A Level and Diploma results: STEM specialist school celebrates results

After a year full of highlights, students from South Devon University Technical College (UTC) are celebrating today after receiving impressive A Level and Diploma results.

Newton Abbot’s pioneering technical college opened its doors from 8:30am this morning for the scientists and engineers of the future to collect their exam results.

There is much to celebrate with 71% of Engineering students achieving at least one distinction star, with over two thirds of those achieving either two or three distinction stars, the highest grade in these qualifications. 100% of Scientists achieved at least one distinction star in their BTEC Applied Science with 80% of these achieving the highest qualification of triple distinction star. 

Notable successes were Danny Surgeon and Alfie Toler who not only passed with triple distinction stars in Engineering but also gained a Level 3 qualification in Maths studies. Outstanding results for Shaun Adams, and Willow Peak whose strengths in Engineering, Maths and Physics have enabled them to gain exceptional grades in their Level 3 studies.  Science students Dylan Bayliss, Ed Clarke and Harry Gray also gained the highest grades (triple distinction stars) in Level 3 BTEC Applied Science.  

All graduates of the UTC this year have achieved the grades or higher to go on to their appropriate destinations. These include degree-level apprenticeships with Cyclerval, Wales and West and MJS Architects.  A number of other students have secured further apprenticeships with South West Water, MB Aerospace, Centrax, the Royal Navy and the Environment Agency. Some students are progressing on to study various degree courses at the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, University of West of England and Cardiff University.

Commenting on the grades achieved by South Devon UTC students who collected their results today, Principal Claire Plumb commented: “This remarkable group of students contributed so much to school life and should be extremely proud of the hard work which led to these results. I am enormously proud of our students for their successes in this, the third round of Diploma and A Level results reported by the college since we launched in 2015.

“We’ve seen motivation, dedication and passion from our students this year, all striving to achieve good results in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. We’ve celebrated many successes and initiatives throughout the academic year including the launch of our award-winning Eco Ambassador Group, an excellent result in the Royal Navy Field Gun Challenge, and the launch of our Mental Health Ambassador group.

“I am also delighted that our team of teachers, students and employer partner organisations worked so well together to develop young people who are not only well-rounded as potential employees but can also perform to a high standard on an academic level. I wish our leavers all the best in their future adventures.  

“We look forward to welcoming the next group of aspiring scientists, mathematicians, environmentalists and engineers through our doors in September.”

Based in Newton Abbot, South Devon UTC is a science and engineering specialist school which offers 14-19 year olds more than the traditional GCSE and A-level curriculum. Launched in 2015, South Devon UTC has a mission: ‘to establish a world class centre of excellence in engineering, water and the environment’ for any young people who have an interest in these fields in order to ‘develop a new generation of engineers, scientists and environmentalists.’

Students work towards GCSEs and A-levels as well as technical qualifications in engineering and science. The college provides an environment that mirrors the workplace, helping students develop important employability skills to prepare them for a job, apprenticeship or degree when they leave school.

South Devon UTC partners with local businesses and can therefore offer its students hands-on experience of the work environment and also the type of employment that might follow on from their studies.

South Devon UTC is now recruiting students for the 2020/21 academic year. The first Open Event of the 2019/20 term will celebrate Science Week and will be held at the college on Tuesday 8th October 2019. Register your interest to attend by calling 01626 240201 or visit www.southdevonutc.org/open-evenings.