UTC Heathrow
Northwood, HA6 1QG · Hillingdon · secondary school
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19th of 22 secondary schools in Hillingdon we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.0/10 against 744 of them, against 0.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 10.8 · 0 | 30% | 0.02 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.61 · 0 | 25% | 0.01 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 28.6 · 1 | 10% | 0.01 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
UTC Heathrow overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. In 2024/25, 22.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 32.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.61 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 240 pupils against a stated capacity of 600. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap with national medians? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the school utilise its current capacity to ensure individual attention for each student?
What Ofsted said about UTC Heathrow
Overview
UTC Heathrow is a secondary technical college where pupils “enjoy school” and “relish learning” in specialist engineering and digital subjects. Leaders are described as “ambitious,” preparing students well for higher education or apprenticeships through strong employer partnerships. The school fosters positive relationships, with staff who “get to know pupils well” and a culture where help is readily available.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from “industry-standard equipment” and “employer-led projects” that provide a “deep understanding of the world of work.”
- Sixth-form students act as “positive role models,” and leaders take “quick action” regarding bullying and discrimination.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “well supported,” accessing the same curriculum and achieving well.
- Staff feel “well supported, respected and listened to,” with leaders prioritising training in behaviour management and subject-specific skills.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should “strengthen their support for weaker readers” and increase reading materials to develop pupils’ “love of reading,” as they currently “rarely read for pleasure.”
- In a few subjects, leaders must ensure “precise component knowledge” is clearly identified and explicitly taught, rather than focusing too much on skills and activities.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with leaders managing concerns well and ensuring pupils are taught about risks such as knife crime.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 30.3 |
| 2024/25 | 32.2 |
| 2025/26 | 28.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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