University Collegiate School

Utc school in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England

University Collegiate School

Address

Deane Rd

Bolton

Greater Manchester

BL3 5AG

England

Coordinates| 53°34′26″N 2°26′20″W﻿ / ﻿53.574°N 2.439°W﻿ / 53.574; -2.439
Information
Type| UTC
Motto| "Professional, Responsible, Loyal"[1]
Established| September 2015
Local authority| Bolton
Trust| QUEST[2]
Department for Education URN| 141941 Tables
Ofsted| Reports
Principal| James Inman
Gender| Mixed
Age| 11 to 19[4]
Enrolment| 542 (May 2025[3])
Capacity| 600[3]
Website| www.theucs.org.uk

University Collegiate School is a mixed secondary school in central Bolton, England, now classed as a free school. It opened in 2015 on a new site on the University of Bolton campus as Bolton UTC, a university technical college for students aged 14–19;[3] in September 2020 it was renamed and began accepting students at age 11.

## Description

[edit]

In September 2020, the school became a member of The Keys Federation Academy Trust and reopened as a free school, the University Collegiate School, in response to demand for secondary school places in Bolton.[4] At that time the Principal, Nicola Glynn, described it as a "school and college".[5]

Following an Ofsted inspection in September 2024, University Collegiate School is rated 'Good' in all areas.[6]

During the 21/22 academic year a number of staff left, including the Principal, Nicola Glynn. In December 2022, the school was inspected by Ofsted and was judged 'inadequate' in every category.[7] Dave Terry was appointed as interim Principal in February 2023.[8]

## Predecessor UTC

[edit]

Bolton UTC was officially opened in November 2015 by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.[9][10] It specialised in health sciences and technology, and its £10 million facilities included laboratories for optometry, clinical dentistry, pharmaceutical consulting, medical simulation, robotics and electronics.[11]

The UTC used a project-based learning pedagogy. It offered a core GCSE curriculum to its 14–16-year-old students which included English Language, Mathematics, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Spanish, French, German, Computer Science, Psychology, Sport Science and Health and Social Care.

At A-level, students were given a choice of pathways: engineering or health sciences focused. At A-level they could study English Language, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Psychology, Computer Science, BTEC Level 3 Applied Science and BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care.

The UTC entered 'special measures' after it was rated 'inadequate' in all categories at its first Ofsted inspection in 2017.[12] The inspection report said there had been "considerable failures at the most senior leadership level", governors had been ineffective, and links with local industry were weak. Pupils said they had little opportunity to use the "outstanding facilities".[13]

In 2018, the Education and Skills Funding Agency issued a "final notice to improve" to the UTC, after a review found inadequate financial controls and breaches of policies.[14]

At the next full inspection in 2019 the UTC was rated 'good' in all categories;[15] at that time 159 were enrolled although its capacity was 600.[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "University Collegiate School - About Us". University Collegiate School. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
2. ^ "QUEST (A CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS TRUST)". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
3. ^ a b c "URN 141941 University Collegiate School". Department for Education. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
4. ^ a b Chaudhari, Saiqa (28 February 2020). "Why your child could receive a place at this school on Monday". The Bolton News. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
5. ^ "UCS - Principal's Welcome". The Keys Federation Academy Trust. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
6. ^ "Inspection of University Collegiate School". Ofsted. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
7. ^ "Inspection of University Collegiate School". Ofsted. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
8. ^ Harrigan, Joe (7 February 2023). "Bolton UCS: Damning Ofsted report says pupils feel 'unsafe'". The Bolton News. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
9. ^ "Royal visit 2015: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, to visit Bolton School and University Technical College at the University of Bolton". The Bolton News. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
10. ^ "University Technical College (UTC) Bolton to open this September". asianimage.co.uk. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
11. ^ "About". UTC Bolton. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020.
12. ^ Burke, Jude (5 April 2017). "Bolton UTC rated inadequate". Schools Week. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
13. ^ "School report: Bolton UTC". Ofsted. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
14. ^ "Financial notice to improve: Bolton UTC" (PDF). GOV.UK. Education and Skills Funding Agency. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
15. ^ Chaudhari, Saiqa (4 April 2019). "Flagship school turns around its fortunes to go from failing to good". The Bolton News. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
16. ^ "School report: Bolton UTC". Ofsted. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.

## External links

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* Official website
* The Keys Federation Multi Academy Trust

* v
* t
* e

Schools in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton

Secondary schools|

* Bolton Muslim Girls' School
* Bolton St Catherine's Academy
* Canon Slade School
* Essa Academy
* Harper Green School
* Kearsley Academy
* Ladybridge High School
* Little Lever School
* Mount St Joseph School
* Rivington and Blackrod High School
* St James's CE High School
* St Joseph's RC High School
* Sharples School
* Smithills School
* Thornleigh Salesian College
* Turton School
* University Collegiate School
* Westhoughton High School

Independent schools|

* Bolton School
* Darul Uloom Bolton

FE and sixth form colleges|

* Bolton College
* Bolton Sixth Form College

Defunct|

* Bolton Wanderers Free School

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