Introduction
University technical colleges (UTCs) are a type of free school in England, focused on teaching students who are mainly aged 14 to 19. They provide technical courses and work-related learning, combined with academic studies, so that students receive a rounded education. In introducing UTCs in 2010, the Department for Education (the Department) aimed to improve technical education and thereby meet the needs of local employers and the economy.
UTCs are publicly funded state schools and are independent of local authorities. Each UTC is part of an academy trust, which is directly funded by, and accountable to, the Department, via the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Three-quarters of open UTCs began as single-academy trusts but a growing number are now joining multi-academy trusts. The Department supported the establishment of the first UTC in 2010/11 and spent a total of £792 million on the UTC programme between 2010–11 and 2018–19, excluding the per-pupil funding which all schools receive. A charity, the Baker Dearing Educational Trust (the Trust), owns the UTC brand and issues licences to schools wishing to operate as UTCs. The Trust received £893,000 from the Department to support the opening of UTCs and continues to receive an annual licence fee, which rose to £10,000 in 2019/20, from every UTC.
Published: 10 June 2020