The UTC is sponsored by London South Bank University, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Skanska, and Purico. UTCs are specialist 14-19 state-funded schools led by universities and industry sponsors. In line with other UTCs across the country, South Bank has a specialism aligned to a skills gap in the local economy. In this case with an engineering and health focus, sectors struggling to recruit sufficient staff in London with the required skills and experience. Engineering, aligned most closely to Skanska as a sponsor, concerns the systems used in building including ventilation, energy, ICT and lighting, and makes extensive use of digital technologies including BIM and CAD. With a huge construction boom in London and rapidly accelerating technologies incorporated into building design, building engineering is a growth sector. Health is aligned to the two NHS Trusts which sponsor the UTC; with a large cluster of health facilities in London and with 350 different jobs and thousands of vacancy in the NHS, the UTC hopes to produce healthcare professionals for future employment. The UTC aims to operate a highly academic curriculum with high standards, such that students are able to access a wide range of higher education opportunities. This curriculum is delivered in a technical context, with deep industry links, regular exposure to technical and digital technologies and through practical projects.
Intake
As a University Technical College, South Bank UTC is open to students from 14 to 19 years of age, with admissions into Years 10 and 12 each academic year. As a sub-regional school, rather than a local authority provision, the UTC draws its applicants from a wide catchment ranging across London borough boundaries. The UTC has a maximum capacity of 150 students in each year group, growing to a full capacity of 600. There are no entry requirements for admission into Year 10: the UTC is non-selective and aims to be fully inclusive while recognising its status as a non-traditional, small school. For the 6th form, applicants for level 3 courses must secure at least five GCSEs at A*–C grade including both English and Maths; for level 2 courses, the requirement is four GCSEs in any subject and with any grade.
South Bank UTC is based in Brixton at 52 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1QS. The building it occupies is shared with Lambeth College's Brixton site for adult education, and Trinity Academy, a secondary school.
Years 10 and 11
Year 10 students will study a technical curriculum based around a core of GCSEs. Unconventionally, there are no optional subjects, with students all following the same curriculum pathway:
Non-examined physical education and CPD, comprising PSHE, SMSC, religious studies, sex and relationships education and careers information, advice and guidance
To supplement the core curriculum, all students will work through projects, co-designed and co-delivered with university and employer partners. The projects are all designed to give students experience of authentic challenges faced in engineering, with outputs in the form of designs, products, presentations or videos rather than traditional written work. Some projects announced to date include:
This taught curriculum is supplemented by university and employer projects, including masterclasses, 'expert witness' sessions, site visits, work experience and internships.
Professional qualifications
In line with its focus on preparing students for careers in the engineering and health sectors, South Bank UTC will offers professional qualifications. These give students, along with parents and local partners, the opportunity to learn and gain accreditation in Microsoft Office, Adobe and Autodesk products initially, thereby developing their employability.
Specialist equipment
Unusually for a state-funded school. South Bank UTC has industry-standard equipment which includes:
In line with its vision of developing the employability of its students, the UTC operates differently to many mainstream secondary schools. These features give students experience of a work-like environment in partnership with their potential employers:
Longer working day
High expectations of effort and output but no homework: independent learning is scheduled into the timetable
Focus on technology, including tablets and laptops
Business dress rather than uniform
High expectations around professional conduct, with an expectation that students can self-manage
A culture of healthy competition built around rewards and recognition
Students have a number of pathways open to them on leaving the UTC. These include progression to university, into employment or into higher level apprenticeships, often with sponsors and partner organisations.
