Joining Us in Year 10

Start Your Technical Education

Ready to move beyond the textbook? UTCN is a specialist school for students aged 14–18 who are passionate about Science, Engineering, and Technology. Join us in Year 10 to start your KS4 education with real-world projects, expert mentoring, and outstanding facilities.

Why Choose UTCN?

1. An Environment Built for Success

Your learning environment matters. Our latest Ofsted inspection rated us Outstanding for Behaviour and Attitudes across the school.

"Pupils behave exceptionally well... Lessons are a haven of calm." (Ofsted, 2025)

This high standard ensures that every student can focus on their learning in a safe, productive, and respectful atmosphere.

2. Relevant, High-Quality Education

Our curriculum is designed in partnership with employers and the University of East Anglia, making your learning relevant to the 21st-century economy.

• Good Quality of Education: We are rated Good for the quality of education and high expectations we set for all pupils. The ambitious curriculum is usually well taught, resulting in high achievement.

• STEM Focus: You will complete GCSEs in core subjects like English, Maths, and Science, alongside specialist subjects in Engineering. Our curriculum places special emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), which are the skills employers need most.

3. The UTCN Experience: Work-Ready Skills

From the moment you start in Year 10, your education is linked to the world of work.

• Extensive Employer Encounters: Our careers program is a major strength. The report notes: "Pupils participate in an extensive range of encounters with employers. All pupils take part in work experience."

• Expert Facilities: You will learn using advanced engineering and scientific equipment, gaining hands-on practical skills that set you apart from students at traditional schools.

4. A Strong Foundation for Outstanding Outcomes

The dedication to career preparation leads to exceptional progression.

• Clear Progression: While our Sixth Form provision is rated Outstanding, the skills, excellent behaviour, and real-world experience you gain in Year 10 and 11 lay the essential groundwork for this future success, whether you choose to progress to:

  • Our Outstanding Sixth Form

  • A high-level Apprenticeship (our students are 10 times more likely to take up an apprenticeship than the national average)

  • Higher Education at University

Join a School That Prepares You for the Future

If you want more than just classroom learning — if you want real-world skills, industry experience, and a pathway to a successful STEM career — UTCN is the right choice for you.

Apply Today to take the next step toward your future.

Details of our courses

Key dates for Year 12 Internal and External applicants: 

• 15/9/25: Applications open. 
• 31/10/25: Applications close. If we still have places available after this time, we will continue to take applications until 10/02/25 or when we reach our intake capacity – whichever happens first. 
• 08/11/25: CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) testing for all on-time applicants will take place. You must attend this event for your application to be taken forward. 
  • An invitation email will be sent to all applicants a couple of weeks before the testing day.
  • This test will not be used to admit applicants who perform “best” on the test. The test has no pass or fail and will be used to ensure UTCN admits students from the full spectrum of ability. We are a non-selective school and want to admit students from a wide range of abilities.
  • A useful video about the test can be found here.
  • More information about testing SEND and EAL students can be found here.
• 11/12/25: Offer letters and emails will be sent out
• February 2026: KS4 Options Event 
• July 2026: We will hold Induction days for new starters to year 10
• September 2026: New Parents’ Information Evening: At this event, UTCN systems and procedures will be explained and parents will have the opportunity to meet key staff including Form Tutors.
• September 2026: New school year commences

FAQs

• Do  I need to inform my child's current school if I apply for a place at UTCN?
  • It's up to you when you tell your child's current school that you plan to move them for year 10. We will tell the council in September once your child has arrived at UTCN. They will then inform your child's current school. We do however suggest that you let your child's school know that they will be leaving prior to this as a courtesy.
• What are you oversubscription criteria?
  • Where the number of applicants is greater than the published admission number, the following process will apply.
  • To ensure an even ability spread, places will be allocated with reference to the CAT testing, as follows:
    •  Band A – 25% of the total places ie. approx 38 students
    • Band B – 25% of the total places ie. approx 38 students
    • Band C – 25% of the total places ie. approx 38 students
    • Band D – 25% of the total places ie. approx 38 students
  • Before making allocations, the following oversubscription criteria will be applied:
    • Students with EHCPs who have named UTCN in their plan.
    • Looked After Children (and previously looked after children).
    • Children of staff at the school, in either of the following circumstances:
      • a) The member of staff is employed on a permanent basis at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, or
      • b) The member of staff has been appointed but has not yet taken up their role at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made 
    • The remaining places will be allocated to children who live in the catchment area served by UTCN (map and list of postcodes above) with reference to the CAT testing, taking into account the allocations already made on the criteria above. Eg. if 3 students with EHCPs have named UTCN, and all are in CAT Band B, there will be 35 Band B places remaining.
    • Places will be distributed by random allocation within each Band.
  • If places remain, the following criteria will apply:
    • Children who live outside the catchment area served by UTCN who have an older sibling (full, step, half, adopted or fostered brother or sister but not cousins) attending the UTC at the time of admission
    • Children who live outside the catchment area served by UTCN but are attending a secondary school within the catchment area at the opening date of the admission round i.e., September 19, 2024
    • Children who live outside the catchment area served by UTCN Please note, we do not give priority to applications from students from particular schools.
• What is the appeals process?
  • If your child’s application for a place at the school is unsuccessful, you will be informed why admission was refused and given information about the process for hearing appeals.
  • If you wish to appeal, you must set out the grounds for your appeal in writing and send it to the following address:
    • The Headteacher, UTCN, Old Hall Road, Norwich NR4 6FF
  • Unsuccessful applicants have a right of appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel. The panel consists of three people who are independent to the academy.
  • Appeals will be independently managed in accordance with statutory regulations and will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal being lodged.

Travel

SEN

Term Dates