South Bank Engineering UTC

The UTC is sponsored by London South Bank University, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Skanska.[5] UTCs are specialist 14-19 state-funded schools led by universities and industry sponsors. In line with other UTCs across the country, South Bank has a specialism aligned to a skills gap in the local economy. In this case with an engineering and health focus, sectors struggling to recruit sufficient staff in London with the required skills and experience.

As a University Technical College, South Bank UTC is open to students from 14 to 19 years of age, with admissions into Years 10 and 12 each academic year. As a sub-regional school, rather than a local authority provision, the UTC draws its applicants from a wide catchment ranging across London borough boundaries.

The UTC has a maximum capacity of 150 students in each year 12 and 13 and 60 students in Year 10 and 11, growing to a full capacity of 450. There are no entry requirements for admission into Year 10: the UTC is non-selective and aims to be fully inclusive while recognising its status as a non-traditional, small school. For the 6th form, applicants for level 3 courses must secure at least five GCSEs at 5+ grade including both English and Maths and grade 6 in any a-level subject to be studied; for level 2 courses, the requirement is four GCSEs in any subject and with any grade (U–A*).

South Bank UTC is an academy, and is part of the South Bank Academies Trust,[6] itself part of the LSBU Group. It has a sister school in Walworth, University Academy of Engineering South Bank. The UTC has a local governing body reporting to a board of trustees.

A 2019 Ofsted report found that the UTC "requires improvement".[7][8]

South Bank UTC is based in Brixton at 52 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1QS. The building it occupies is shared with Lambeth College's Brixton site for adult education, and Trinity Academy, a secondary school.

Year 10 students will study a technical curriculum based around a core of GCSE with a small range of options

• GCSEs in English language and literature
• GCSEs in science
• GCSE maths
• BTEC Level 2 engineering

or

• BTEC Level 2 Health Care
• GCSE Computer Science

or

• GCSE Design Technology
• GCSE Business Studies

or

• GCSE Geography
• Non-examined physical education, Make and Create and Personal Development, comprising PSHE, SMSC, religious studies, sex and relationships education and careers information, advice and guidance

To supplement the core curriculum, all students will work through projects, co-designed and co-delivered with university and employer partners. Some projects announced to date include:

• Skanska project in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital: design the hospital ward of the future using 3D CAD modelling
• King's College NHS Trust project: design and build a customised wheelchair to meet a specified patient's needs
• London South Bank University project: design and engineer an app to monitor and improve an aspect of health
• Bamboo Bicycle Club project: design and build a sustainable BMX with a bamboo frame

The Year 12 curriculum is built around A levels and BTEC engineering qualifications, with the following subjects on offer initially:

• A level maths
• A level physics
• A level chemistry
• A level biology
• A level computer science
• A level English
• A level Business Studies
• BTEC level 3 Diploma in engineering

with BTEC Extend Cert in Business Studies

• BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma in Health
• BTEC level 3 Health and Social Care

This taught curriculum is supplemented by university and employer projects, including masterclasses, 'expert witness' sessions, site visits, work experience and internships.

• Fujitsu
• Skanska
• Guys and St Thomas NHS trust
• Kings College NHS trust

Students have a number of pathways open to them on leaving the UTC. These include progression to university, into employment or into higher level apprenticeships, often with sponsors and partner organisations.