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A technical college which cost £9 million will close at the end of the academic year after all its GCSE students failed maths and English in 2016.

Greater Manchester University Technical College will close because it failed to recruit enough pupils. It is the seventh university technical college (UTC) to announce its closure, according to the Schools Week website.

The college will close at the end of the academic year after no students achieved grade C or above in English and Maths GCSEs in 2016.

The Oldham college opened in 2014. On Tuesday it said a shortage of students meant it was not financially viable.

Michael Gove, the former education secretary, championed UTCs as a way to teach 14 to 19-year-olds technical and practical skills.



Resources made available to schools and colleges are irretrievably linked to the number of students on roll and, unfortunately, the fact that the UTC has been unable to recruit enough students within the Oldham district and further afield has meant that it is not financially viable into the future.

– Greater Manchester University Technical College

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon told Manchester Evening News the UTC represented a "failed experiment".



Existing students in Years 11 and 13 within the UTC will, of course, continue to follow their current courses and complete these in the summer term 2017. I also wish to assure you that we will endeavour to ensure that teaching and learning within the college will continue with the present teaching staff and therefore ensure that students are prepared for examinations this summer. We will be working closely with Oldham Local Authority and other local education providers to bring about a smooth transition for existing students in Years 10 and 12. We will do everything in our power to ensure this process is both detailed and thorough

– Lee Kilgour, Principal

Closing the (college) is hugely disappointing for all those who have worked so hard to give students the opportunity to pursue a technical education.

The wellbeing and success of all our students remains our highest priority.

Every effort will be made to ensure students get the support they need to complete their studies successfully and receive appropriate guidance for transition to their new place of learning.

– Gordon Main, college chairman

A spokesman for the Department for Education said it has agreed to the closure of the college due to low pupil numbers and the trust's unviable financial position.

Our priority now is to work with the trust and local authority to support existing students and minimise any disruption to their studies.

Students who are finishing their courses at the end of this year will complete their studies and alternative places will be found for the others.

– Department for Education

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