UTC Swindon has been crowned winner of the ‘School or College Widening Access Award’ at the annual National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) awards!
This achievement highlights the hard work being done at the school to create opportunities for students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, empowering them to realise their potential and achieve success in higher education.
Since 2017, UTC Swindon has worked collaboratively with Study Higher (A Uni Connect Partnership) – a network of higher education institutions working together to promote social mobility by informing young people from underrepresented backgrounds about future educational opportunities. The partnership has seen around 300 students mentored on their progression to higher education with one-on-one support, university campus visits and apprenticeship application support.
UTC Swindon was recognised at the awards, which took place on Monday 2 December at Westminster Palace, for its innovative approach in specialising in engineering and digital technologies, leading to increasing numbers of students progressing to university and high-level apprenticeships each year.
Of last year’s sixth form leavers 37% went into apprenticeships, 64% of which were at higher or degree level (the national average is 31%) and 13% went on to university.
This award celebrates not just the hard work of the UTC Swindon team but also the impact of collaborative efforts to inspire and support OUR young people. We’re proud to work with Study Higher and continue driving meaningful change in education and beyond.
A special thank you to Study Higher’s Access Officer Jess Hill who has been working closely with UTC Swindon students and who collected the award on the school’s behalf at Westminster Palace.
Jess explained what the judges liked about UTC Swindon. “They really like the fact that UTC is a specialist school and focused on up-and-coming science and technology skills for the future. And they also recognised the collaboration elements of working with the Uni Connect programme, but also the way the school works with businesses and employers – everything that the UTC stands for.”
UTC Swindon’s Headteacher Hollie Taylor said: “We are honoured to have received this award and are so thankful to Jess and the whole Study Higher team for all their support over the years with our students. Ensuring our students are given this support and the access to these opportunities is so valuable to their education and future careers and aspirations. We would also like to thank NEON for the award and for recognising the work that UTC Swindon and all UTCs across the country are doing for our young people.”