First Year 9 students for Swindon's specialist STEM school and sixth form

Swindon's specialist STEM academy UTC Swindon has announced that it will welcome students from Year 9 for the first time from September 2027.

The move will enable students to join the school from age 13, creating a seamless five-year journey through to Sixth Form and giving young people an additional year to benefit from specialist STEM education, personal development opportunities and experiences designed to prepare them for successful futures.

Specialising in Engineering, Digital and Cyber Security, UTC Swindon has built a strong reputation for combining academic qualifications with real-world learning experiences that help students progress to university, apprenticeships and careers in some of the UK's fastest-growing industries.

Students at the school benefit from extensive engagement with local and national employers through mentoring, workplace experiences, challenge days, project-based learning and work placements. 

Industry partners also help shape aspects of the curriculum, ensuring students develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for the jobs and industries of tomorrow.

The introduction of Year 9 means students will be able to access these opportunities a year earlier, giving them more time to build confidence, explore their interests and develop the skills needed for GCSE success and beyond.

Headteacher Hollie Taylor said: "We are incredibly excited to welcome students into Year 9 from September 2027 and to begin this new chapter for UTC Swindon.

"As Swindon's specialist STEM school and sixth form, we see every day how powerful it can be when young people are given the opportunity to discover what they enjoy, build confidence in their abilities and connect their learning to future careers.

"Introducing Year 9 gives students an extra year to do exactly that. It's an extra year to develop academically, an extra year to explore Engineering, Digital and Cyber Security, an extra year to experience enrichment opportunities and an extra year to prepare for GCSEs, Sixth Form and beyond.

"What makes UTC Swindon unique is that students don't just learn about future careers, they experience them. Through employer projects, mentoring, work placements, industry challenges and meaningful encounters with employers, they gain valuable insights into the world of work while still at school.

"We are a smaller, more focused school community where students are known as individuals, supported to achieve their best and encouraged to be ambitious about their future. 

"We want every young person to leave us with the qualifications, skills and confidence to go on and lead a positive and successful life, whatever path they choose."

Students joining in Year 9 will follow a broad and balanced curriculum designed to provide strong foundations ahead of GCSE study, while benefiting from the school's specialist STEM focus from an earlier age.

The move comes at a time of growing national emphasis on technical education, digital skills and preparing young people for the future workforce, with increasing recognition of the importance of STEM-related learning and pathways.

The introduction of Year 9 will also strengthen educational choice for families across Swindon and the surrounding area by creating an earlier entry point into specialist STEM education.

The announcement follows another successful year for the school, which was recognised by FFT as one of the top 10% of most improved secondary schools in England for attendance in 2025-26, reflecting the positive culture and engagement of its students.

The first Year 9 cohort will join UTC Swindon in September 2027. Families interested in learning more are invited to attend the school's Open Event on 26 November 2026, where dedicated information for prospective Year 9 students and their families will be available.

For more information, people can visit www.utcswindon.co.uk