Newcastle's new multi-million pound school set to boost science and tech education with Ubisoft

Set to “transform the region’s science and tech education”, a new multi-million pound school will open beside Newcastle’s Central Station for a cohort of would-be students on January 17.

North East Futures UTC is to host the event with Ubisoft, as well as representatives from the NHS, Sage and Accenture. They are all supporting education for those 14 and above, seeing a huge growth in the future of digital tech and health science.

Some of the 400 Ubisoft staff in Newcastle will be at the event demonstrating live gaming, answering questions about the latest game releases and giving free Ubisoft games to students.

Dan Sydes, principal designate, said: “Already a quarter of first year places are signed up with a great mix of boys and girls passionate about digital and health science - wanting a new school choice for GCSEs or A levels.

“They are really switched on by the specialist focus we have in a friendly, small school - and they see it as well worth the commute to town, whether nine minutes from Chester-le-Street, 19 from Morpeth or even 45 minutes from Berwick or Darlington.”

There will also be industry mentors at the event to work with students, guiding them during studies. The January 17 open event is aiming to be a chance for students to mix with teachers and employers.

Jamie Hardesty, community engagement manager for Tech North, will be at the event sharing his tips. He said: “The UTC is a perfect example of something that is really training people for the world of tomorrow, so that’s exactly why it is going to play an important role.

“This school in particular is really arming young people with the skills they will need to enter any industry. Digital is disrupting every single industry. Every industry requires more and more skills - new age skills.

“The tech sector is one that young people should be really excited about - there is so much opportunity and the UTC will prepare the next generation for that.”

The January 17 open event takes place at Boilershop in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter, running from 5.30pm until 7.30pm.

If anyone is interested in attending, they should register at Eventbrite.

The school will be committed to maths, physics, chemistry and biology, all taught as separate subjects, aiming to provide students with a pathway to medicine, natural sciences or applied further education.