High attendance drives ‘excellent’ GCSE results at Ron Dearing UTC
BUCKING TRENDS: Hull’s Ron Dearing UTC has delivered outstanding GCSE and Level 2 technical results, with the exceptional attendance of students a major factor in the success
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Superb attendance at Hull’s employer-led school has led to students achieving outstanding GCSE and Level 2 technical results.
Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) Year 11 students recorded 97 per cent attendance overall in the past school year, with many students not missing a single day.
The attendance is far better than the 88.7 per cent average recorded across the Yorkshire and Humber region and 89 per cent nationally.
In addition, financially disadvantaged students at the school outperformed non-disadvantaged learners, with an increased percentage achieving grades 5 to 9 in English and, maths GCSEs, bucking the national trend.
This demonstrates the school’s success in supporting students from all backgrounds to succeed.
Highlights of Ron Dearing UTC’s GCSE and Level 2 technical results include:
80 per cent of students achieved grades 4 to 9 in both English and maths.
62 per cent of students achieved grades 5 to 9 in English and maths.
73 per cent of students achieved grades 5 to 9 in biology, chemistry and physics.
86 per cent of students achieved grades 5 to 9 in creative subjects, including photography.
25 per cent of grades in technical specialisms, including creative iMedia, digital technology and engineering, were distinction or distinction*.
Ron Dearing UTC principal Sarah Pashley said: “We’re delighted our Year 11 students have achieved such impressive results. They have exceeded even our extremely high expectations and we’re so proud of them all.
“As well as working extremely hard over the past two years, another key factor in our students’ success is their exceptionally high attendance. This has been a massive concern nationally since the pandemic.
“While our employer-led curriculum, great facilities and high-quality teaching and support have all played a vital role in enabling students to do so well, there’s no doubt that excellent attendance has also been a big positive factor.
“I’d like to congratulate the students for their tremendous attendance and thank their parents and carers for encouraging them. I also want to pay tribute to our wonderful pastoral team who work so hard to ensure students are happy at Ron Dearing UTC and their attendance is as high as possible.”
The results come just a week after Ron Dearing Year 13 sixth-form students recorded impressive A-level and Level 3 technical outcomes, following the expansion of the school last September.
Sarah added: “Nationally, financially disadvantaged students significantly under-perform compared to their non-disadvantaged peers. The latest results show this is not the case at Ron Dearing UTC – proof that we are a fully inclusive school with an educational approach that works for all our students.
“It’s also great to see that our fantastic new science and creative facilities have had such a positive impact on students’ performance. The outstanding results for science and creative subjects show the opportunity to learn in state-of-the art facilities really enhances learning and progress.
IMPRESSIVE FIGURES: Year 11 students at Hull’s employer-led school recorded 97 per cent attendance over the past school year, contributing to outstanding GCSE and Level 2 technical results
“We were delighted with our Year 13 results last week and now we can have a double celebration.”
In total, 140 Ron Dearing UTC students are progressing from Year 11 into Year 12, joining the school’s sixth-form, the highest number of current students following this path to date. They will be joined by 80 students from other schools.
Overall, almost 500 students applied for the 220 places that were available in Year 12 at Ron Dearing UTC, starting in September, with the school yet again heavily over-subscribed.
Ron Dearing UTC, in Kingston Square, Hull city centre, caters for students aged 14 to 19. It offers a unique employer-led model of education with a specialist focus on engineering, maths, sciences, computing, creative iMedia and English.
Richard Martin, chair of the governing board at Ron Dearing UTC and non-executive director at major partner Arco, said: “Once again, Ron Dearing UTC students have achieved excellent GCSE and Level 2 technical results and their excellent attendance has been a big factor in their success.
“This commitment and drive is exactly what employers and universities want to see in their future employees and students and highlights exactly why Ron Dearing UTC’s employer-led curriculum is so successful.
“I’d like to congratulate all the students, parents, carers, teachers and support staff for these truly wonderful results. Outcomes like these are not easily achieved and it is a fantastic team effort. Everyone involved should be very proud of themselves.”
Ron Dearing UTC’s founding partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith+Nephew and Spencer Group. The school is also supported by Hull City Council alongside other major partners and partners.