New college seeks students from Brighton and Hove

Students across Brighton and Hove are being offered the prospect of places at a new type of college.

Youngsters aged 14 to 19 are being asked to say whether they would be interested in studying at a university technical college (UTC).

A formal consultation starts tomorrow (Wednesday 13 November) for six weeks until Christmas Eve (Tuesday 24 December).

The UTC, to be based in Newhaven, would specialise in marine engineering and environmental technology.

It is expected to have an entrepreneurial emphasis while preparing students to take GCSEs in the core subjects of English, maths and science.

The Newhaven UTC also proposes teaching conversational French to improve students’ job prospects.

The aim is to open in September 2015 in the Marine Workshop on the harbourside in the centre of Newhaven with students from as far afield as Worthing, Bexhill and Haywards Heath.

The consultation is intended to gauge the level of demand and to gain insights from potential students and parents.

Those behind the UTC also hope to get a feel for the level of support from the community, businesses and education professionals.

Sir Rod Aldridge

They also want look at potential travel choices as they put together an environmental impact assessment.

The central Newhaven site is two minutes away from bus and train facilities.

The project’s key backers include the Aldridge Foundation which runs the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA).

The foundation runs a cricket academy in Brighton and Hove and is scheduled to open its first UTC in Media City in Salford next September.

The other main backers are waste company Veolia along with Brighton University and Lewes District Council.

Sir Rod Aldridge, the founder and chairman of the Aldridge Foundation, said: “The UTC will give young people the chance to get practical engineering skills and academic qualifications that will help them to get a head start in the workplace.

“As well as maths, English, sciences and conversational French, they will get skills in engineering in a curriculum shaped by major local employers and focusing on the skills in demand by the marine engineering and environmental technology sectors.

“Education doesn’t have to be a ‘one size fits all’ and I am absolutely convinced that this UTC will appeal strongly to students looking for a different way to learn.

“Close links with employers will ensure that students get an exciting, entrepreneurial education and a real head start in their future careers.”

Robert Corbett, the head teacher of Tideway school in Newhaven, said: “Both myself and the board of governors at Tideway fully support the creation of a UTC in Newhaven as we believe that it will enhance the educational and employment opportunities for young people in the town and wider community.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the partners supporting the UTC.”