New university technology college coming to city centre

The Government has confirmed that a new university technology college (UTC) is to open in Doncaster city centre.

The school, which will focus on health science and green technologies, is expected to open in 2025.

It will be built next to the city’s existing Doncaster UTC, which specialises in subjects including engineering and construction.

Brighter Futures Learning Partnership Trust, which runs the school, said it was already “heavily oversubscribed”. Chief executive Helen Redford-Hernandez told the BBC: “We’ve known for some time that we would like to expand it – and this seemed like a great opportunity.

“What we’ve decided to do is look at our current specialisms, build on those, and diversify as well.”

UTCs are Government funded and provide specialised scientific and technological education focusing on key industry areas alongside traditional subjects.

The Doncaster school was one of two UTCs and 15 free schools announced by ministers this week.

Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, City of Doncaster Council’s cabinet member for early help, education, skills and young people, said: “The announcement of a second University Technical College (UTC) for Doncaster is great news and marks another positive step in the delivery of Doncaster’s all age 10-year Education and Skills Strategy, approved by Cabinet in February 2021.

“This collaborative strategy brings together our education, business and wider communities to grow and develop a ‘learning ecosystem’, which aspires to reach beyond the traditional, formal routes of learning, to offer a breadth and variety of education opportunities in a more dynamic, flexible, and inclusive way, aligned to our economic growth strategy.

“We are committed to developing this ecosystem further, and we are already seeing the promising results of this work.

“The new UTC is a great example of successful, innovative education practices now being expanded in Doncaster and we’re delighted to announce that the expansions will continue.”

Baker Dearing Educational Trust chairman, Lord Baker,  “It is fantastic news for Doncaster that the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has approved a second UTC in Doncaster.

“The first UTC has been so successful and supported by the local community that is heavily oversubscribed.

“Within two years Doncaster’s young people will be able to attend a new UTC adjacent to the existing one and study health science and green technologies.

“I greatly appreciate the well-founded faith that the Department for Education has now placed in the UTC programme and am also thankful to the local politicians and stakeholders who have supported this application.”