Students joining UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus on Attercliffe Common will start their studies on time on September 12th.

 

Around 180 new students will initially be based at Oasis Academy Don Valley on Leeds Road for their two-week induction that will involve visits to employers. 

 

The Academy is five minutes’ walk from the new UTC. Both are located on the Olympic Legacy Park. Students are expected to move into the UTC building from September 26th. 

 

Sarah Clark, Principal of UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus, said: “I look forward to welcoming our new students. The construction of our fantastic new building is on schedule and progressing well. Students will start their two-week induction on time, and benefit from employer talks and visits as soon as they start with us. This will give them an insight into the technical skills they will learn from our employer-backed curriculum.”

 

Letters were sent to parents last week by first class post on August 11th updating them on progress with the UTC building, and the accommodation arrangements for the two-week induction. UTC students will be housed in the secondary phase building at Oasis Academy Don Valley, which is separate from the Academy’s primary pupils.

 

Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We look forward to the opening of the University Technical College in September as it forms an important part of the Olympic Legacy Park, continuing the Olympic 2012 legacy and the brilliant Rio performances from the likes of Bryony Page and Jess Ennis-Hill.”

 

She added: “The new campus provides students with the opportunity to study alongside elite athletes, use the cutting-edge facilities for healthcare technologies, sports and sports science as well as extend the range of learning opportunities for young interested in careers in the health sector, medical and sports technologies, or programming and system design.  These are all growing areas in the global as well as the local economy and the new UTC offers the opportunity for 14 to 19 year olds to work closely with local employers and universities at the cutting edge of development in these sectors.”

 

The Sheffield College is the UTC’s lead sponsor. Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry are co-sponsors. The UTC is being built by BAM Construction and has been designed by Bond Bryan Architects.

 

Jason Pepper, Chair of the UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Steering Group, and Executive Director of Finance and Resources, The Sheffield College, added: “I would like to thank all of the project partners and Oasis Academy Don Valley for their fantastic commitment to this project, which is progressing well. We look forward to completion and opening the new facility to students.”

 

James Pape, Principal of Oasis Academy Don Valley, said: “We are happy to be able to support the UTC in this way and hope that this is the start of a positive partnership that supports all of our students.”

 

The UTC will specialise in healthcare and sports sciences, and computing, to boost the regional economy, create jobs for young people and fill skills gaps for employers. Employers are involved in shaping the curriculum to ensure young people get the technical skills they need. Students complete a technical qualification as well as GCSEs and A Levels. Some Year 12 places are still available for this September. Visit http://www.utcsheffield.org.uk 

 

Sir Andrew Cash, Chief Executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, commented: “As one of the biggest employers in the Sheffield City Region, we have a long track record of community engagement and have been working with schools in Sheffield for over ten years. This UTC is a fantastic opportunity for our scientific, technical and computing staff to co-design real projects that interest young people and showcase the many careers the NHS has to offer. Many of our staff went to school, college or university in Sheffield and by forging these relationships early when young people are beginning to think about their career options we can provide them with insights and experience in the world of healthcare.”

 

The UTC’s facilities include a three-dimensional motion capture studio, sports science laboratory, fitness suite, health and development suite including a flexible ward set up and area for an ambulance, a research laboratory, and computer suites. 

 

The UTC has capacity for 600 students and recruitment is being phased over three years. Students can apply from across Sheffield City Region, which includes South Yorkshire and parts of North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.