A Level and Diploma results: STEM specialist school celebrates results

After a year full of challenges, 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. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, A Level exams were cancelled this year, so exam boards have instead given out grades based on assessments and rankings supplied by the teachers at South Devon UTC.

There is much to celebrate with 50% of Engineering students achieving at least TWO distinction stars, and of those, 38% achieving triple distinction stars, the highest grade in these qualifications. Exceptional performance is also clearly presented in Science with 75% of Scientists achieving the highest qualification of triple distinction star in BTEC Applied Science.

Notable successes were Chayton Jackson-Smith, who passed with an A* in Physics, A in Maths, Extended Project and a B in Biology. Millie Thomas, James Stapleton and Lewis Bartlett achieved triple Distinction stars in the Extended Diploma in Engineering. Joe Strickland and Mary Owen both achieved triple Distinction stars in the Extended Diploma in Applied Science and a grade C in A Level English Literature/Language.

All South Devon UTC graduates this year have achieved the grades or higher to contribute to their STEM specialist destinations. Some students are progressing on to study various degree courses including Physics, Biomedical Sciences, Midwifery, Environmental Science, Forensic Science and others at the University of Exeter, Cardiff, Plymouth and University of the West of England. A number of other students are in the final stages of applications to prepare for careers in Engineering within the Royal Navy, continuing to strengthen the bond South Devon UTC has forged through its partnership with the Royal Navy.

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, particularly as they have faced such challenges this year caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. This is the fourth round of Diploma and A Level results reported by the college since we launched in 2015 and our results are continuing to improve and strengthen in all areas of study but especially in Engineering and Science.

“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. Before the pandemic hit, we had a jam-packed year full of activities including a visit to the science laboratories at the Environment Agency, participating in the Look Beyond campaign for National Apprenticeship Week and preparing for the Royal Navy Engineering Challenge.

“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 2021/22 academic year. Open mornings run every Friday from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Register your interest to attend by calling 01626 240201