Engineering academy opens at Aston University

A new school for young people who want to become engineers has opened in Birmingham, backed by Aston University.

The Aston University Engineering Academy welcomed its first students in September. It is a university technical college, or UTC, for 14 to 19-year-olds who want to go on to study engineering or build careers in the industry.

What is a university technical college?

University technical colleges are a new kind of school, set up with the backing of a university and local employers. They teach the usual core subjects, such as English, maths and science, alongside practical, technical training in a specialist area, in this case engineering.

Students join at 14, rather than 11, and the schools are designed to give young people the skills and qualifications employers are looking for. The idea has been championed by the former Education Secretary Lord Baker, and UTCs are opening in cities across England.

On the Aston campus

The academy is on the edge of the Aston University campus in the city centre, giving students access to the university's expertise and facilities. Aston is the lead sponsor, and employers are also involved in the college, in line with the UTC model.

Meeting a need

Employers in Birmingham and across the country have long warned of a shortage of skilled engineers. Birmingham has a proud manufacturing history, from the workshops of the Jewellery Quarter to the car plants at Longbridge and Castle Bromwich, and engineering remains an important part of the local economy.

Supporters of the academy hope it will help more young people, particularly those from inner-city areas, into well-paid, skilled jobs, and inspire more girls to consider careers in engineering.

Aston University

Aston University, which grew out of the Birmingham Municipal Technical School founded in 1895, has a long history of teaching engineering and science. It became a university in 1966 and is known for its strong links with industry, with many students spending a year working in business as part of their degree.

A new school year

The opening comes as schools across Birmingham begin the new academic year. The city has one of the youngest populations of any major city in Europe, and demand for school places is rising.

The academy's first students will study for GCSEs and technical qualifications, with older students taking A-levels and advanced engineering courses. The school aims to build strong links with employers so that students leave with a clear route into work, an apprenticeship or university.

For the young people starting there this month, the new school offers a different path from a traditional secondary school or sixth form, and the chance to learn skills that could shape their careers.