Published: 12 December 2025
Category: Press Release
UTC Portsmouth is deeply disappointed by the decision of the Secretary of State for Education, announced today, that she is “minded to cancel” UTC Southampton.
Southampton is one of the largest cities in the country without a UTC. It has a clear need for 14-19 school places that will provide work-ready, technically skilled young people to employers who are struggling with skills shortages across the growing Solent region. Our compelling application to set up UTC Southampton was approved by the last government in August 2023 and planning was well advanced when ministers launched their review in November 2024.
UTC Southampton would have also eased the significant capacity pressures faced by UTC Portsmouth, which has been oversubscribed for some years and has no more room for expansion. Many of our students travel to us from all over the region, including a large number from Southampton itself. Approval would have freed up places for more local students in UTC Portsmouth, while allowing another UTC to be established in our neighbouring city, part of the largest urban area on the South coast.
Both universities in Southampton and a wide range of local employers have enthusiastically and consistently supported this project since our first application in July 2022. Southampton City Council is also a strong supporter.
James Doherty, Principal of UTC Portsmouth said:
“UTC Portsmouth was founded with a clear vision to extend access to high-quality, specialist STEM education across the South Coast. We remain committed to expanding our provision so that more young people across the Solent can benefit from the transformative education we provide, and achieve the incredible destinations our UTC Portsmouth students reach.”
Charles Parker, chair of UTC Portsmouth said:
“This decision will deeply disappoint the City Council and many local employers who saw the UTC as an important contributor to growth in Southampton by addressing local skills shortages. It also denies local 14-19 students much needed high quality technical education that they cannot access at present.
But we have built such a fantastic coalition of support, from all parts of the city, that we are reluctant to take no for an answer and see Southampton overlooked once again. So while the Secretary of State is minded to cancel, we are going to do everything we can to persuade her to keep this opportunity alive.”
For all media enquiries or to request a copy of the full press release, please contact Louise Holdstock (Marketing Manager) at: marketing@utcportsmouth.org