Students from the WMG Academy for Young Engineers are set to further their studies after successfully securing places at Coventry’s universities.

Based in Canley and opened in 2014, the WMG Academy for Young Engineers has been recognised as an exemplary University Technical College and is transforming the lives of local students by educating the region’s new generation of engineers as well as providing Coventry and regional companies with fresh engineering talent.

Ten local students are starting their university studies locally this autumn are from the WMG Academy’s first graduating class, which saw a 100% pass rate in engineering.

Talal Siksek from Coventry, who is set to study Physics at the University of Warwick, said: “I really enjoyed my time at the WMG Academy for Young Engineers, it was the best two years of my education. I thought the teaching was great, I really connected to the teachers. I felt they were approachable, and I enjoyed the different teaching styles. I found it stimulating to be in an environment where everyone was passionate about engineering. I’m very much looking forward to starting at the University of Warwick. I chose my physics course because it had a focus on programming, which is an area I enjoy and so this appealed to me. I’ve already been talking to come of my fellow classmates and I know I’m going to feel at home in a place where we’re all passionate about the same subject.”

Also William Savage and Gian Sebastian, will be starting the Applied Engineering Programme (AEP) at WMG, as part of their apprenticeship with Aston Martin. The AEP is a BEng degree which allows apprentices to study for a degree whilst working full-time. There were two of 35 students who successfully gain apprenticeships with local and global companies.

The Royal Academy of Engineering has highlighted that the UK will need a million more engineers and technicians by 2020, which will require doubling the number of engineering apprentices every year. Under the leadership of Kate Tague, Executive Principal of the WMG Academies Trust, the WMG Academy is playing a key role in addressing this need by creating a crucial link between national and local employers, parents and universities - further enhanced this month with the opening of a second WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull, with an intake of 160 students and the support of six sponsoring companies.

Alongside WMG, and the University of Warwick, are 16 of the region’s largest employers, who from day one have inputted into the WMG Academy curriculum ensuring that students are educated in the relevant areas, in an environment with a professional ethos and culture that is both in high demand in today’s working world and key to supporting our local and regional economy.

WMG Academy’s first graduating class of Year 13 students achieved further success with over a quarter of its students gaining places at Russell Group universities, including Warwick, and also Coventry University. Over 50 students secured places on apprenticeship schemes and jobs in global automotive companies, and SMEs, as well as a plethora of other industries nationally and locally, including; Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Covcon, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes, National Grid, RBS and Tata Technologies. Of these 4 are sponsoring companies of the WMG Academy, which further shows the commitment to ensuring Coventry, and the region, has a continued pipeline of engineering talent.

Those students who successfully secured apprentices at Jaguar Land Rover will this month continue their learning through the new Jaguar Land Rover Academy for Life Long Learning; the first of its kind in the UK automotive sector. This continues the relationship the students have with WMG, who are a key partner in the Academy, which has a base at the University of Warwick.

Kate Tague, Executive Principal, WMG Academies Trust said: “The WMG Academies were set up with a vision to give students the skills and knowledge they required to be able to support the local and national economy. I’m delighted with the achievements of the students leaving this summer. We aim to be the first choice for the recruitment of apprentices in the area, supporting local and national companies with the recruitment of their future workforce. By studying GCSE, A Levels, or BTEC subjects it enables them to go onto university, apprenticeships or gain employment. We are thrilled that over 25% of our students gained places at our two local universities. The results this year shows that the WMG Academy is certainly fulfilling its objective, which is to provide skilled graduates for the future within Coventry and wider region.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya comments: “It is vital that in order for our local, and regional companies, to continue to be competitive, they must have the right people with the right skills. With the unique approach, and support of some of the best engineering employers, the WMG Academy for Young Engineers is developing a pool of talent which have the skills that are required to work in industry today.”

Notes to Editors

WMG Academy for Young Engineers

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers is one of 30 University Technical Colleges, which are government-funded schools that train 14-19-year-olds in science, engineering and technology. The Academy are unique in their approach to education as they provide the opportunity for students to gain a variety of business and engineering skills, which employees are seeking, in addition to studying core curriculum subjects.

Students, at the Academy, are given the opportunity to gain skills by working on projects with local and national businesses. These businesses contribute ideas, challenges and projects which add to the variety and practical applications of the Academy’s curriculum.

To find out more log onto our website and look at our open days 1st October Solihull and 8th October Coventry.