South Wiltshire UTC branded inadequate in first Ofsted inspection less than three years after opening

South Wiltshire UTC failed its first inspection by Ofsted, in which it was slated for effectiveness of leadership, quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils, and has been put in special measures.

Following a two-day inspection in February the education watchdog found that:

• Pupils’ needs are not being met by the curriculum, leaving them ill-prepared for their next steps and without strong careers advice.
• Expectations of what pupils can achieve are not high enough and pupils are not challenged enough to reach their full potential.
• Disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and those with disabilities do not make progress “comparable with their peers”.
• Sixth form students do not make sufficient progress because “their study programmes, and the quality of teaching, do not meet their needs”.

Inspectors also found that teaching quality is “too variable” due to staff absence, insufficient leadership of teaching, and staff shortages.

As previously reported by the Journal, pupils at the college raised concerns at the start of the year, after it was announced that seven engineering teachers had left their roles within 15 months.

Principal Joe Mulligan told the Journal pupils would not be affected by the high rate of turnover, despite one pupil claiming there were doubts that his class would finish their course.

Mr Mulligan, who took over the role just over a year ago, was praised by inspectors for making improvements to maths and English teaching, improving behaviour and introducing systems to hold staff to account for pupils’ progress.

But the report said he “is focused well on securing improvement, despite the difficulties facing the school” but “his efforts are being undermined by the lack of wider leadership capacity”.

Mr Mulligan said the result of the inspection was "disappointing" and that work has begun to address the issues raised.

He said: "The UTC’s priorities have been to focus on both the core and STEM curricula, to raise achievement levels, to create an environment where our students are proud to be part of an energetic, vibrant community, where they feel motivated and supported and where our values around the whole student and employability underpin everything we do; the Ofsted report does not really reflect this.

"We continue to receive full support and guidance from our employer partners, the university of Southampton and the Baker Dearing Trust and we are confident that at the next review point, the changes that are underway will have had a considerable, positive impact."