UTC Swindon, which currently teaches pupils from Year 10 through to Sixth Form, will introduce Year 9 places, allowing youngsters to join a year earlier.
The expansion will give pupils more time to study engineering, digital technology and cyber security alongside traditional academic subjects.
Students will also benefit from practical learning opportunities, including employer-led projects, mentoring, workplace visits and industry challenges.
Headteacher Hollie Taylor said:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome students into Year 9 from September 2027 and to begin this new chapter for UTC Swindon.
“As Swindon’s specialist STEM school and sixth form, we see every day how powerful it can be when young people are given the opportunity to discover what they enjoy, build confidence in their abilities and connect their learning to future careers.
“Introducing Year 9 gives students an extra year to do exactly that. It’s an extra year to develop academically, an extra year to explore Engineering, Digital and Cyber Security, an extra year to experience enrichment opportunities and an extra year to prepare for GCSEs, Sixth Form and beyond.”
The new Year 9 intake will follow a broad curriculum designed to prepare pupils for GCSEs while introducing specialist subjects earlier.
The move will also provide families in Swindon and the surrounding area with another secondary education option.
It comes after UTC Swindon was named among the top 10% most improved secondary schools in England for attendance during the 2025-26 academic year by FFT.
The first Year 9 pupils will join in September 2027, with an open event for prospective students and their families taking place on Thursday 26 November.
Further information is available at www.utcswindon.co.uk.
