Greater Peterborough UTC Review 2026: A STEM specialist route from Year 7 through sixth form

For families drawn to engineering, digital, and project-led learning, this UTC offers a distinctive model: a small secondary school that structures much of its curriculum around science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with strong employer links and practical learning spaces. The current Principal is Lee Mawby, who joined in September 2023.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (11 and 12 October 2022) judged the school Good overall and Good in every graded area, including sixth form provision.

This is a state-funded school with no tuition fees. Families should still expect the usual costs for uniform, trips, and optional extras such as some enrichment activities.

The strongest signal of the school’s character is its clear specialism. The curriculum is designed to make STEM feel like a coherent pathway rather than a set of separate subjects, and the school leans into practical spaces to support that. The 2022 inspection describes a community where pupils get on well with staff and each other, and where the small scale helps pupils feel known.

A UTC model is not trying to be all things to all students. Families choosing this route are usually prioritising applied learning, employer engagement, and preparation for engineering, digital, construction, and related career paths. That clarity can suit students who learn best when they can see the point of what they are studying. It can be less comfortable for students who want a broader arts curriculum, or who are unsure about a STEM-leaning pathway.

Outcomes sit below the England average on the measures available for comparison. At GCSE, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 38 and its Progress 8 score is -0.67, indicating that pupils made less progress than other pupils nationally with similar starting points.

Ranked 3,505th in England and 19th in Peterborough for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), this sits below the England average.

Sixth form outcomes show a similar picture. The share of A-level grades at A to B is 19.35%, below the England average of 47.2%. Ranked 2,366th in England and 18th in Peterborough for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance is below the England average here too.

If you are comparing several post-16 routes locally, the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools can help you weigh results alongside curriculum fit, which matters more than usual for UTCs.

Teaching is most distinctive when it connects subject content to practical application. External review evidence points to a STEM-focused, themed approach in Key Stage 3 and project-based work that helps pupils link learning to real-life contexts.

The curriculum breadth trade-off is explicit. The school publishes that it does not offer performing arts subjects such as Dance, Drama, or Music, and does not offer a modern foreign language. For some students, that focus is a benefit because it allows time and energy to go into engineering, computing, and STEM projects. For others, particularly those who thrive on languages or performing arts, it will feel restrictive. The right question for families is whether the specialism matches the student’s strengths and interests for the next stage of education.

Where Students Go Next

This is a school where next steps should be judged in two directions, higher education and skilled employment. The school’s messaging gives apprenticeships and university equal weight as progression routes, aligning with the UTC purpose.

For the 2023 to 2024 leaver cohort (46 students), 20% progressed to university, 24% started apprenticeships, 37% entered employment, and 2% moved into further education. This mix will appeal to families who want a school that treats technical routes as first-choice outcomes rather than a fallback.

Entry is available at multiple points, most notably Year 7 and Year 12, with additional routes such as Year 9 depending on year group availability. The school explains that Year 7 admissions are managed through the local authority, while later entry points can involve direct applications to the UTC.

For September 2026 entry, Peterborough City Council’s published timeline states that the first round ran from 12 September to 31 October 2025, with offers on 02 March 2026. A second round runs from 01 November 2025 to 31 March 2026, with outcomes issued by 01 May 2026.

Recorded demand suggests competition for places, with 222 applications recorded against 57 offers in the captured cycle. If you are deciding whether to prioritise this option, use the FindMySchool saved shortlist and map tools to keep track of deadlines and alternatives.

Safeguarding is described as effective in the most recent inspection. Ofsted also describes behaviour as good, lessons as focused, and bullying as rare and dealt with quickly and effectively when it occurs.

A small school can be an advantage for pastoral oversight, especially for students who benefit from predictable routines and adult visibility. Families should still probe practicalities at open events: tutor structure, attendance expectations, mental health support, and how quickly issues are escalated and resolved.

Enrichment is a central pillar in a UTC, because it is where technical confidence is built through repetition and real projects.

One obvious example is robotics and coding. The school has run hands-on engineering and robotics activity, including work with VEX robots, which translates classroom computing into tangible outputs. The implication for students is that they build problem-solving habits, teamwork, and confidence presenting technical work.

A second distinctive strand is uniformed youth and leadership experiences. The Sea Cadets offer includes structured training and activities, with opportunities that extend beyond the school day. This can suit students who respond well to clear standards, leadership roles, and practical challenges.

The school also references activities such as CNC and 3D printing, machine skills, The Baker Award, and Junior Field Gun Challenge, which reinforces the focus on engineering skills and employability behaviours rather than a generic clubs list.

The published school day runs from 9.00am to 3.15pm, with optional enrichment sessions from 3.20pm to 4.20pm, and the site closing to students at 5.00pm.

The setting is described by the school as being in the centre of Peterborough, which typically supports public transport access. As with any city-centre school, families may want to check peak-time travel practicality and safe routes for independent travel.

• Curriculum breadth trade-off. Performing arts and modern foreign languages are not part of the published offer. This suits STEM-focused students; it can frustrate those who want arts or languages as examination subjects.

• Results are a clear watchpoint. GCSE and A-level outcomes sit below the England average in the available measures, so families should look closely at support structures and the fit between a STEM pathway and the student’s strengths.

• A UTC is a deliberate choice. Students who like learning through projects and applied tasks often thrive. Students who prefer a broad menu of subjects may be happier in a more conventional secondary.

Greater Peterborough UTC is best understood as a specialist route rather than a conventional all-round secondary. Its strengths lie in STEM focus, applied learning spaces, employer engagement, and a progression picture that treats apprenticeships and employment as credible, planned destinations. It suits students who are motivated by practical work and can commit to a STEM-leaning curriculum. The challenge is that published outcomes are below England average, so families should balance the appeal of specialism with a clear-eyed look at academic support and progress measures.