Hull’s Ron Dearing UTC has been rated as ‘outstanding’ across the board in its first Ofsted inspection. Inspectors praised it as having “all the hallmarks of a school that could be viewed as a guiding light in the educational sector”.
The school hosted inspectors for an in-depth review in March, before the lockdown period, with a glowing verdict in the report published today (May 21).
As well as the rating of outstanding for overall effectiveness, the inspection team marked the UTC as outstanding for:
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
- Sixth form provision
Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Ofsted has judged Ron Dearing UTC to be outstanding in every aspect of its provision. We’re supported strongly by the University of Hull and some of the region’s leading employers, who have been proactively involved in developing a highly-ambitious vision for the school and holding me to account to deliver on it.
“We’re also acutely aware that our students and their parents and carers put their faith in us by moving to a brand new school which hadn’t been tried and tested. We will be eternally grateful to them for their support and trust and we have worked tirelessly to ensure their decision to join us proved to be the right one.
“It’s fantastic to have confirmation from Ofsted that the education we provide for our students is of the highest quality. Ofsted raised the bar when it introduced its new Education Inspection Framework, which made it even more difficult to achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating. This makes the achievement even sweeter.”
The UTC specialises in digital technology, creative digital and digital engineering, to develop key skills needed to realise the city and region’s economic potential. Its founding partners are the University of Hull and leading local employers KCOM, RB, Siemens Gamesa, Smith + Nephew and Spencer Group. Ron Dearing UTC is also supported by Hull City Council and many other industry partners.
Its Patron, former Education Secretary Alan Johnson, said: “There was never any doubt in my mind that Ron Dearing UTC would be a success. The business community in Hull were totally supportive, as was Hull City Council Chief Executive Matt Jukes and his colleagues.
“However, even I didn’t contemplate success of this magnitude so quickly. Hull now has one of the best schools – and the best UTC – in the country and these results are a magnificent tribute to Sarah Pashley and her team.”
