Students celebrate impressive A Level and Diploma results at South Devon UTC

South Devon University Technical College, Newton Abbot’s pioneering college for students with a flair for science and engineering, has celebrated exam success today as students receive very impressive A level and Diploma results. 

There is much to celebrate with 70% of Engineering students achieving at least one distinction star with over half of those achieving either two or three distinction stars, the highest grade in these qualifications. A fantastic 100% of Applied Science students gained distinction stars in all of their qualifications. With A level results included, South Devon UTC has achieved a very strong Level 3 qualifications profile.

Notable successes were Tim Leibermann and Luke Parsons who gained double distinction stars in BTEC Engineering and grade A in A Level Mathematics as well as Tom Rutley who passed with triple distinction star in BTEC Engineering with grade C in GCE A Level Mathematics.  Connor McCooey and Rheanna Shermer both gained triple Distinction* in Applied Science.

All graduates of the UTC this year have achieved the grades or higher to go on to their appropriate destinations examples of which include Degree Level apprenticeship with Lang and Potter at Hinkley Point, Higher and Advanced Level Apprenticeships with South West Water, MB Aerospace,  Centrax, The Royal Navy, Teignbridge District Council, Redrow and Volkswagen and studies in a range of courses including Civil Engineering, Aquaculture, International Politics and Electrical Engineering at Exeter, Plymouth, Sparsholt and Nottingham Trent universities.

Commenting on the grades achieved by students who visited the college today to collect their results, Principal Ian Crews said: “I am extremely proud of our students for their successes in this, the second round of Diploma and A –level results reported by the college since we launched in 2015.

“It totally justifies the decision taken by The University of Exeter, South Devon College and our public and private sector partners to establish a college that takes a radical new approach to educating teenagers, with a greater emphasis on technical training in engineering and science and a focus on preparation for the workplace.

“I am also delighted that our team of teachers, students and partner organisations have 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. These A-level students will now go on to university, a career in the armed forces or an apprenticeship relevant to their studies.

“We look forward in September to welcoming a new intake of young people who will carry on the high standards set by our post-16 students and give themselves a great opportunity to learn, grow and prosper.” 

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 has a limited number of spaces remaining for students looking to start Year 10 or Year 12 this September. Young people with a flair for science and engineering are actively encouraged to contact the college as soon as possible by calling 01626 240201 or visiting the website (www.southdevonutc.org) for more information.