Thank you for choosing UTC Plymouth for the next chapter in your school life, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the UTC family!
COMMUNICATIONS TO PARENTS:
Please see links below for the 2025/26 Transition:
Meet the Transition Team
Bex Waters
Transitions Lead
We are looking forward to welcoming you and your child to UTC Plymouth and providing an education that will prepare them for their future. I have worked in education for over 20 years with experience of both curriculum, pastoral and SEND. Alongside being Transition Lead I am responsible for inclusion at UTC. Our the core values are at the heart of everything we do. Dedication, Discipline, Respect, Resilience and Professionalism.
If you have any questions please reach out at: transitions@utcplymouth.org
Gemma Laing
Head of Pastoral Care
My role is to have strategic oversight of the pastoral care and structure at UTC Plymouth. I have worked in education for over 13 years and pastoral care has always been my passion. At UTC we have high expectations where we challenge our students academically whilst ensuring that no all children's needs are met. We have a zero tolerance for bullying, misbehaviour and a lack of respect amongst other expectations of the workplace.
Sophie Wood
Year 7 Pastoral Lead
My Role as Year 7 pastoral lead, is to foster a supportive and nurturing environment within our school community. I serve as a figurehead for the year group to help guide and mentor students throughout their time here at UTC. I am committed to look after student welfare and academic success. It is my priority that each student feels valued and supported throughout their educational journey at UTC. As Year 7 Pastoral Lead I look to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and empowerment, where students are encouraged to excel academically, professionally and personally.
Esther Knight
Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator
My role as part of the transition team is to make sure that when your child transitions to us from another setting we fully understand your child's needs and we have a plan in place for your child's arrival. I have nearly twenty years experience in Education and recently completed a Masters in Special Educational Needs, I hope I can share this experience with you and do the best for your child's academic and wellbeing needs at the UTC.
Important Information for Year 7 Drop-Off and Collection
As your child begins their journey with us at UTC Plymouth, we want to ensure that every student arrives and leaves school safely. To support this, we have a strict one-way system in place and ask all parents and carers to follow the drop-off and collection guidance below.
Key Drop-Off & Collection Guidelines
- Do not stop in the middle of the road to drop off or pick up students. This causes severe traffic issues and puts student safety at risk.
- Do not approach the school gates to drop off or turn your vehicle. This area is heavily used by students on foot and must be kept clear at all times.
- Do not park on dropped pavements. These are essential for wheelchair users, pushchairs and local residents. Blocking them is both illegal and inconsiderate.
- Always use a legal parking space before allowing your child to exit the vehicle. We recommend using the visitor car park or one of the side roads marked in blue on the map below.
- Use the One way system. Roads around UTC are compact and difficult to navigate with many cars going in different directions. We ask that all cars refer to the one way system indicated with the arrows on the map below.
Please take this seriously, the wellbeing of our students, staff, and local community is extremely important to us.
We are a phone free School
At UTC Plymouth, all student mobile phones will be handed in at the start of the day and securely locked away until home time. If a student does not bring a phone to school, we ask that parents confirm this with us in advance.
Why do we do this?
This policy is in place to support our students' wellbeing and create a focused, respectful learning environment.
- To support mental health – Reducing screen time helps students stay present, calm, and connected to the real world.
- To escape the stress of social media – School should be a break from online pressure, not an extension of it.
- To minimise online bullying – Less access during the day means fewer opportunities for harmful digital interactions.
We believe this approach helps protect our students and allows them to focus on what really matters — learning, growing, and connecting in person.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there forms that I will need to complete?
You will need fill out the data entry form that has been emailed directly to you before your child starts school in September. Please complete this form as soon as possible so that we can add all the correct details and help the admin team efficiently and effectively get your child on our school system.
We will have been given the email address you used when you applied for your child’s school place so if this has changed, or does change in the next few months, please let us know by emailing your child's full name plus your new email address to: transitions@utcplymouth.org
What school uniform do I need to purchase and where from?
Up to date school uniform and PE kit requirements with details of where to buy this may be found on the school website:
http://westcountryembroidery.com/product-category/school/utc-plymouth/
We will send out a further email regarding uniform requirements and the opportunity to come and try on sizes at our UTC uniform pop up shop.
What are the timings of the school day?
Students can begin arriving at school from 8am onwards. All students are expected to be seated in their mentor sessions by 8.30am. Any arrival after this time will be marked as late, and a same-day detention will be issued in line with our punctuality policy.
The standard school day ends at 3.15pm, Monday to Thursday.
As a school designed to prepare students for the real working world, we’ve introduced Wellbeing Fridays, reflecting modern workplace practices that promote mental health and work–life balance. On Fridays, the school still opens at 8am and students are still expected in mentors by 8.30am. However, the school day ends earlier at 2pm.
What day is the start of term in September 2025?
The start of term is 4th September 2025. This is a Year 7 only day to allow the students to settle into school life before the rest of the school start their academic year.
Will there be a transition day and when will this be?
Year 7 will have TWO induction day’s this year. These will be on Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday 3rd of July 2025. We will send out further information regarding this event.
We will be visiting primary schools, throughout May and June, to talk to students about what it is like at UTC Plymouth and answer their questions.
There will also be a parent/student evening at UTC Plymouth where there will be a presentation and opportunity to meet key staff.
What is Arbor and how does it work?
Arbor is the platform we use to help parents and staff stay connected. Through Arbor, you can log student absences or lateness, provide consents and access important updates about your child. You’ll be able to sign up and access your Arbor account from September 3rd. Please note that you will not be able to log in before this date, as your child’s details must first be uploaded into our system.
We’ll provide all the information you need to get started when the time comes.
Will my child be put in the same mentor group with their friends?
We try to put students with at least one other person that they have requested to be with. This will happen during the primary school visits. Students who have listed several friends that they would like to be with may find that they are not placed in a mentor group with all their friends. If you are not with your friend in your mentor group, you may still find you are in other lessons with them as lessons are not always taught in mentor groups.
There are many students who come to us without knowing anyone and we will try to place several of these in mentor groups together. We are very experienced in helping students connect with other like-minded people and are confident that every student will find the right friendship group for them.
What is the role of a Mentor and when will I know who this is for my child?
The mentor will be your first point of contact for parents/carers and their children. Your mentor will be the person who will learn the most about your child as they will be with them throughout their time at UTC Plymouth. The best way to make contact with a mentor is through email, which will be provided to you when you find out who your mentor is going to be in the summer term. All staff emails follow the same pattern: Mr example email would be example.email@utcplymouth.org
Why are we a phone free school?
At UTC Plymouth, all student mobile phones will be handed in at the start of the day and securely locked away until home time. If a student does not bring a phone to school, we ask that parents confirm this with us in advance. This policy is in place to support our students' wellbeing and create a focused, respectful learning environment.
- To support mental health – Reducing screen time helps students stay present, calm and connected to the real world.
- To escape the stress of social media – School should be a break from online pressure, not an extension of it.
- To minimise online bullying – Less access during the day means fewer opportunities for harmful digital interactions.
We believe this approach helps protect our students and allows them to focus on what really matters — learning, growing and connecting in person.
What equipment will my child need?
Students will be provided with exercise books by their class teachers and these will be kept in their classrooms. We will also provide a knowledge organiser that is provided free of charge, In addition, all students will receive a mini board, a mini board pen and a wallet to keep these items in. If they are lost or damaged beyond being fit to use, there will be a replacement charge of £2.
We have an Essential Eight Equipment which are our non- negotiables. These ensure students are prepared for learning and utilise lessons to their full. These are:
A black bag which is appropriate for the workplace and big enough to fit an A4 size book
At least TWO black writing pens
At least TWO pencils
At least ONE purple writing pen
One 30cm ruler
One Rubber
At least TWO different coloured highlighters
Equipment provided by UTC Plymouth ( Knowledge Organiser/ clear wallet/ mini whiteboard and pen)
We would also recommend (but not essential) :
1 glue stick
1 set of basic colouring pencils
1 reading book
What extracurricular activities will be available for my child to take part in?
The school runs a broad variety of clubs for all students. The full list of clubs is sent out at the start of each term. Students will need to be signed up to this club via our parents app Arbor. This information will be sent to you closer to the child start date with us.
What information should I be aware of for attendance?
If your child is going to be absent from school, please log the absence on the Arbor app before 9am each day they are away. If you are unable to access Arbor, please contact our team for support — we’ll be happy to help get you set up.
Important:
- DO NOT email to report absences. These may be missed during busy mornings and won’t always reach the right staff in time.
- Only call the absence line (01752 284250) in the case of an emergency. We aim to keep this line open for urgent matters.
- Include as much detail as possible when reporting your child’s absence.
- If we haven’t received a reason for your child's absence by 9am, you will be contacted by the school and a home visit maybe carried out.
What should I do, if my child needs to take medication during the school day?
If your child needs to take medication during the school day you will need to complete a consent form for this medicine to be stored and administered by the school. These can either be sent to you, upon request or you can come into reception to complete the form.
If your child has an ongoing medical condition that requires additional support or medication we will ask you to assist in completing a medical plan.
If you have any further question please can you direct these to: transitions@utcplymouth.org