Green Light for Silverstone University Technical College
Posted on 10. Oct, 2011 by editor in Business News
An educational partnership between The University of Northampton, Silverstone Circuits and Tresham College of Further and Higher Education, has welcomed news that the government has agreed to establish a University Technical College within the heart of Motorsport valley.
The Silverstone Academy is planned to open by September 2013 and will allow up to 540 young people aged 14-19 from the area to train for a career in Motorsport and High Performance Engineering or Event Management in realistic working environments at one of the UK’s most prestigious venues.
University Technical Colleges are a relatively new concept in education that will provide technical education for students to learn in a practical way integrating national curriculum requirement with technical and vocational elements leading on to higher level qualifications and apprenticeships. The college ethos and curriculum will be heavily influenced by local and national employers who also provide vital support and work experience to enable students to progress into the £600m industry.
The government-funded project will be developed in Silverstone, co-sponsored by The University of Northampton and led by Tresham. The Silverstone Academy will be equipped to the highest standards to provide students with clear progression routes into higher education or further learning in technically based work.
Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton, commented: “As a university with established teaching and research excellence in areas including high performance engineering, computing and numerous other science-focused and environmentally-based disciplines, we are delighted to co-sponsor important developments for young people within the county. The UTC will add real value to technical education for the future of Northamptonshire. Students at the academy will learn in a very practical way, integrating national curriculum requirements with technical and vocational elements.”
Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire said: “This is exciting and important news. Silverstone is the home of Motorsport and High Performance Engineering in the UK and the world. The University Technical College will give young people the chance to develop their skills within such specialist employment areas. Events management is of equal importance to the economy within Northamptonshire and employability is profound in the area. The use of the circuit and the links with industry will provide young people with genuine hands-on experience that they can take with them into their careers.”
