engineering. Our focus is delivered through high quality Engineering courses and further enhanced by other option subjects such as Geography, Computer Science, Information Technology, Product Design and Business.
You'll also have time dedicated to personal, social, health and economic education, religious studies, fundamental British values, study support, special educational needs support, careers guidance and interview and application support.
All students are involved in the UTC Enrichment Programme offering experiences beyond the formal curriculum including: challenge competitions (eg GreenPower, Bloodhound), robotics, STEM clubs, fitness, sports teams and leadership, Duke of Edinburgh, literacy, numeracy and ICT.
We endeavour to meet all families before the start of the school year and gather information from your previous school so that we can guide you to the right combination of subjects.
During the academic year, students will be asked to work from home. This work will be set on Microsoft Teams and students will receive relevant training and guidance on how to access it. For more information on students working from home, contact office@utcsouthdurham.org
For more information regarding our curriculum, contact office@utcsouthdurham.org