Salisbury science and engineering school given the go-ahead

A new school specialising in science and engineering is to be set up in Salisbury after £40m of government funding was secured.

The South Wiltshire University Technical College (UTC) will teach defence industry recruits.

Qinetic and Aspire Defence Services, 43 Wessex Brigade and the University of Southampton have all backed the plans.

The college will cater to 14-18 year-olds and is to open in September 2014.

The government hopes to create up to 28 UTCs in England and Wales by 2014.

The aim of UTCs is for pupils to get an insight into the application of science and engineering in industry in the hope of making them more employable when they leave school.

Former education secretary Lord Baker is chairman of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust which promotes the introduction of UTCs.

He said: "UTCs are an innovative approach to education - designed to fill the skills gap in the UK by providing high quality training for technicians and engineers."

Also supporting the plans are Wiltshire College and Wiltshire Council's Economic Regeneration Team.