Scarborough University Technical College
42%
Capacity
253
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Scarborough University Technical College
Ofsted rates Scarborough University Technical College as Good overall, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The school serves 253 pupils against a capacity of 600, suggesting it is undersubscribed and likely accessible for families seeking a place. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent view survey for this school, the low pupil numbers relative to capacity indicate that competition for places is minimal. This is a school that has clearly turned a corner under headteacher Helen Dowds, with inspectors in 2022 rating every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — as Good. For parents, this means a stable, improving environment rather than a school that is oversubscribed and selective.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.17 places it below the North Yorkshire local authority average of +0.07, ranking it 28th out of 39 similar schools in the area. This puts it in the bottom 50 nationally by this measure. At KS4, the Attainment 8 score is 40.2, and 43.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 25% achieved a grade 5 or above. No pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.38, which is banded as Average, though the cohort was very small — just five pupils. The school’s EBacc average point score of 2.88 is modest. For families focused on strong academic outcomes, these figures suggest the school is not a high-performer, but it is providing a solid foundation for its students.
The school offers a range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, and sixth form centre, and runs clubs such as coding, film club, eco club, orchestra, and choir. Sports on offer include football, rowing, martial arts, rugby, athletics, tennis, and rounders. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. As a university technical college for ages 13 to 19, it is suited to families in North Yorkshire who want a smaller, specialist secondary option with a technical focus, particularly those whose children may benefit from a less competitive admissions environment and strong pastoral support.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 13 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ashburn Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2JW |
| Headteacher | Helen Dowds |
| Local Authority | North Yorkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 253 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.4% |
| School Capacity | 253 / 600 (42% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.17)
1935th of 3,141
Nationally
176th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
28th of 39
In North Yorkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Value Added Score
'21/22
22.1
'22/23
38.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2325%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 51 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)25%
- FE college25%
- Employment20%
- Apprenticeship16%
- Sixth form college10%
- Not sustained4%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2343%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 28 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
13%
Russell Group
13%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)43%
- Apprenticeship25%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained11%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Physics6
- Computer Studies / Computing5
- Mathematics5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.5%
- Mixed3.2%
- White (other)2.4%
- Asian0.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
6
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Scarborough University Technical College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Ashburn Road, Scarborough
North Yorkshire, YO11 2JW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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