Staff and students at SGS Berkeley Green UTC are celebrating being a 'Good' school, following the school's first ever Ofsted inspection.

The UTC is a specialist school, which opened in 2017, for students aged 14-19 with an interest in engineering or digital technologies and cyber security.

Inspectors singled out the 'calm learning environment' and said that 'pupils are enthusiastic about learning'; 'leaders have an inclusive ethos' and 'teachers know their subjects well'.

The school was judged to be Good in every category, but particular mention went to the way it delivers a STEM education in 'a very effective manner'.

Louise Davies, headteacher, said: "It's great for the whole school community to receive this Ofsted report. I'm so proud of our staff and students and all the hard work that has gone into making the UTC such an amazing place to be.

"As the report says, we are really clear about our mission and ethos. We want to enable young people to become the STEM specialists of the future and we're doing that brilliantly."

The UTC is unique in Gloucestershire, in providing a state-funded specialist education which is geared towards meeting the needs of local employers. Students enjoy a curriculum which not only offers the core subjects you'd expect in any school, but also provides a range of opportunities to interact with businesses and education organisations.

The state-of-the art facilities were designed by local employers and make the UTC feel more like a professional workplace than a school. The report said that, as a result of this employability curriculum, 'learners want to be at school and focus on their studies'.

The UTC recruits students from across the local area. They can join at the start of year 10 for GCSE courses and from year 12 for post-16 options.

The application round for September 2022 is still open and the UTC is keen to hear from young people who have a genuine interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

The next open evening is on April 28 and should be booked here.