Principal's Blog - September 2018

The 2018-19 academic year has got off to a great start! Our new year groups of students are full and oversubscribed again. In fact, 200 additional students have joined us from dozens of different schools and colleges across the whole Solent region. I continue to be impressed by students wanting to travel some distance and by whatever means to get the specialised STEM education they have been seeking.

Our very inclusive culture means that you only need a keen and genuine passion for STEM to have a chance of success at UTC Portsmouth. Students are told from the first day they join that each of their individual talents and needs are appreciated. Our students enjoy high quality learning in a great environment and in return we help them in being the best they can be in gaining the following employability skills (or STEM learning habits as we refer to them): Curiosity, Creative Problem Solving, Resilience, Responsibility, Teamwork and Communication.


UTC Portsmouth Staff

I am delighted to announce that my brilliant team of staff has doubled in size. In a time when schools and colleges across the country are experiencing chronic shortages of specialist staff, I am proud to say that UTC Portsmouth is fully staffed with experts in every field of study. We welcome the following new additions to our team:

Mrs Crook (Assistant Principal and teacher of Computing), Mr Playford (Head of KS4 and teacher of PE), Dr Hegedus (Biology and Science), Mr Loosley (Physics and Science), Mrs Williams (Maths), Mrs Doherty (Maths), Mr Bird (Engineering), Mr Clunie (Engineering), Mr Clegg (Engineering), Miss Long (Computing), Miss Croxford (English), Mr Archibald (Workshop Technician), Mrs Martin (Student Support Officer), Mrs Fowler (Reception & HR), Mrs Lea (Clerk to Trustees), Mr Cole (Site Assistant)

Congratulations…


  • to students in Year 13 who are studying for their Extended Diploma in engineering (worth 3 A Levels) These students received two mid-course results from their exams held in the summer term. The outcomes were really positive and are an indication that our first set of engineering leavers next summer are destined for exciting careers

  • to 21 of our Year 13 students for successfully completing the Autodesk Certified User (Inventor) course. This is a professional accreditation which is not only greatly valued by STEM employers but gives students another sought after skill to apply in a variety of contexts


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Forthcoming Open Events

Entry to Year 10 September 2019. All parents of Year 9 students hear from their local education authority in September that UTC Portsmouth will open up applications to those wishing to join the college next year. Our prospectus is on our website and we will also be holding open events so that families can come along and see for themselves.

Year 10 Open Evening Wednesday September 26 2018, 5-7pm

Year 10 Open morning Saturday September 29 2018, 10am-12pm

Entry to the Sixth Form in September 2019

Our Sixth Form prospectus is on our website and we will also be holding open events so that families can come along and see what we have on offer for themselves.

Year 12 Open evening Monday 8 October, 5-7pm

Year 12 Open evening Wednesday 21 November, 5-7pm

Year 12 Open week begins from Monday 26 November

Please reserve your places for one of the above events by visiting the college website. Please note that for all the above events there is likely to be no onsite parking available.


Other Important Dates for your Diary

Wednesday 19 September - ‘Meet the Tutor’ evening for parents of new students

Wednesday 17 October- Y11 Parents’ Evening

Monday 29 October - two weeks of Y13 exams begin

Friday 23 November - two weeks of Y11 exams begin

Wednesday 5 December - Year 12 taster session, 3-5pm (invite only)

2018-19 Term Times - please refer to the college website

INSET Days (College Closure Days):

Friday 5 October 2018

Monday 28 January 2019

Friday 29 March 2019