Hull’s employer-led school named as region’s top state secondary for attendance

Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) in Hull city centre is also ranked in the top three schools for attendance across the wider Yorkshire region.

New figures published by the Department for Education for the academic year 2023-24 have revealed Ron Dearing UTC has the highest attendance rate in Hull and the East Riding, with an impressive 96.14 per cent, compared to the national average of 91.1 per cent. 

The school is supported by some of the region’s leading businesses including its Founding Partners, Reckitt, Siemens Gamesa, Smith+Nephew, KCOM and Spencer Group. The school also boasts Major Partners such as Arco, BAE Systems, Ideal Heating, Ørsted and Porsche Centre Hull, to name just a few. 

The school’s unique, employer-led curriculum has been identified as a key factor in the exceptionally high attendance rates.

The curriculum blends core GCSE and A-Level studies with a range of technical and professional qualifications. During their studies, students have the opportunity to take the theory they learn in the classroom and apply it to projects designed and delivered by the school’s Employer Partners. 

Students also enjoy the adult-style education experience, which mirrors workplace practices and prepares them for stepping into employment. 

From the time they join the UTC at the start of Year 10, students are treated as young professionals, with the school having exceptionally high standards of behaviour and a longer working week. Students are on first-name terms with staff and are given greater independence and responsibility, allowing them to take ownership of their own learning and develop a greater sense of maturity. 

Ron Dearing UTC Vice Principal Mark Ollerenshaw said: “Our strong attendance rates are a testament to our students who are motivated to achieve their personal best, as well as our dedicated pastoral team and teaching and support staff, who work closely with our young people to support them and make Ron Dearing a place where everyone can succeed.

“The contribution of our Employer Partners is also a vital part of what makes our curriculum so successful. Being able to work closely with some of the region’s largest employers and get an inside look at their business is inspiring for our students and encourages them to make the most of their time with us by attending school daily.” 

A recent report published by the Department for Education showed just how important attendance is for student attainment. 

The report revealed that students who attended school daily in Year 11 were almost twice as likely to achieve a Grade 5 in their English and Maths GCSEs, compared to those who only attended 90 to 95 per cent of the time. Just 10 days of absence reduced the likelihood of getting a strong pass by around 50 per cent.

RDUTC’s exceptional attendance certainly supports this correlation, with the UTC topping the local school league tables for the percentage of students achieving Grade 5 and higher in both GCSE Maths and English.

Vice Principal Mark added: “There is a direct correlation between attendance and attainment and students are much more likely to achieve their best results if they regularly attend school.

“Understanding the importance of having a high attendance is also a key employment skill. In the workplace, employers expect their team members to be punctual and reliable, and instilling this into students as early as possible is extremely beneficial when they step into the world of work.”

• To see where Ron Dearing UTC is ranked in the list of Yorkshire state secondary schools, go to: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/education/13-top-state-secondary-schools-attendance-yorkshire-new-absence-figures-5047897