New college may be classed as technical academy

Published 24 Mar 2012 12:00 1 Comment

READING University has withdrawn its full backing for the town's proposed University Technical College (UTC).

Senior sources say the university will still play a key role in the school for 14 to 19-year-olds, including offering mentoring, facilities and expertise. But the move means the school must be classed as a Technical Academy rather than a UTC - unless another university steps in.

The consortium behind the project - led by Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) - wants to increase the catchment area to a 15 mile radius following a request from Wokingham Borough Council and concerns from other schools that it will drain their pupils.

OCVC spokeswoman Natalie Wignall said: "Discussions are still ongoing about the classification of the new facility as a UTC or Technical Academy. The nature of the school will not be affected by whether it is a UTC or Technical Academy - it will continue to be a technical centre offering unrivalled opportunities to 14 to 19-year-olds wanting to specialise in computer science and engineering."

Reading University spokesman Alex Brannen said: "The University has actively supported a free school for 11 to 19-year-olds, which was designed to meet a pressing need for school places in east Reading and provide an excellent general academic education, as well as specialist technical skills and knowledge.

"However, the university will be happy to consider acting in partnership with others, if a different model of school emerges. The University is committed to working with all schools in the region. "

A deal to find a site for the school will be completed in the next few weeks, with many signs pointing to the vacant Reading College site in Crescent Road, owned by the University of West London.

Ms Wignall said the partners - which include Microsoft, Cisco, Network Rail, Peter Brett Associates and Reading School - are "hopeful" its preferred site will "soon be confirmed", and the September 2013 opening date still stands.

The original bid submitted to the Department for Education was for a UTC-style school for pupils aged 11 plus, but the Government plumped for an over-14s UTC. Official consultation on the proposed school will begin next month.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 22 Mar 12

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  Not what I wanted
  Unregistered User
  Mar 29, 19:25
  Report comment

  When plans for this first came out, we were told, by Rob Wilson himself, that it would be an 11-18 school with technical and academic routes.
  
  Then Gove announced it would be 14-18 only.
  
  Then the curriculum I saw didn't even include A levels.
  
  The opening slipped from 2012 to 2013 and the site still hasn't been formalised.
  
  And now, to pander to the will of WBC and local schools, the catchment will be 15 miles. (I can understand local schools not wanting to lose pupils at 14, but WBC have some cheek).
  
  THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LOCAL SCHOOL FOR EAST READING!!!!
  
  Reading Uni are well out of it tbh.
  
  My advice to OCVC. Go and talk to the WOW group organising the new Oakbank school. Seems a group of parents are much better at getting a new school off the ground than you seem to be. And its what they wanted.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 16     No 1

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