UTC Hybrid and Autism Training Facility Update 12 October 2012 Jacqui Ford

1. UTC Hybrid and Autism Training Facility Update 12 October 2012 Jacqui Ford www.weston.ac.uk

2. Why UTC Hybrid and not a UTC? • UTC proposal for North Somerset needed to satisfy Baker Dearing Model and Vision. • Does not cater so well to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s). • Only interested in technical aspects only serving a narrow field of employers in North Somerset and surrounding areas. • Limited specialisms to one or two. • Capital monies more limited. • Nationally not recruiting.

3. Background to concept of UTC hybrid • Has been identified as meeting the educational need in North Somerset. • Will have the freedom to ensure that the needs of employers including SME’s in the area are met. • Will offer a wide curriculum permeated by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) • Employers, Universities and FE will work together to raise the aspirations and attainment of all learners. • Will support the regeneration and economic development of North Somerset.

4. Potential Input: Universities and Employers • Be members and sponsors of the NS UTC hybrid. • Advise, inform and design the curriculum. • Provide university staff to assist in the teaching of areas of expertise. • Provide industry and academic expertise to give informative and aspirational talks to learners. • Provide a mentoring programme for the NS UTC hybrid learners. • Enable learners to experience and use the Universities specialist, technical facilities. • To be involved in the development and training of core NS UTC hybrid staff. • Provide undergraduate and foundation degree modules to high performing learners.

5. Potential Input: Universities and Employers • Allow consultation and involvement in the development of curriculum and enrichment activities. • Provide high quality work placements. • Access to work related facilities and resources. • Provide industry experts to lecture and inspire. • Act as business mentors.

6. Active engagement with Employers Employer and university intelligence along with market research have demonstrated a particular need in the areas of: • Health Science (local employer need). There are five Health Trusts within the catchment area and a significant reform to the operational framework of the NHS with the subsequent requirement for skilled technicians. • Creative Technology. The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has identified a major growth in employment demonstrating a significant skills shortage. • The UTC hybrid’s focus will not be limited to these industries and the model being developed offers the flexibility to address specialisms which meet employability needs of all employers. We are in the process of meeting with a number of employers to address the requirements of all SME’s.

7. Curriculum offer • It will provide innovative and dynamic approaches to learning, tailored to meet both learner and business needs. • The integration of technical, vocational and academic elements of the curriculum (through projects set in workplace contexts), will powerfully emphasise to learners and businesses the potential for shaping and fulfilling future learning needs as well as meeting business development needs and employment opportunities.

8. Ethos • The NS UTC hybrid will have high expectations of its learners and will be ambitious for their future progress and success. • It will provide a business like environment with dedicated teaching, state of the art resources, mentoring, simulated working environments and access to employer technical equipment with high quality placements for learners to realise their potential. • When they progress from the NS UTC, learners will be confident, enthusiastic, highly skilled and qualified to enter higher education, further specialist training, apprenticeships, or to move effectively into the workforce.

9. Other opportunities • The NS UTC hybrid, in collaboration with sponsors, will develop a “Progression Passport” that goes beyond qualifications and clearly identifies the most important skills, behaviours and attitudes that will lead to successful progression and employment. • Employers will endorse these “Progression Passports” thus confirming that the learner has met their employee threshold and adding their company logo to the final document as endorsement.

10. North Somerset Vision • The NS UTC hybrid aims to engage, inspire and nurture its learners and raise their aspirations to become successful skilled and enterprising professionals. • By developing a local and national reputation for excellence in education and vocational, technical training, the NS UTC hybrid will be a catalyst for raising awareness and improving STEM learning across North Somerset and the region.

11. What do we need to do now • Demonstrate not only employer and university buy in, but parent and student demand. • The DFE want informed research to gauge whether this should be a 11-19 or 14-19 provision. • Marketing campaign to show demand. • Submit the proposal to the Government by end of December.

12. Autism Training Facility in North Somerset • Weston College has developed a high quality accessible and sustainable ‘in county’ training provision for learners on the autistic spectrum, that will lead to greater participation and higher levels of achievement and success.

13. The Facility Weston Bay Hotel, located on the sea front, compromising of: • 3 self contained flats, 1 to be kept free as a training flat • 12 rooms within the hotel itself • Residents to stay between 3-6 months, leading to 30-45 learners per year • 70 learners per year to attend the facility as part of their day course • Parents and other professional training to be offered from the facility

14. What We Offer • Whilst Weston College have a very successful provision at our local GFE, a specialist training provision will allow us to meet the growing demand and provide a high quality inclusive provision that also includes a residential element to support independent living and employability skills. All programmes are individualised in terms of: • Curriculum Offer • Length of Stay

15. What We Offer All learners will learn to understand and manage their learning difficulty wherever they are on the autistic spectrum, leading to meaningful progression routes, including: • Development of Self-Confidence/Independent Living skills. • Work Skills Assessment and Training Courses that lead to supported/unsupported employment. • Further and Higher Education Courses. • Apprenticeships. • Work-based Training. • Improved Career Opportunities.

16. Opening • This specialist provision would be accessible to all local authorities in the West of England. • The provision will be available from November 2012.