The first cohort of UTC Leeds students to sit GCSEs has just been awarded their results.
A significant number of students are staying on at the UTC to study A Levels and technical courses, whilst others are moving on to sixth form studies or high quality apprenticeships and college courses.
For more information about course places starting September, email a[email protected] or call 0113 3530140. Follow @UTCLeeds.
Here are some of our students’ stories:
Cara Secures Higher Apprenticeship At ATB Morley
Sixteen-year-old Cara Kelly is celebrating her success in securing a top apprenticeship at global engineering company ATB Morley.
Cara scored highly across the board in her GCSEs, with Grade 7 (low A grade) in Biology and Grade 8 (high A grade) in Computer Science, Maths and Physics.
She commented: “I’m really pleased with my results and, best of all, I’ve got the apprenticeship I wanted.”
Cara is about to start as a Mechanical Draughtsperson with ATB Morley. Based in Leeds, the company manufactures motors and generators which power machinery in more than 60 countries around the world.
Cara explained: “I heard about the apprenticeship opportunity through the UTC. I had to have two interviews but I felt confident because we are used to speaking to employers at the UTC. We had mock interviews and I had also been out on work experience at Sound Leisure, which I really enjoyed.”
Cara’s week at Sound Leisure was a highlight of her time at the UTC: “I did a day on Computer Aided Design and then I spent some time with the electronics team building a speaker. It was great.”
She added: “I’ve had a lot of opportunities at UTC Leeds which you wouldn’t get at a regular school. When I saw there was a college specialising in STEM subjects opening in Leeds, I knew I wanted to go there. I like engineering because it’s creative and I want a job where I can spend my time creatively.”
Musa Has His Sights Set On Aerospace Or Big Industry
Sixteen-year-old Musa Iqbal is already clear that he wants to pursue a career in Mechatronics, which is a mixture of mechanical engineering and electronics. Musa hopes to secure an apprenticeship after continuing with A Level and technical studies at UTC Leeds.
Musa joined UTC Leeds in Year 10 and is one of the first students to obtain GCSEs at the UTC which opened in September 2016. With mainly strong passes and above, he is celebrating success in eight GCSE subjects.
He said: “I’m feeling good, I’ve got all the grades I needed to get into sixth form at the UTC. I’ve done really well in my Sciences and Maths in particular.”
Musa has secured two grade 7, equivalent to an A grade, in Sciences and a grade 6, equivalent to a B grade, in Maths, as well as a B in Product Design.
Commenting on his time at the UTC, he said: “I’ve enjoyed it at the UTC. The facilities here are really good and we actually get to use the equipment. We don’t just send files to the teacher to programme the machines, we programme them ourselves.”
He continued: “We did a number of visits to the University of Leeds and to big companies like Agfa, 600 Group and Siemens where we got the opportunity to talk to apprentices and managers. I was surprised how hands-on being an apprentice is, how much they get involved in doing real stuff. It’s good because it means they can get more skills.”
Now Musa is looking ahead to his next steps at the UTC to progress into his chosen field of Mechatronics in either the Aerospace sector or big industry.
Max Wants To Stay One Step Ahead
Max Turner has his eye on a career in engineering and decided to move to UTC Leeds for GCSEs in order to specialise early.
He said: “I’m glad I picked engineering at the UTC, I’ve really enjoyed it. My results show it was the right move”.
He added: “I feel I’m two years ahead now, and I want to continue to study engineering in sixth form so that I remain two years ahead when I go into industry.”
Max sat nine GCSEs and passed all of them, with grade 7 (low A grade) in three subjects, Computer Science, Geography and Physics, as well as an A in Resistant Materials.
Max commented: “It’s been good at the UTC, it’s done what I wanted it to do. It’s helped me to progress forward, and I’ve had good opportunities with employers. For example, I did a week with Unilever shadowing apprentices and engineers and I learnt a lot. It showed me what it’s like to work in engineering jobs and helped me to apply what I’d learnt at the UTC to industry.”
Now the 16-year-old is already eyeing up a future job as a Mechanical Engineer and is set on obtaining A Levels and further technical qualifications at the UTC to help realise his ambition.
Chloe Is Looking Ahead To Forensic Psychology
Chloe Allen joined UTC Leeds to pursue her interest in engineering and has found a new ambition to study Forensic Psychology through her time at the UTC.
The 16-year-old has secured a clutch of good GCSEs at grades 5 (strong pass) and above and is now planning to pursue sixth-form studies with a view to studying Forensic Psychology at University.
Chloe said: “I’m extremely pleased with my grades. The teachers here are really good, they’re easy to talk to, and there’s a good working atmosphere. It feels like a community.”
She added: “When we arrived at the UTC in Year 10, we were all new and we had to get to know one another. I’ve made good friends here and I’ve got on better with all my subjects. I wanted to try something new and go to a new place and it’s worked out well.”
Award-Winning Ross Is Glad To Have Chosen UTC Leeds
Ross Inman is celebrating a strong set of GCSE results and is happy that he chose to move to UTC Leeds in Year 10.
The sixteen-year-old passed all nine GCSEs and has secured five Grade 7 (low A grade) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English Language, together with a Grade 8 (high A grade) in Computer Science.
He said: “The change of environment was really good for me. I wouldn’t have got these grades if I’d stayed in my previous school.”
He added: “I am really pleased with my Science results. I found Chemistry tough but I put in the extra effort and it’s paid off. The teachers care here, and not just about the top grade students. They take a personal interest in their students.”
Ross won several awards at the UTC, including ‘Student of the Term’ and subject awards for Geography and Computer Science. He is now looking to study at University after sixth form and feels that the UTC’s approach to developing independent study skills will stand him in good stead.
He commented: “I’ve been much happier and more relaxed at the UTC. It was definitely a good move.”
