Students to manufacture high performance racing cars

The cars manufactured by UTC Swindon students will be fully road legal. One car will be produced by year 10 and 11 students and another by year 12 and 13 students. Specifically engineered aerodynamics help the two-litre performance cars accelerate from 0 to 60mph in approximately 4.4 seconds.

The project will enable students to develop a wide range of vocational and project management skills. Once produced, the cars will be sold by the students to raise funds for similar future projects. UTC Swindon will also use a branded Avon Tiger Sportscar at events throughout the catchment area, demonstrating the types of projects available at the college.

Angela Barker-Dench, Principal, UTC Swindon, said: “Projects like this make UTC Swindon stand out from other colleges. This will deliver exactly what our students want - hands-on work that employers can relate to. The students are excited about getting started on this project in September and we can’t wait to see the results.”

UTC Swindon caters for 600 students aged 14 to 19, providing courses for young people who aspire to a career in engineering. Students at the college can gain the skills necessary across all sectors of the engineering industries, as well as gaining their GCSEs and A-levels.

Students can start their studies in year 10 or year 12 and study full time. College hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Friday. This enables students to gain excellent qualifications at levels 2 and 3 and the skills to be workplace ready or prepared for university.                                               

UTC Swindon is run by a trust sponsored by Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells and Oxford Brookes University. There are over 90 different industry partners involved with the University Technical College.

As part of the original Great Western Rail works, the UTC Swindon site creates a link between the engineering history and the engineering future of the local area, with the Old School Building and the iconic Water Tower featuring prominently. Both structures, which are Grade II listed, were treated sympathetically, with the Water Tower being restored and brought back into educational use.