Salisbury UTC to Close
As a result of continued low demand for places at South Wiltshire UTC, making it no longer financially viable to continue, the Board of Governors with the Department for Education, have had no option but to take the difficult decision in principle to close the UTC in August 2020.
At what is an extremely difficult time for our staff, students and prospective students, our focus will now be on ensuring the students remaining with us in Years 11 and 13 successfully complete their planned two year courses.
All students due to enrol and start with the school in September 2019 have been informed of the decision. We will support pupils that had applied to join the UTC in September 2019 to find alternative places.
This outcome has been reached after extensive discussion with the Department for Education, the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and Activate Learning Education Trust.
During these discussions we have considered many options that might allow us to keep the UTC open, but given the lack of a viable long-term solution, it has been mutually agreed in principle to close the school.
Principal Joe Mulligan said: “We will work hard to ensure that the students who will remain at the UTC in 2019/2020 will receive the best possible education and will provide a rich curriculum around our specialism, including continuing to work with our employer and university partners.
“We will be working closely with students and parents who had expressed an interest in joining the UTC in September 2019 to ensure all students have a suitable education setting to continue their studies.
“We have always strived to provide the best possible education for our learners and I would like to thank all who have been part of the South Wiltshire UTC community, for all their support over the years.”
Doug Gale, Chair of South Wiltshire UTC Trust, said: “Closing South Wiltshire UTC is incredibly disappointing for all who have worked hard to give students a technical education option within Salisbury and the surrounding area.”
“We recognise this is really disappointing news for current students, prospective students and staff. Please be assured that we will do all we can to make sure staff, students and parents receive all the information and support they need.”
A four-week listening period is now open for interested parties to provide views on the closure process. Any comments should be submitted to this email address: