Skills blow as Black Country UTC closes after just four years
A BLACK Country technical college set up to try and close the skills gap in the region’s engineering industry is to close after just four years.
The Black Country University Technical College in Walsall has blamed the decision on falling student numbers, financial challenges, staffing levels and a poor inspection.
Business leaders have said the closure is a blow to the area and to efforts to encourage more youngsters to pursue engineering careers.
The college, situated in the old Sneyd Community School, New Invention, had been expected to relocate to a new building in Walsall town centre next year. Up to 300 students had been expected to make the move to the site, off Portland Street.
The college is under the control of the Department for Education but Walsall Council has said it will step in and ensure that the students’ educational needs continue to be met.
Paul Averis, Principal of the Black Country UTC, said the decision had been a difficult one for everyone involved and the focus now had to be on the students.
The Black Country UTC opened in September 2011, supported by Wolverhampton University, Walsall College, Walsall Council and strong partnerships with local employers such as Siemens, National Grid and Chamberlin & Hill foundry and engineering group.
The UTC operates a significantly longer school day and year than a normal school. This was intended to enable the UTC to offer students a greater range of extended learning activities.
