Waterfront UTC

Overview

Waterfront UTC is a university technical college where pupils are “treated with respect” and feel valued as individuals. The report highlights that the school has improved significantly since joining The Howard Academy Trust, with leaders maintaining a “relentless focus on rapidly improving the school.” Pupils are enthusiastic about learning, particularly in construction and engineering specialisms, and benefit from strong links with local employers.

Strengths

• Pupils develop “independence and maturity,” behaving well and treating others respectfully, with bullying incidents dealt with effectively.
• The curriculum is “ambitious and well-planned,” closely linked to employer needs, helping pupils see the relevance of their learning.
• Staff support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities well through “subtle tweaks” to teaching, such as asking slightly different questions.
• Pupils have “plenty of opportunities to explore future careers” through regular contact with employers and work experience.
• A comprehensive PSHE curriculum provides important knowledge on topics such as peer pressure, debt, and the cost-of-living crisis.

Areas to improve

• Subject leadership needs strengthening to ensure consistent monitoring and support for staff in implementing the curriculum.
• Attendance strategies must be improved, as “too many pupils do not attend frequently enough.”
• The PSHE curriculum requires review to ensure consistency across all year groups, particularly for Year 11 pupils who have fewer opportunities to discuss important topics.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff trained well to spot concerns and report them quickly, ensuring the right support is put in place for pupils and their families.