Announcements

The Department for Education ranks UTCN 1st out of 21 similar schools for attendance! Not only are we beating the national and local averages, but our students are outperforming their peers every single day of the week—proving that UTCN is a place students truly want to be.   Here are the key headline facts and major "shout-about" achievements for University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN) from the Department for Education's Summer 2026 report: Top of the Leaderboard Ranked 1st for Overall Attendance: UTCN ranks 1st out of 21 similar schools in its comparison group. Ranked 1st for Lowest Persistent Absence: UTCN secured the top spot (1st out of 21) for having the lowest rate of persistent absence among its peers. Flawless Evaluation: The DfE report states there are zero "areas to focus on" because UTCN’s attendance is consistently higher than similar schools across the board. Crushing the Averages (Overall Attendance) UTCN Overall Attendance: 95%. 5.1% higher than the median attendance of similar schools (89.9%). 3.3% higher than the National Secondary Average (91.7%). 3.8% higher than the Local Authority Secondary Average (91.2%). UTCN has even surpassed its own pre-pandemic attendance level of 93.9%. Smashed Persistent Absence Rates UTCN Persistent Absence: 11.2%. 16.1% lower than the median persistent absence rate of similar schools (27.3%). Unbeatable Morning Attendance UTCN beat out all 20 similar schools for attendance on the hardest mornings of the week: Monday mornings: 95.7% (Higher than 20/20 similar schools). Tuesday mornings: 94.9% (Higher than 20/20 similar schools). Wednesday mornings: 94.5% (Higher than 20/20 similar schools). Supporting Every Pupil Group UTCN outperforms the peer-school median across every single demographic tracked: Free School Meals (FSM) Pupils: 92.1% at UTCN vs. 84.8% peer average. Special Educational Needs (SEN) Pupils: 93.9% at UTCN vs. 86.1% peer average. (UTCN's SEN attendance also jumped significantly from 92% last year).

Join us for a guided tour of University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN) and experience first-hand what makes our school unique. Designed for students aged 14–19 with a passion for engineering, science, technology or design, UTCN offers a forward-thinking curriculum, industry-standard facilities, and strong partnerships with leading employers. Click here to book a tour!

We are delighted to announce that University Technical College Norfolk has been officially rated 'Outstanding/Good' by Ofsted. Inspectors praised our unique learning environment, noting that "lessons are a haven of calm" where high expectations, excellent specialist teaching, and strong industry links empower students to reach their full potential. You can read the full report here.  

Our recent cohort has delivered phenomenal results across all qualifications, consistently outperforming national benchmarks and setting new school records. GCSE Achievements: Record Performance: Achieved our highest-ever Basics pass rate with 80% in Grade 4+ and 60% in Grade 5+ (Maths & English). Strong Value-Added: Reached a record high progress score (SPI 0.41), with positive progress across subject areas and remarkable progress in closing the achievement gap for our PP and SEND students. A Level & T Level Highlights: Academic Highs: Reached our highest average A Level grade to date (B-), featuring top outcomes in key STEM subjects (80% A*-C in Maths, 88% A*-C in Physics). Engineering Success: Celebrated a 100% Distinction* pass rate in Single Engineering and awarded our first-ever T Level Distinction in Engineering. T Level Benchmark: Outperformed the national picture in T Level Science and Engineering with an average grade of Merit and Core paper average of C+.

At University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN), our commitment to delivering clear, high-value career and educational pathways is reflected in the outstanding achievements of our Class of 2026: Post-16 Destinations (End of Secondary School): We achieved a 0% NEET rate, ensuring 100% of our Year 11 cohort progressed into positive destinations. Demonstrating strong confidence in our specialised technical provision, 42% of students chose to continue their journey at UTCN Sixth Form. A further 38% moved to sixth form colleges, 12% entered Level 2/3 apprenticeships, 6% joined FE colleges, and 2% moved straight into employment. Post-18 Destinations (Sixth Form Launchpad): Our Sixth Form graduates continued to stand out in competitive fields. 35% progressed to university degree programmes, while 28% entered employment and another 28% secured apprenticeships. Our apprenticeship progression rate beat the national UTC-sector benchmark by 11.8 percentage points, proving our strength as a gateway to industry. Whether staying with us for the full secondary-to-sixth-form journey or joining us specifically for Post-16 technical education, UTCN equips every student to build a direct route into higher education and meaningful careers.

Join us for our upcoming Careers Fair on Thursday, 19th November, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Whether you are mapping out your next study steps and career path, or wanting another look around our school, this event is free and open to the public. What to Expect: Meet Top Regional Employers: Network face-to-face with industry specialists and recruiters across engineering, technology, health, and science sectors. Revisit UTCN: If you joined us for our earlier Open Evening - or missed out on visiting - this is a great opportunity to take another walk around our facilities, chat with staff, and get a feel for student life. Prospective Students: Applications Are Open! A quick reminder for families considering UTCN for the upcoming academic year: applications are open. If you haven't submitted your application yet, we encourage you to apply soon to secure your place. Coming along to the Careers Fair is a fantastic way to confirm your decision and ask any remaining questions. Event Summary & Booking Date: Thursday, 19th November Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Public welcome all afternoon) Location: University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN) Entry: Free (Pre-booking required) Click Here to Book Your Free Slot via Google Forms:  https://forms.gle/C7UZk142fba2Swj19 We look forward to welcoming you to UTCN!

We are thrilled to share the provisional 2026 Department for Education performance data, which highlights the outstanding achievements of our students and staff. UTCN has established itself as one of the leading specialist technical colleges in the country and a top-performing secondary school in Norfolk: National Standing: UTCN ranks 4th nationally among all UTCs for Attainment 8 (50.4) and in the Top 5 nationally for English and Maths Basics at Grade 4+ (78.2%) and Grade 5+ (58.6%). Local Excellence: Within Norfolk, UTCN ranks 4th across all mainstream secondary schools for students achieving Grade 4+ in both English and Maths, 6th for Attainment 8, and 7th for Grade 5+ Basics. These results reflect our commitment to academic rigor combined with world-class technical education. Congratulations to all our students and staff for their hard work and dedication!