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Students Say

Meet the Students – Josh, Year 12 2> By | Students Say | No Comments

Meet Josh, aged 16, one of our current year 12 students who talks about his experience studying at the Engineering UTC. Josh is currently studying for his Level 3 in Engineering, and is developing his EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) for Jaguar Land Rover design;

What made you want to study at the UTC?

“The reason why I decided to come to the UTC is because I know that I want a future career in engineering. Also, it is different to other schools around the area that gives you a lot of knowledge and experience into these specific industries.”

What are your future plans and career goals?

“My future goals are to go into the design sector of engineering i.e. drawing and CAD, as I am very confident in my skills of designing new things.”

Is the UTC helping to prepare you for future employment?

“Yes. The UTC is definitely helping me towards my future by helping me to gain experience through workshops and off-campus work experience.”

What inspires you?

“The people who inspire me the most are my teachers and my family, this is because they push me to do my best in any situation and I feel that this will help me in the future when I go into industry and start my career.”

What is different at the UTC compared to other schools around the area?

“The UTC definitely provides more in terms of experience into industry than other schools do around the area. They get you involved with industry experts that support your work all year round.”

What do you think about the staff, facilities and connections with industry partners?

“I think that the connections with staff at the UTC is really good as the staff are always there to help and advise you the best that they can. The connections with companies is really good as well because you get to see what real industry experts do and how they work on a day-to-day basis.”

And finally, what advice would you give to potential students?

“The advice I would give to students in the area is that if you really want to get into a STEM-based career then the UTC is the best place to start, as you get a lot of experience and the people at the school are polite which makes you enjoy your studies more.”

To find out more about the opportunities available at the Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire, you can download our 2018/19 prospectus here. Or if you would like to fill out an application form for Year 9, 10 or 11 then please click here.

Meet the Students – Leigh-J, Year 10 2> By | Students Say | One Comment

Meet Leigh-J, aged 14, one of our current year 10 students who talks about his experience studying at the Engineering UTC;

What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

“Usually I like to spend time with with my friends or at home on the Xbox. Mainly I am interested in video games but I do also enjoy watching football and motorbike racing.”

What made you want to study at the UTC?

“I decided to study at the UTC as I knew it would be a great place to gain relevant engineering qualifications as well as helping me to be noticed with local companies. It also impressed me that the schools pass rate was 75%, with an aim to increase it to 80%, so I knew I would do well here.”

What are your future plans and career goals?

“In the future I would love to have an apprenticeship at a company such as Phillips 66 or Jacobs. This is because I find it easier to learn with hands-on activities and I know that they offer high-quality apprenticeships.”

Is the UTC helping to prepare you for future employment?

“The UTC is really helping me to prepare for future employment as we get given in-depth information regarding different career paths. Also people regularly come in from companies to help mentor us. This helps us to be noticed around companies for any future job opportunities.”

What inspires you?

“My family inspire me. Especially my step-dad as he has worked for both Phillips 66 and Jacobs, so has a lot of experience and knowledge into the industry.”

What is different at the UTC compared to other schools around the area?

“The main difference is that the UTC gives you an in-depth look into the engineering and technology industries whilst providing you with industry-standard machinery to work on and opportunities for work experience.”

What is your favourite thing about the UTC?

“My favourite thing about the UTC is being able to use the different types of machinery. On our last open evening I was able to demonstrate the CNC Lathe Machine for our visitors, and although I struggled to get the hang of it at first, by the end of the night I was really good at it!”

What do you think about the staff, facilities and connections with industry partners?

“The staff are really good here and the best part is that they treat you like adults and not children. One of our Seven Consistencies, is that nobody is allowed to shout at another person, which means that staff members always talk to us in a respectful manner.

The school facilities are really good and clean which makes the workshops safe and nice to study in.”

And finally, what advice would you give to potential students?

“The best thing to do is research what the school is about and if you are interested in engineering, you should definitely apply.”

To find out more about the opportunities available at the Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire, you can download our 2018/19 prospectus here. Or if you would like to fill out an application form for Year 9, 10 or 11 then please click here.

Meet the Students – Eleanor, Year 10 2> By | Students Say | No Comments

Meet Eleanor, aged 14, one of our current year 10 students who talks about her experience studying at the Engineering UTC;

What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

“I am currently part of the sea cadets, where I take part in range of different activities from sailing, windsurfing and powerboating – to rock climbing, camping, music and much more!”

What made you want to study at the UTC?

“Because I’ve known for a while that I would like to be a Mechanical Engineer in the Royal Navy when I am older, and knew the UTC could offer me that head start.”

What are your future plans and career goals?

“I plan to go into the Royal Navy as my uncle is actually currently in it. I’ve always wanted to work with him in engineering and that inspires me.”

Is the UTC helping to prepare you for future employment?

“The UTCs focus on engineering will definitely help me gain the industry knowledge and skills for my future job role, but as the Royal Navy requires a high level of fitness, this is additional training that the school does not provide.”

What inspires you?

“People in my family motivate and inspire me the most because they always help me with what I need and support me throughout my training.”

What is different at the UTC compared to other schools around the area?

“My previous school was unable to provide the high level of engineering  and technology knowledge that I need to get into the Royal Navy, I knew the UTC could help me to reach my career goal.”

What is your favourite thing about the UTC?

“My favourite thing about the UTC is definitely the engineering lessons where we are able to work on machinery and projects that teach us new things.

I also love that the staff members take the time to help you fit into the school which makes it more enjoyable.”

What do you think about the staff, facilities and connections with industry partners?

“I think that the staff members are really nice and good because they will help you with anything that you need and will always listen.”

And finally, what advice would you give to potential students?

“Come to the UTC and get a whole new experience! If you like engineering as a subject then the UTC can provide you with really fun classes, with new machinery, tools and materials to use.

Also the teachers will welcome you and help with anything you need.”

To find out more about the opportunities available at the Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire, you can download our 2018/19 prospectus here. Or if you would like to fill out an application form for Year 9, 10 or 11 then please click here.

Meet the Students – Jordan, Year 11 2> By | Students Say | 3 Comments

Meet Jordan, aged 15, one of our current year 11 students who talks about his experience studying at the Engineering UTC;

What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

“I am a huge football supporter and also love listening to music, especially when revising as it helps me to concentrate.”

What made you want to study at the UTC?

“I decided to continue with my education at the UTC after I saw an Open Evening advertised through the schools Facebook page. After attending the Open Event, I was very impressed with the equipment and the staff members, and instantly knew that the UTC was for me.”

What are your future plans and career goals?

“I am looking to become a Robotic engineer or a Mechanical Engineer at a company such as Phillips 66, as I have worked closely with them throughout my time at the UTC so they already know me very well.

Another plan would be to go into Electrical Engineering, as I have been learning these particular skill sets since I first started at the school, so am confident in my knowledge of this industry area.”

Is the UTC helping to prepare you for future employment?

“Yes, because the companies we work with visit the school regularly to set specific tasks that help us develop employability skills for the future.

The school also allow us to wear suits, rather than a uniform which helps us look and feel more professional so that when employers do meet us they know we are from a professional environment.”

What inspires you?

“My family inspire me because they always say that no matter what happens I will always have something to fall back on. This helps me to stay focused and to realise how lucky I am to be in a school such as the UTC.”

What is different at the UTC compared to other schools around the area?

“The curriculum for starters is different because we study engineering which other schools may not focus on as much. This specialism gains us an extra qualification over everybody else and is an added extra to place on our CV.

Also, we wear suits and not uniforms which allows us to feel more grown-up and a part of a professional environment and not just a school.”

What is your favourite thing about the UTC?

“Definitely the engineering because it allows me to learn things that I feel passionate about and that I never knew before.

A particular highlight for me during my time at the school is when we have worked with Hull University to develop our employability skills to help further prepare us for the future by building confidence.”

What do you think about the staff, facilities and connections with industry partners?

“I think that the staff are extremely respectful and the facilities are out of this world. Our schools connections with industry  is crazy because we are partnered with so many major companies that could offer an opportunity after school.”

And finally, what advice would you give to potential students?

“I would say that you should start at the UTC if you are interested in a STEM-based career because it offers more opportunities than other schools within the area.”

To find out more about the opportunities available at the Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire, you can download our 2018/19 prospectus here. Or if you would like to fill out an application form for Year 9, 10 or 11 then please click here.

Student life at the UTC – Manda Mulaya 2> By | Students Say | No Comments

What is different at the UTC compared to a normal school?
A good thing about the UTC is that everyone here can do the same lessons but you are allowed to be independent – for example, in product design, all students can work independently and differently. There are more opportunities to be creative, which was lacking in my previous school. Here students can stand out through their own creativity and individuality!
What trips do you go on, and what do you think of them?
I recently went on the year 10 trip to RAF Scampton which was an eye-opener, learning about the history of the RAF – so much so that I will definitely remember the experience for a long time! Going on trips helps to merge the ‘real’ world with UTC life.
Normally when you start a new school you are with people that you don’t know. It was really good to go to RAF Scampton as you were put into groups with other people that you didn’t know too. It was a good way to open up and start to develop friendships with different people. We spent a lot of time learning to work as part of a team with new people, developing communication skills.
What do you do on/like about Wednesday afternoons?
I like the fact that every Wednesday afternoon at the UTC, they invite partner employees in to talk about their companies and their job roles. It’s good to get to speak to people who work in different companies to ask specific questions about what they do in their day to day work. You know that they will have the true answer to genuine questions, instead of it being a teacher reciting knowledge.
I also really enjoyed the Nicky Morgan event in September, as it gave us the opportunity to speak to girls who have decided to become engineers, which we wouldn’t have had the chance to do in another school. You don’t see that many engineering girls, so meeting them gives you the opportunity to find people who you can look up to, and can guide you in the industry later in life. It gave me a push in the right direction!
What do you like the most about the UTC?
I like the UTC, especially for fact that I don’t have to wear a tie! My previous school said that they offered the same opportunities as other schools, but I knew I wouldn’t have the opportunity to speak to future employers. I have more opportunities here than I ever have had before, and it’s a relief that we can prove to other girls and to other people that you can do what you want at the UTC, despite what other schools and parents may say. I like it here because I can be myself, be creative and learn new techniques.
How do you think the UTC will affect your career prospects?
In my old school, I didn’t feel like people knew what they wanted to do when they finished school. I was worried before that I might find it difficult to find a job – we all know that it is really hard to get a job at the moment!
Being here at the UTC, I am looking into jobs with future employers at a much younger age. This will open up many doors for me, because companies are coming here and watching how you are working. You might not know it at the time, but companies are asking staff about how we are performing because they might be interested in employing us or offering us a placement in the future. It’s a brilliant stepping stone for careers.
At other schools they don’t really help you with looking at what you want to do in the future – they mostly leave it up to you. Being here you get lots of help and an extra push which I didn’t have in my previous school. It’s definitely easier to get a job because we are actually seeing the real jobs and most of them are jobs that we didn’t even know about before.
If any girls do want to be engineers like I do, then coming here you soon find out that the boys are actually really caring and supportive. And don’t worry about what anyone else says about your dreams, because they can bring you down – you just need to believe in yourself!


Student work experience – Dylan Whittaker 2> By | Students Say | No Comments

What kind of things were you doing day to day in your work experience?
In my week at Phillips 66, I worked at many different stations, in lots of different departments. For the first few days I worked in the offices, where I got insight into how the facility is controlled and how data is handled. I was also taken through the programs and methods with staff, as well as current apprentices that are working at Phillips.
I got a good understanding of the scheduling and planning of the facility and how everything works together. Over the next few days, I was introduced to the chemical, electrical and mechanical departments. I was shown around the refinery and even had the opportunity to climb the highest point. Whist walking around, I was taught the processes for how the refinery operates and so much more.
Do you feel as if you learnt a lot in your time there that could be useful in later life?
I learnt how the processes around an oil refinery works as well as a lot about the industry in general. I feel as if I’ve learnt a lot of valuable information that will help me succeed in the future. I learnt how engineering as a subject will be useful to me as it opens me up to more opportunities. Having a week at Phillips 66 widened my view of the spectrum of different careers which are available to me.
What was your favourite thing you did/saw?
I loved going on site to give the team a hand in the mechanical department. I was tasked with checking the online database for anything on the refinery that needed to be checked and looked at, before going on site to have a look at the designated part. After getting the required information we had to log it back into the system at the offices for further analysis. This was great for me as it felt like I was a part of the company.
Has your work experience has given you an idea of the career you want?
Gaining work experience has opened my mind to the many different careers available in engineering, and has confirmed to me that that’s the path I want to go down. It has shown me that all aspects of engineering, specifically in the refinery department, are interesting and exciting and are worth pursuing a career in.
Do you think the UTC can help you get where you want to be?
The UTC gives students so many opportunities, especially with its connections to companies for both work experience and advice. The UTC has specifically engaged with the companies we want to speak to as students, and has helped me get into the right head space to engage with my potential employees for a successful career.