The Greater Manchester University Technical College (UTC) will close at the end of this academic year, becoming the seventh of the institutions to shut its doors as a result of recruitment problems.
Leaders at the UTC told students this afternoon that the college had been unable to recruit enough pupils in Oldham “and further afield” meaning it was “not financially viable”.
Government figures show it had 127 pupils on its roll last January, against a capacity of 600. It first opened its doors in 2014.
It becomes the seventh institution to close or announce its closure following problems with pupil numbers after Daventry UTC announced last month that it too would shut down in the summer.
Royal Greenwich UTC will become a school this year, and four UTCs have already closed.
The UTC’s principal, Lee Kilgour, said year 11 and 13 pupils would be able to complete their studies this academic year and that he would work with Oldham council and other providers to bring about a “smooth transition” for pupils in years 10 and 12.
Gordon Main, chair of the UTC’s trust, said the decision, made in consultation with the government, was “hugely disappointing for all those who have worked so hard to give students the opportunity to pursue a technical education”.
“The wellbeing and success of all our students remains our highest priority,” he said. “Every effort will be made to ensure students get the support they need to complete their studies successfully and appropriate guidance for transition to their new place of learning.”
Cue ministerial intervention at the other UTCs to prop them up at all costs, to avoid this political vanity project being exposed any further
I think it is clear that the UTC initiative is failing – why? Well, numbers in every case and financial issues – accompanied with quality issues, which is unacceptable in any case – this is impacting on students lives and futures.
The government must take the blame for this ill-thought out venture – what were they thinking? It beggars belief that provision was already in place for the same areas – yet the venture still went ahead. Where were the business moguls in this?
Stop it now and let the current provision be run by experienced, knowledgeable and hard-working colleges in the areas to avoid ruining any further student’s futures.