University Technical College Norfolk

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The principal is fully committed to providing pupils with the skills, knowledge and confidence to progress successfully on to the next phase of their education, employment or training. Staff implement this vision well. As a result, the quality of education has improved since the school's previous inspection.

The careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) provided to pupils are of a very high quality. Staff provide pupils with a wide range of opportunities and experiences that support them to make informed decisions about their future careers. Progression rates are high.

Leaders and governors ensure that the school's curri...culum is a key strength. They work very closely with their Industry Liaison Group (ILG) to ensure that the curriculum reflects local and national employment needs and opportunities. Governors have a clear and accurate view of the school's strengths.

They provide leaders with effective support and challenge that ensure that the school continues to improve. The sixth form has improved rapidly over recent years. Students are very positive about the curricular and extra-curricular opportunities that are available to them.

The overall progress that pupils make has improved. Pupils now make strong progress across a wide range of subjects. Pupils are friendly and welcoming.

There have been significant improvements in pupils' behaviour and attendance. Leaders ensure that pupils are well looked after and that they are kept safe. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported.

Leaders use additional funding for these pupils effectively to ensure that they make strong and increasingly better progress. The quality of teaching is typically good. However, some learning activities are not closely matched to pupils' starting points, and teachers' expectations for the quality of presentation in pupils' work are not consistently high.

Leaders have used the pupil premium grant to support improvements in pupils' progress. However, they have not evaluated different initiatives closely enough to maximise the impact of this additional funding. Pupils' progress in science is not as strong as in other subjects.

Information about this school

This is the school's first section 5 inspection since it was judged to require improvement in March 2017. The school is smaller than average. The proportion of pupils with SEND who receive support is well above average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium or who have a statement of SEN or an education, health and care plan is average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below average. The school uses St-Eds to provide alternative provision for a small number of pupils.