Esther McVey: Bid to get University Technical College in Wirral

Jul 27 2011 by Michelle Fiddler, Heswall News

AS Westminster closes for summer recess, I begin tours and visits of Wirral West.

I’m off to see the work of Wirral probation services and I’ll be visiting job centres and local businesses and on Wednesday I’m back to London for a string of meetings with Lord Baker and Lord Adonis working with them to try and bring one of the government’s new University Technical Colleges (UTCs) to Wirral.

UTCs are a new concept in education, and the Education Parliamentary Committee came out strongly in support of them, recognising it was an area of education long overlooked in the UK.

UTCs offer 14-19 year olds the opportunity to take a highly regarded, full time, technically-oriented course of study. They are equipped to the highest standard, sponsored by a university and offer clear progression routes into higher education at university or apprenticeships at work.

Students learn in a very practical way, integrating national curriculum requirements with the technical and vocational elements. The college ethos and curriculum is heavily influenced by local and national employers who also provide support and work experience for students.

Education is rigorous; maths, science, English and a foreign language are compulsory and are combined with practical and technical qualifications. The UTCs timetable is typically 8.30am to 5pm every day during which time the student is taught business and financial literacy as well as specialising in engineering and advanced manufacturing.

The government has committed to funding 24 of these and I’m working hard to ensure one is based on Wirral to benefit future generations of Wirral students.

If you’d like to know more please contact me on Esther.Mcvey.MP@parliament.uk