Portsmouth council grants £10m to open engineering college

The University Technical College (UTC) Portsmouth is scheduled to open in September 2017

Plans to open an engineering training college in Portsmouth moved closer to completion after the city’s planning committee awarded a £10 million grant for a school building.

The University Technical College (UTC) Portsmouth is scheduled to open in September 2017.  The school will be located at the same site as Trafalgar School in Hilsea. Education will focus on electrical and mechanical engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Led by the University of Portsmouth, the Royal Navy, Salterns Academy Trust and Portsmouth City Council, the project is a collaborative effort from industry, education and governmental organisations with the objective to train workers that will meet future engineering demands in the south of England. Plans are under way to open another 16 UTCs.

University of Portsmouth pro vice-chancellor for Education and student experience, professor Paul Hayes, said: "Obtaining planning approval today is an important step on our journey toward opening UTC Portsmouth. The school will help meet the education and training needs of the next generation of engineers from across the south coast. Working with local employers, the school will focus on students learning through projects that are directly relevant to the needs of industry."

Alongside the core GCSE subjects in years 10 and 11 and A Levels in years 12 and 13, UTC Portsmouth will run an engineering curriculum, including Level 3 engineering diplomas. The school will start taking applications for admission from September 2016 for year 10 and year 12 students.

David Williams, chief executive of Portsmouth City Council, said: "Working with industry partners is key to UTC Portsmouth's success. We’re pleased that they share our exciting vision of a new model of education which will enhance the learning offer in the city and support the wider regeneration and economic prosperity of the area.”