Information for Parents/Carers
Quick page guide
Absence Reporting
Communications
Key Parent Apps
Digital Media
16-19 Tuition Fund/Bursary
Pupil Premium/Free School Meals
Safer Internet Day
Laptop Requirements
- NOpened in Swindon in September 2014
- NOpen to students aged 14 to 19, with no more than 25-30 per class
- NSpecialising in engineering, digital and cyber security
- NNo fees
- NNo entrance tests
- N15 mile catchment area
- NThe school day runs from 8.30am to 4pm
- NThe school year follows a similar pattern to that of other local secondary schools
- NUTC Swindon offers a strong pastoral care system, allowing each student to be known and developed by every member of staff
- NAll technology that our students use is up to industry standard
- NSupported by leading local employers to offer specialist learning and employer accreditation
- NKey Stage 4 curriculum (Years 10 and 11) – core GCSEs and options include additional GCSEs and BTEC qualifications
- NKey Stage 5 options (Years 12 and 13) – A-levels, BTEC qualifications, specialist learning and a strong emphasis on leadership and employability skills
- NClear progression for all students into higher education, further education, employment and apprenticeships
- NYou can share your views on Parent View
ABSENCE REPORTING PROCEDURE
We take the safety of our students very seriously and we have been reviewing our attendance procedures to make reporting absence easier.
Please continue to report absence and illness
It would be helpful if you could put the student name and reason for absence in the title
Alternatively when you phone us on 01793 207 920 there will be an automated service where you can select an option to report absence.
Please can you ensure that absences are reported by 08:15hrs on each day of non-attendance or state the length of time your student will be absent for with a reason.
Students are expected to be onsite by 08:35hrs and with tutors by 08:40hrs. If students are not there for registration, please expect a text message informing you of this.
COMMUNICATIONS
We send a weekly newsletter on a Friday which will help keep you up to date on everything that has been happening at UTC Swindon in the last week and also let you know any key information about what is coming up. We also send additional emails during the week if urgent or necessary but try to keep these to a minimum.
Weekly newsletters will be placed on this webpage for future reference (below). If you are not receiving the emails, please contact info@utcswindon.co.uk or telephone reception on 01793 207 920.
DIGITAL MEDIA
Online Safety
At UTC Swindon we encourage our students to make use of the technology available while emphasising the importance of safe use. We have added the links below to provide information and guidance to the school community so we can work together to protect our young people.
KEY PARENT APPS
- ParentPay – our online payment service. You can pay online for dinner money, school trips and uniform through a secure website, using your credit or debit card. This is our preferred method of receiving payments.
- Absence reporting procedure – what you need to do if your student cannot attend school.
- The Ofsted Parent View
PUPIL PREMIUM AND FREE SCHOOL MEALS
We understand that some students will qualify for Pupil Premium and / or Free School meals. If you think you qualify for Free School Meals or need assistance with purchasing PPE and equipment please send proof of any of the following to info@utcswindon.co.uk
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit – if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Students who are paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also have free school meals.
Your student may also have free school meals if you receive any of these benefits and your student is both:
- younger than the compulsory age for starting school
- in full time education
16-19 TUITION FUND
- The 16 to 19 tuition fund was first provided for the 2020 to 2021 academic year and is being extended beyond 2021 to 2022 for a further two years into the 2023 to 2024 academic year. It is ring fenced funding for schools, colleges and all other 16 to 19 providers to support small group tuition for 16 to 19 students in English and maths, and other courses where learning has been disrupted. For example, vocational courses where assessments have been deferred because of lockdown.
The tuition fund is provided by the Department for Education as a direct contribution to address the impact of ‘the disruption to learning’ caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, please click here.
16-19 BURSARY
No student should be disadvantaged by continuing with their education Post 16. Here at UTC Swindon there are two types of bursaries available a discretionary and a vulnerable.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund has been set up by the government to support young people who face financial barriers to continuing in Post-16 education or training. It is available through the UTC and if you think you might need some financial support to complete your course and you think you might be eligible, please apply as soon as possible.
Safer Internet Day
Each year there is an International Safer Internet Day; you can find out more by browsing this website and access lots of useful resources, advice and guidance.
More information is also available on Childnet International’s supporting young people online.
If you have any concerns about the safety of internet use please contact our safeguarding lead.
Laptop Requirements
We use laptops in lessons to support learning. It’s therefore important that students have a device ready for use in lessons.
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Year 10
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Year 12
