2025 Results
August 2025 saw the UTC’s latest set of destinations and qualification results. The purpose of the UTC is to help prepare young people for the world of work and to ensure that they are career and life ready. UTCs are best measured by career progression and destinations; we are very pleased yet again with these outcomes:
- For our Year 13 leavers:
- All who wanted to have gone to University and all of them are studying a STEM degrees (including Mechanical engineering, Civil engineering, Chemical engineering, Automotive engineering, Electronic engineering, Maths, biomedical science and Nursing).
- 35% have secured Apprenticeships – 5 times the national average – covering a wide range of sectors and several at degree level (including engineering in the RAF, Submarine Engineering, Building Control Surveying, Design Engineering, Product Design, and Civil Strategic Management).
- Almost all students had a positive destination – only 2% of students were classified as NEET*. Since the UTC opened in 2016, 98% of students have moved on to a positive destination.
- The UTC was ranked 23rd in the country out of 4414 Post-16 providers for those going on to apprenticeships – that’s the top 0.5% (latest DfE performance tables).
| UTC 2025 | UTC 2024 | UTC 2023 | UTC 2022 | National av | Durham av | |
| NEET at age 16* | 0.7% | 0 | 2% | 1% | 7% | 8% |
| NEET at age 18* | 6% | 0 | 4% | 2% | 11% | 11% |
| University | 25% | 30% | 31% | 47% | 48% | 47% |
| Apprenticeships at 18 | 35% | 40% | 30% | 30% | 7% | 9% |
| % apprenticeships at L3+ | 100% | 95% | 95% | 100% | ||
| % apprenticeships at L4+ | 50% | 44% | 37% | 27% |
*NEET – Not in education, employment or training, (Data from UTC tracking, DurhamWorks activity survey, national destinations data)
Key Stage 5
Headline: 36% of grades achieved were A* or A or Distinction* or Distinction
We are particularly pleased with our T-Level results in Engineering:
| 2025 | 2024 | National av | |
| T-Level pass rate | 100% | 81% | 79% |
| T-Level Distinction (equiv. of AAA) | 30% | 13% | 8% |
| T-Level Merit or better (equiv. of BBB) | 70% | 56% | 43% |
| T-Level completion rate | 94% | 78% | 71% |
While all Level 3 results showed significant improvement:
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| A-level Pass rate* | 97% | 98% | 94% |
| Average grade for A levels | C= | C- | D+ |
| Average grade for BTECs and other L3 qualifications | Distinction= | Merit + | Merit |
| T-Level | Merit+ | Merit – | n/a |
| Average grade for Tech level qualifications | n/a | Distinction | Distinction- |
| Level 2 Engineering (PEO) – full/partial award | 89% / 100% | 60% / 100% | 87% / 100% |
| GCSE English resit (value added) | +0.8 | +0.4 | +0.4 |
| GCSE Maths resit (value added) | +0.2 | +0.1 | +0.2 |
53% of students taking A-Level Maths achieved A* or A (41% national average)
73% of students taking BTEC Engineering achieved a Distinction* or Distinction
100% of students taking Tech Level sport achieved a Distinction* or Distinction
English resits – 50% of students passed their resit (at least a 4) compared to national av. of 21%. National average value added is negative.
* of results awarded at the end of Year 13
Key Stage 4
In looking at exam results it is important to understand that UTCs offer a education which is focused on the skills students need for their careers. While all students study a core of academic qualifications, and most complete 8 or 9 GCSEs or equivalent, the curriculum is not defined by subjects chosen to maximise school performance measures.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Progress 8 from starting points (while at the UTC) | +0.03 | -0.28 | -0.14 |
| Attainment 8 Score | 40.1 | 36.4 | 34.4 |
| % of students achieving 5+ in English and Maths | 30% | 20% | 22% |
| % of students achieving 4+ in English and Maths | 51% | 45% | 36% |
| % of students with positive destinations after leaving | 99% | 100% | 98% |
| Progress 8 from KS2 (including three years at previous schools)* | n/a | -1.0 | -1.1 |
| % of students entering for the EBacc** | 0% | 0% | 0% |
The Department for Education is clear that the normal secondary school measure of Progress 8 is not relevant for UTCs. Firstly, Progress 8 is measured from 11 to 16 and when students come to us they have had three years at other schools. Secondly, our curriculum is technically focused and driven by employers; students gain qualifications and learn skills that employers are looking for.
*Note on DfE school performance website
**The UTC curriculum is STEM focused and does not cover the full range of Ebacc subjects
School Performance Data: View our school performance by following this link.
At our most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 we were judged Good across all categories. 94% of parents told the inspectors that they would recommend the UTC to other parents.
Why not come and see for yourself the great experience that students have at UTC South Durham? We have Open events for Year 10 and 12 entry and, with a prior appointment, we are happy to show you around during the normal working day.
