This week is #ThinkUTC week, a campaign celebrating the impact of UTCs. At UTC Portsmouth, we wanted to share what makes us different - and why our specialist STEM education plays such an important role in our local community.
What is a UTC?
UTC stands for University Technical College. UTCs are government-funded schools with a strong STEM focus, designed to equip young people with the knowledge and technical skills in this modern world.
They admit students from the start of Key Stage 4, joining at 13 or 14 years of age through to the end of Sixth Form. Students still study core subjects including maths, English, and sciences, but they also take technical qualifications aligned to the specialisms of their UTC. This combination makes the UTC curriculum unique amongst other non-selective free schools.
Founded by The Baker Dearing Educational Trust, UTCs were established by companies and universities in areas of high demand for talent, addressing the needs for a high-end technical education. In addition to a core curriculum of English, maths and sciences, UTCs also offer in-demand technical qualifications, aligned to industry needs.
Our key vision at UTC Portsmouth is to promote STEM destinations for as many young people as possible. Students join us from a wide geographical area, and from multiple feeder schools. We are proud of our diverse community, and our calm, ordered, and adult learning environment allows students to thrive.
What makes UTC Portsmouth unique?
UTC Portsmouth is the region’s only STEM specialist college. Our academic curriculum is enhanced by our state-of-the-art facilities that have been built to industry standards, giving students practical experience with specialist equipment. This ensures that our students learn skills that are directly transferable to the workplace.
“Working for a UTC provides so many more exciting opportunities to explore than I had ever experienced elsewhere in the education sector. Not only do I have the tremendous privilege to work alongside industry partners and find out what is going on at the cutting edge of UK technology, I work in an institution that values these areas immensely. Moreover, I am in a building with 550 other people who are all also passionate about STEM.
It is truly unique.”
Specialist Curriculum
As part of our GCSE offering, all students in KS4 have the opportunity to study triple science - something not available at all schools - and two engineering certificates (each equivalent to a GCSE). Students also select two from the following STEM-based options:
GCSE Statistics
GCSE Further Maths and Statistics
GCSE Computer Science
GCSE Geography
OCR Cambridge National Certificate in Engineering Programmable Systems.
A College Day Aligned to Industry
Our college days are different from other schools or colleges. It runs from 8:30am - 4:40pm (with earlier finishes on Wednesdays and Fridays) and we do this to mirror the structure of a working day. We build independent study periods into timetables so students can complete their work onsite - meaning no homework. This approach helps students learn to manage their time, build resilience and take responsibility for their workload. It also allows our students to have their evenings free to enjoy the hobbies and interests they have outside of college.
“UTC creates a unique culture of whole-child aspiration and future-readiness. It is an educational setting that feels at once calmly purposeful yet excitingly innovative. All students and teachers are encouraged to be creative, thoughtful and inclusive.”
Closing the Gender Gap in STEM
We are committed to encouraging girls into STEM, and have a higher proportion of female students than many similar institutions. Our Women in STEM Mentoring Scheme offers direct support from female professionals across our Employer Partner network. Mentors are there to guide our young women in Years 12 and 13, helping them build confidence and gain industry insights in readiness for their chosen destinations. Having these positive role models is invaluable in supporting our female students.
Enrichment and Training
Every student has dedicated enrichment and training sessions built into their timetable. Training builds professional skills and enrichment develops personal skills, both essential for life beyond the classroom.
Students have access to a diverse and enriching training programme, designed to enhance their skills and strengthen their CVs. Options include the prestigious Crest award (silver and gold), Open University courses and Google Garage. Our Employer Partners also support training through Project Pipeline.
The enrichment programme offers a range of engaging activities that build confidence, independence, and essential skills for success in STEM and beyond. Our enrichment sessions include chess, forensic science, rugby, astronomy, illustration and cosmetic chemistry. We also encourage our students to contribute, with the addition of student led enrichment sessions, such as rocket club and British sign language.
These programmes develop the STEM habits we value: communication, teamwork, creative problem solving, resilience, responsibility and curiosity. They are key in building our students’ confidence and preparing them for those next steps.
“Working at UTC Portsmouth is incredibly rewarding. Our specialist STEM curriculum is built with real employer insight and gives students the skills and confidence they need to achieve outstanding destinations. In my SLT role, I get to develop and deliver the very elements that make the UTC unique and help our young people take their first steps into the world of engineering and technology.”
Our Employer Partnerships
One of the biggest distinctions between UTCs and other educational settings is their Employer Partnerships.
UTC Portsmouth works with 34 Employer Partners, across various industries, to support our extensive STEM offering. They have been key to the creation and development of our curriculum, future-proofing our lessons and helping us bridge the skills gap faced by regional and national employers. Alongside this, they regularly visit the college to provide workshops, careers support and project-based learning. Most weeks, at least one Employer Partner is working directly with our students.
Project Pipeline
One of our unique offerings is our Project Pipeline. Over six weeks, within their training slot, students work in small groups on a real-world problem set by an Employer Partner - challenges they have genuinely faced in the workplace. Working in small groups, students investigate, design solutions and present their findings back to the employer.
Past examples include:
Reducing single-use plastics in inhalers
UAV submersible design to retrieve packages and objects from the seabed
Developing a safe cycle scheme to cross the Eastern Road
These experiences give students a strong advantage when applying for university, apprenticeships or employment, as they have experience working on real-life problems, and closely alongside employers - something other establishments cannot offer at this level. For our Year 13 students, it can even help secure jobs or apprenticeships, as employers gain first-hand experience working alongside them.
“We don’t just talk about preparing young people for the real world; we build it into every decision, from the technology we invest in to the processes that keep the place running smoothly. Our students work with specialist equipment, real industry partners, and staff who know their craft, so they learn to think and act like the young professionals they’re becoming”
Reaching Chosen Destinations
At UTC Portsmouth we are proud to be destinations-led. Everything we do - from careers education and employer partner projects through to progression time and enrichment - is designed to help students secure their chosen next steps.
Students are supported with UCAS and Apprenticeship applications, with dedicated sessions on CV writing, assessment centres and personal statement writing. Our Employer Partner network gives our students greater opportunities, experiences and careers advice - we are committed to giving our students all the tools and resources they need to be successful.
Our outcomes reflect the strength of this support - of our 2025 Year 13 leavers:
33% moved into apprenticeships
7% went directly into employment
60% progressed to university
In fact, 37% of our Year 13 apprenticeships were higher level degree apprenticeships. These are very competitive, and the success of our students is a result of the experiences provided during training and enrichment, as well as our enhanced STEM focused curriculum. Our higher level apprenticeship destinations are diverse and prestigious, including the Royal Navy, QinetiQ, AWE and Dyson.
“I love working at UTC Portsmouth because of the difference it makes to the young people who come here. Seeing the journey they go on from when they first join in Year 9 to the confident young adults they become never ceases to amaze me.”
Think UTC
#ThinkUTC Week is a reminder of why UTCs exist: connecting education with real industry needs and leading students onto high-quality STEM futures. At UTC Portsmouth, our students gain the knowledge, skills and experiences that truly set them apart. We are proud of what they achieve, and even prouder of what they go on to contribute.
This is the power of Thinking UTC.