Black Country UTC

University technical college in Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands, England

Black Country UTC

Address

Vernon Way

Bloxwich, Walsall

West Midlands

WS3 2PA

England

Coordinates| 52°37′13″N 2°01′47″W﻿ / ﻿52.62035°N 2.02983°W﻿ / 52.62035; -2.02983
Information
Type| University Technical College
Motto| Bringing engineering and science to life...
Established| 2011
Closed| 2015
Department for Education URN| 136933 Tables
Ofsted| Reports
Age| 14 to 19
Enrolment| 157 (on closure)
Capacity| 480[1]
Capital investment| £9.5 million
Website| http://www.blackcountryutc.co.uk/

Black Country UTC was a university technical college (UTC) located in the Bloxwich area of Walsall, West Midlands, England. The University of Wolverhampton and Walsall College were the lead academic sponsors of the UTC, and Siemens acted as the lead business partner for the UTC. The UTC closed at the end of August 2015.

## History[edit]

Black Country UTC opened in September 2011, and was the second university technical college to open in England as part of the university technical colleges programme.[2] The UTC was located on the site of the former Sneyd Comprehensive School, a secondary school in Walsall which closed during the Summer of 2011 due to falling pupil numbers.[1] The school site was extensively refurbished to accommodate the new UTC. A second phase of renovation was completed in September 2013.[2]

In April 2015 it was announced that Black Country UTC would close at the end of August 2015, with all pupils either graduating or being given places at other local schools. The decision to close the UTC was made after two Ofsted reports stated that the school required improvement, and overall low student numbers.[3]

## Curriculum[edit]

The UTC specialised in engineering and science, and offered education for pupils aged 14 to 19. At ages 14–16, pupils studied a Higher Diploma in Engineering or BTEC First Diploma in Engineering in conjunction with a range of GCSE options. For sixth form education, students chose between three routes of study:

* The Technical and Academic studies route required all students to study an Advanced Engineering Diploma or a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering. In addition, all students were expected to study the German language. Students could also choose to study between 1 and 3 other subjects in addition to their core engineering studies.
* The Apprenticeships route required all students to study a Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeship in Engineering on a full-time or day release basis in conjunction with Walsall College.
* The Pre Apprenticeship routes required all students to study a Performing Engineering Operations course, a BTEC First in Engineering and Functional Skills in English, Maths and ICT. Students also had the opportunity to retake GCSE English and Maths.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Nick Mashiter's Olympics diary. "Closure date decision over doomed Sneyd Community School « Express & Star". Expressandstar.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
2. ^ a b "Black Country UTC opens for learning". Utcolleges.org. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
3. ^ "Black Country University Technical College to close". BBC News.

## External links[edit]

* Black Country University Technical College homepage

* v
* t
* e

Schools in Walsall

Primary schools|

* Bloxwich Academy

Secondary schools|

* Aldridge School
* Barr Beacon School
* Bloxwich Academy
* Blue Coat CE Academy
* Brownhills Ormiston Academy
* Grace Academy
* Joseph Leckie Academy
* Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy
* Pool Hayes Academy
* St Francis of Assisi RC College
* St Thomas More RC School
* Shire Oak Academy
* The Streetly Academy
* Walsall Academy
* West Walsall E-ACT Academy
* Willenhall E-ACT Academy

Grammar schools|

* Queen Mary's Grammar School
* Queen Mary's High School

Independent schools|

* Hydesville Tower School

Further education|

* Walsall College

Defunct schools|

* Black Country UTC
* Darlaston Community Science College
* Forest Comprehensive School
* Pelsall Comprehensive School
* Sneyd Comprehensive School
* TP Riley Comprehensive School

* v
* t
* e

University technical colleges

Existing|

* Aston University Engineering Academy
* BMAT STEM Academy
* Buckinghamshire University Technical College
* Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology
* Crewe Engineering and Design UTC
* Derby Manufacturing UTC
* Doncaster UTC
* Elstree Screen Arts Academy
* Elutec
* Energy Coast UTC
* Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire
* Global Academy
* Greater Peterborough UTC
* Health Futures UTC
* Heathrow Aviation Engineering UTC
* JCB Academy
* The Leigh UTC
* Lincoln UTC
* Liverpool Life Sciences UTC
* London Design and Engineering UTC
* Mulberry UTC
* North East Futures UTC
* Ron Dearing UTC
* Scarborough University Technical College
* SGS Berkeley Green UTC
* Silverstone University Technical College
* South Devon UTC
* South Wiltshire UTC
* University Technical College Norfolk
* University Technical College Leeds
* UTC Oxfordshire
* UTC Plymouth
* UTC Portsmouth
* UTC Reading
* UTC Sheffield City Centre
* UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park
* UTC South Durham
* UTC Swindon
* UTC Warrington
* UTC@MediaCityUK
* Waterfront UTC
* West Midlands Construction UTC
* WMG Academy for Young Engineers, Coventry
* WMG Academy for Young Engineers, Solihull

Rebrokered|

* Heathrow UTC
* Sir Charles Kao UTC
* Medway UTC
* Tottenham UTC
* UTC Media City
* UTC Plymouth
* UTC Swindon

Closed|

* Black Country UTC
* Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy
* Central Bedfordshire UTC
* Daventry University Technical College
* Greater Manchester University Technical College
* Hackney University Technical College
* University Technical College Lancashire
* University Technical College Wigan
* UTC@Harbourside
* UTC Central Bedfordshire
* Royal Greenwich UTC
* Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC
* South Bank UTC
* South Wiltshire UTC
* Tottenham University Technical College
* The Watford UTC

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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