UTC Heathrow
42%
Capacity
249
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About UTC Heathrow
UTC Heathrow sits in the Hillingdon local authority, a secondary school for students aged 14 to 19 with a mixed intake. It is a university technical college, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across all areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. That marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when it was judged to require improvement. However, when it comes to academic progress, the school ranks 20th out of 21 same-type schools in Hillingdon, placing it in the bottom percentile locally. The top-performing peers in the borough are Bishopshalt School, Northwood School, and Queensmead School, all of which achieved significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The nearest outstanding-rated school is Northwood School, just 0.1 km away, which gives local families a starkly different option within walking distance.
Academically, the school’s results are well below average. At Key Stage 4, its Progress 8 score is -1.61, meaning pupils achieve nearly one and a half grades less per subject than similar students nationally. The local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.06, so UTC Heathrow sits far behind its Hillingdon peers. Attainment 8 stands at 30.3, and just 25.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. No pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the picture is similarly challenging: the value added score is -0.79, and the average points per entry is 14.24, which equates to an E+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at an E+ as well, and the progress banding is described as well below average. With only 36 pupils in the sixth form, the cohort is small, and outcomes suggest that students typically leave with lower grades than their starting points would predict.
The school is significantly undersubscribed, with 249 pupils against a capacity of 600, so places are readily available for families considering a technical education route from age 14. It offers a range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a chapel. Clubs include orchestra, choir, drama, coding, and Model UN. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 35.2%, well above the national average. This school may suit families who value a specialist technical curriculum and a small, supportive sixth form, but the academic data suggests it is not currently delivering strong outcomes compared with other local options.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Potter Street, Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1QG |
| Headteacher | Jasmit Kallah |
| Local Authority | Hillingdon |
| Number of Pupils | 249 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.2% |
| School Capacity | 249 / 600 (42% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.61)
3109th of 3,141
Nationally
485th of 487
In London
20th of 21
In Hillingdon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
30.0
'22/23
15.4
'23/24
14.2
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
2022/2358%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 26 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)58%
- FE college15%
- Sixth form college8%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment4%
88% 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
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 55 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
0%
Russell Group
0%
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)62%
- Employment16%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained7%
- Further education2%
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- Design and Technology (Product Design)9
- Mathematics8
- Computer Studies / Computing7
- Physics4
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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- Asian18.0%
- White British14.9%
- Mixed13.6%
- White (other)4.4%
- Black1.6%
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.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About UTC Heathrow
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
Potter Street, Northwood
Hillingdon, HA6 1QG
Potter Street, Northwood
Hillingdon, HA6 1QG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
