UTC Warrington
48%
Capacity
296
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About UTC Warrington
Parent feedback at UTC Warrington is notably positive, with 96% of respondents saying they would recommend the school, based on 23 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025. The school is significantly undersubscribed, with 296 pupils against a capacity of 620, so oversubscription is not a factor for families considering a place. Parents report high levels of satisfaction on several fronts: 96% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy, and all respondents feel their child is safe. Strong majorities also agree that the school has high expectations (87%) and that their child does well (95%). However, there are some mixed signals: 17% of parents disagree that the school keeps them informed about how their child is doing, and 13% disagree that concerns are dealt with properly. The school serves a high-needs population, with 44.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals and 48% of parent respondents indicating their child has SEND.
Academically, UTC Warrington's results are well below local and national averages. Its Progress 8 score of -1.82 places it 13th out of 13 secondary schools in Warrington, and in the bottom 1% nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 24.2, and only 14.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with a local authority average Progress 8 of -0.29. The EBacc entry rate is just 1%, and the EBacc average point score is 2.17. At sixth form, the picture is slightly brighter: the school's value added score is -0.64, which is banded as 'Average', and the average points per entry is 22.22, equivalent to a D+ grade. However, only nine pupils took A-levels in the 2023/24 academic year, so the data is based on a very small cohort. Ofsted's most recent inspection in November 2024 rated the school Requires Improvement overall, though sixth-form provision, personal development, and leadership and management were all judged Good.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, science labs, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include netball, swimming, football, rugby, and martial arts, while clubs include Chess, Eco Club, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision covers nine categories, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication needs, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health support. The school is a 14-19 UTC, so it only admits pupils from Year 10 upwards, which may suit families looking for a more technical or career-focused pathway. Given its low uptake and challenging intake, this is a school where parental satisfaction is high despite weak headline results, and it may appeal most to families who value the specialist environment and small class sizes over traditional academic metrics.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Dallam Lane, Warrington, Warrington, WA2 7NG |
| Headteacher | Christopher Hatherall |
| Local Authority | Warrington |
| Number of Pupils | 296 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.6% |
| School Capacity | 296 / 620 (48% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.82)
3122nd of 3,141
Nationally
442nd of 445
In North West
13th of 13
In Warrington
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
'21/22
16.3
'23/24
22.2
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
2022/2342%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 55 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)42%
- FE college31%
- Not sustained11%
- Employment7%
- Sixth form college5%
- Apprenticeship4%
89% 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
2022/2314%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 43 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
8%
Russell Group
8%
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.
- Apprenticeship35%
- Employment33%
- Not sustained19%
- University (HE)14%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
23 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.0%
- Mixed5.3%
- White (other)4.1%
- Asian1.3%
- Black0.7%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
10
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
9
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 Warrington
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
Dallam Lane, Warrington
Warrington, WA2 7NG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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