UTC Plymouth

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 January 2023

UTC Plymouth is a vibrant and welcoming school. The school's core values, which include resilience and respect, create a strong identity. Pupils are proud to attend this school. They say it feels like a family. Many parents also praise the strong relationships between staff and pupils. Leaders are ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They are committed to preparing them for their next steps in education or employment. Pupils value the school's 'think like an engineer' approach to learning. Leaders have clear expectations of pupils' behaviour. Pupils respond positively and conduct themselves well. Bullying is rare. If incidents occur, pupils have confidence in staff to resolve them. Pupils say that they feel safe and have a trusted adult they can talk to. Students in the sixth form are positive role models. Pupils benefit from a wide range of optional additional activities. These include membership of the Combined Cadet Force, becoming a pupil ambassador or signing up to the 'eco club'. However, a minority of pupils do not attend any of these extra- curricular activities.

What the school should improve

• Teachers' use of assessment to checks pupils' understanding of the curriculum is not always precise enough. As a result, some pupils develop misconceptions or are unable to follow the curriculum successfully. Leaders should ensure that there is a consistent and effective approach to checking what pupils know and remember over time.
• Staff do not always have sufficient subject-specific knowledge. Where this is the case, they do not know enough to teach some parts of the curriculum. Leaders should ensure that staff develop the required knowledge and expertise in their curriculum areas.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)