Academic Performance
At UTC Leeds, we are incredibly proud of our students' success at KS4 & KS5 and the amazing destinations they secure, whether that be top universities, prestigious apprenticeships, or exciting career opportunities in engineering, science, and technology.
Celebrating Results Summer 2024
Understanding Our Curriculum and Performance Measures at UTC Leeds
At UTC Leeds, our students sit many of the same GCSE examinations as those in other schools, including English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, and Combined or Triple Science. However, unlike mainstream schools, our students do not follow the full English Baccalaureate (EBacc) pathway, which includes subjects like Modern Foreign Languages.
Instead, this allows us to deliver a specialist curriculum focused on Engineering, Science, Digital Skills, and Mathematics—giving our students a strong foundation in high-demand STEM fields.
We are committed to delivering a high-quality, future-focused education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need for successful careers. While this approach delivers outstanding outcomes for our learners, it also means that traditional school performance measures, such as Progress 8, do not fully reflect the value or achievements of a UTC education.
Why Progress 8 Doesn’t Fully Represent UTCs Like Ours
Progress 8 is a government measure that tracks student progress from the end of primary school (Key Stage 2) to the end of secondary school (Key Stage 4). While it can be a useful tool for comparing mainstream schools, it is less suitable for University Technical Colleges (UTCs) for several key reasons:
1. Specialist STEM Curriculum
UTCs focus heavily on STEM subjects, offering a different academic mix compared to mainstream schools. This emphasis is designed to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and digital industries—areas that aren’t fully captured by Progress 8 metrics.
2. Strong Industry Partnerships
We work closely with leading employers to provide students with hands-on, practical learning and real-world experience. These industry collaborations are central to our curriculum and future pathways, yet they are not measured or reflected in Progress 8 scores.
3. Unique Student Intake
Unlike mainstream schools, UTCs typically begin admitting students at age 14 (Year 10). This means we do not have the same long-term Key Stage 2 data as schools that admit students from age 11, making Progress 8 comparisons inaccurate and potentially misleading.
A Different Measure of Success
Our success is best measured by what our students go on to achieve: progression into high-quality apprenticeships, university places, or skilled employment in STEM-related fields. Our curriculum and approach are tailored to deliver exactly that—ensuring our students are not only well-educated, but also career-ready.
UTC Leeds - Compare school and college performance data in England - GOV.UK