Aiming high with OCR's Cambridge Technicals

Two students who took Cambridge Technicals at UTC Sheffield have achieved a regional and national first. 

The high achieving 18-year-olds, Oliver Smith and Jake Stuchbury-Wass (pictured), are the first students from UTC Sheffield to get to Cambridge University where they are now studying engineering. They are also the first students nationally who have completed OCR's Cambridge Technicals in Engineering qualifications to study at the university. 

Both Oliver and Jake achieved three A* grades at A Level in maths, further maths and physics. They also gained distinction* grades in their engineering technical qualifications. 

Alex Reynolds, Principal of UTC Sheffield City Centre, said: "We are extremely proud of our students and want to congratulate them on their technical excellence and academic success, and wish them all the very best for their future. Our students have proven that completing Cambridge Technical qualifications as part of their learning with us has contributed to their fantastic achievements."

OCR Chief Executive, Leo Shapiro, said: "On behalf of OCR, many congratulations to Oliver and Jake on their amazing achievements, supported by the inspiring learning environment at UTC. The pair are a first for us too: they are the first students with OCR's appropriately named Cambridge Technicals in Engineering to get to Cambridge University. We wish them great success at university and beyond."

UTC Sheffield City Centre is Ofsted graded 'good' and was the first UTC to open in Yorkshire and Humber in September 2013. All students complete a technical qualification in one or two specialisms; advanced engineering and manufacturing or creative and digital. 

OCR's Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in Engineering qualifications are designed to enable progression to higher education or to employment. Cambridge Technicals in Engineering cover the breadth of the subject including manufacturing, design, mechatronics, automation and control as well as engineering business. There are resources such as delivery guides and progress trackers, as well as a Hodder textbook, to complement teaching. 

For more information about OCR's Level 3 vocational qualifications in Engineering, take a look here.