OXFORDSHIRE’S first specialist college for scientific research, computing and engineering was approved on Wednesday night.

The University Technical College at Didcot’s Great Western Park estate will be the first of its kind in the county.

Teenagers between 14 and 19 will be able to study for GCSEs, BTEC qualifications and A-Levels alongside a chosen specialism.

Students will be able to take on projects where they work with local hi-tech firms such as the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, Mini Plant Oxford and RM Education.

Due to open in September next year, it will eventually provide places for 600 students.

The organisation behind the school, Activate Learning, appointed its head teacher earlier this week.

Owain Johns, named as the ‘principal designate’, hit headlines in 2010 when pupils at one of his former schools, Beaconsfield High School in Buckinghamshire, started a campaign on Facebook for him to be named head teacher as they disapproved of the woman appointed to the post.

The college will initially offer 140 places for Year 10 and Year 12 students, eventually providing places for 600 students across the full 14-19 age range.

 

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