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Safer Internet Day 2021: Fact or Fiction?

Safer Internet Day is here once again and this year, the theme is ‘An Internet We Trust: Exploring Reliability in the Online World’.

Every year, Safer Internet Day provides the perfect opportunity to reflect and assess our online habits, both during personal use and for school or work and it’s more important now than ever, to be able to separate fact from fiction whilst building knowledge and confidence in the online world.

We have put together some top tips as a reminder of how you can make sure you are remaining safe online and how to separate real news and fake news.

What is fake news?

Fake news can be false information, photos or videos purposefully created to confuse or misinform. It can also be genuine information that has been manipulated to deceive. It’s important to learn how we can identify something we see online that may not be true.

Question the source

The best way to check if what you are reading is reliable, is to try and confirm the online information using other websites, this may help you make a judgement on whether the information they are sharing is trustworthy. The more sources that say the same thing, the more likely it is that the information can be trusted.

Read further than the headline

Most fake news articles, blog posts and social posts tend to always feature something called ‘click-bait’. This is when the headline (mainly what you see on Facebook before clicking into the link) and can be used to twist the truth, knowing most readers do not read further to find more information. Try and understand if what you are reading sounds too good to be true, or if it sounds more like an opinion than a fact.

Is it genuine?

Take time to think about the things you see online and how they are presented to you, is this a celebrity promoting a product? Is it an outstanding review on a product? Chances are that this celebrity may have been paid to promote this brand and the reviews you are reading may not be genuine, but in fact a paid collaboration.

Talk it through

It can be hard to know what to do about false or misleading content online, but if you do see something that is concerning, this needs to be reported in the appropriate way, if you are unsure what this looks like then speak to a trusted adult. Talking it through with someone who supports you can help you feel less alone and could lead to small steps towards the information being removed.

UK Safer Internet Centre have a wide range of great tips for different age ranges available here.

Welcome to our first Half Term Roundup of the 2020/2021 academic year. 

We may have entered our third (and hopefully last) lockdown but it has not stopped our incredible school community from continuing to build strong, positive relationships through a safe learning environment.

Read our interactive Half Term Roundup below to discover more about life at the ENL UTC. 

Offering a unique STEM curriculum, The Engineering UTC (University Technical College) Northern Lincolnshire equips learners aged 13-19 with the skills they need to take their future workplace with the confidence, industry knowledge and experience required. Government funded, the ENL UTC offers a genuine alternative to the traditional education system that already exists by allowing students to have an active role in choosing their future. Below are ten things you need to know about the ENL UTC.

1- Specialist STEM Education

The ENL UTC is a specialist STEM school and college, providing a university and industry-led curriculum designed specifically to educate students who have a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or Health and Social Care. The curriculum combines academic, technical and practical elements and will involve many aspects delivered by local industry partners alongside expert staff.

2- Academic Qualifications

ENL UTC students need to enjoy Maths, English and Sciences because they form such a large and important part of our curriculum and industry-based projects.

Students who study their GCSEs at the ENL UTC take all the Sciences, Maths, English Language, English Literature, Design and Technology and the choice of an Engineering or Health and Social Care Sciences route. There will also be the option to choose an additional subject alongside the core subjects.

Students who study their A Levels at the ENL UTC can choose between two STEM pathways. The one-year Apprenticeship Progression Pathway, in association with HETA, is ideal for individuals looking for a clear progression route to an apprenticeship, entry level employment or a Level 3 qualification. The two-year Level 3 Pathway, is designed for individuals looking for a broader understanding of engineering to help lead into employment, either directly or through an apprenticeship, or to form the basis of an application to a higher education course.

3- Industry-led Curriculum

The ENL UTC is proud to work alongside a wide variety of industry partners and universities who not only support and inspire our students to achieve their goals but also the UTCs unique STEM curriculum.

Throughout their time at the UTC, students have a multitude of opportunities to work on industry-led projects and challenges. By doing this, students will gain an understanding of the key employability skills, academic qualifications and technical knowledge their future employers are looking for.

4- Filling the STEM Skills Gap

The ENL UTC, has been established within the North Lincolnshire area to bridge the STEM skills gap. There is currently a lack of suitably qualified and skilled young individuals going into STEM careers, whether through apprenticeships or university degree courses.

We are proud to work closely with our colleagues at North Lincolnshire Council and the Local Enterprise Partnerships to ensure we are meeting the needs of businesses whilst preparing our young people for successful and sustainable destinations.

5- A Five-year Education

The ENL UTC offers a five-year education to urge students to be successful in their sixth form studies. Our sixth form works alongside many employers and universities to ensure successful and sustainable destinations.

A sixth form centre has been developed within the UTC building to offer students dedicated study and social spaces for their use, alongside of a careers and progression room. The sixth form curriculum offers distinct pathways: A Levels, Engineering diplomas or a combined route.

6- Extensive Learning Facilities

Based on Carlton Street, in the centre of Scunthorpe and close to both bus and train stations, the ENL UTCs £12m facility is a learning environment like no other in our region. Allowing students to experience the world of work first hand. With a range of workshop spaces, classrooms and labs, the UTC has been purpose built to help students maximise their potential through a range of resources found in industry.

7- The ENL UTC Day

The ENL UTC operates a longer school day which reflects the business approach at the heart of our ethos and supporting them in their next steps after education.

• Year 9 students start lessons at 8.40am Monday to Friday and finish at 2.40pm at the earliest</li
• Year 10 and 11 students start lessons at 8.40am Monday to Friday and finish at 3.40pm at the earliest
• Our exciting enrichment opportunities run until 3.40pm (year 9 students) and 4.30pm (year 10 and 11 students)
• All KS3 and KS4 students finish at 1.10pm on a Friday
• Sixth form students will have personal timetables that work across four days of studies. Helping to support alongside part time work.

8- Building Independence and Confidence

Students have dedicated ‘independent study’ time throughout the week instead of homework. This allows them to focus on additional studies, revision, research and/or projects within their timetabled lessons with a teacher always on hand, should they need it. With the ENL UTCs extensive workshops, labs and equipment’s it enables students to progress their studies and technical knowledge further.

There are no bells and all students are responsible for getting themselves to where they need to be throughout the day.

9- Enrichment Opportunities

All students will experience a multitude of enrichment and industry opportunities throughout the academic year. This will allow students to gain additional skills, awards, experiences and qualifications. Enrichment activities, which are timetabled as weekly lessons, can include: employer-led projects, Formula 24, Young Enterprise, robotics, sports club, woodwork and much more. Sixth form students also have access to a wide range of training, mentoring and enrichment activities.

10- Our Way

The ENL UTC offers a professional and mature learning environment that reflects the working world. Whilst we have clear boundaries and routine, students are treated like young adults, call teachers by their first name and wear a business dress code as opposed to a school uniform. All students demonstrate positive behaviours, values and principles that show they are going above and beyond to support our school, their futures and each other. Students are expected to have excellent attendance and punctuality in order to be involved in, and to complete, a large number of industry-based projects.

If you wish to find out more or have any further questions not answered in the above, please call us on 01724 878100 or email us on info@enlutc.co.uk to arrange an appointment with our friendly staff.

In recent months the Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of STEM-related skills in all their forms (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) whilst propelling experts and the wide variety of careers available into the spotlight.

As the ENL UTC continues to play a vital role in building the STEM skills capabilities that the country needs now, and following COVID-19, we are pleased to announce that we will be working in association with HETA (Humber Engineering Training Association) across our post-16, Apprenticeship Progression Pathway.

The ENL UTC delivers a specialist STEM curriculum designed by our expert staff and local industry partners, to help immerse and engage students aged 13-19 through academic, practical and technical learning. Preparing them for the world of work and chosen career pathway. Valuing the importance of apprenticeships in addressing the STEM skills gap, our students are regularly introduced to the opportunities available; which in the last year alone has resulted in 37% of students heading into intermediate, advanced, higher or degree apprenticeships.

The Apprenticeship Progression Pathway is a one-year course designed for individuals who are looking for a clear progression route to an apprenticeship or entry level employment, or who is not quite ready to study a Level 3 qualification at this stage. The qualification will provide our students with the specific skills, knowledge and understanding, and range of transferable skills that are required in STEM roles.

Welcome to our final Half Term Roundup of the 2019/2020 academic year. 

Despite the last few months being a new and unusual time for us all, it has not stopped our amazing team from continuing to build strong, positive relationships through a virtual world of online learning. Alongside of this we also started to welcome students back into our classrooms whilst embracing vital employer engagement.

Read our interactive Half Term Roundup below to find out more about what we have been up to during our summer term. 

Are you interested in a career in Chemical Engineering or would like to find out more? At the start of July the ENL UTC and IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers), teamed up for a virtual careers talk to discuss more about the opportunities available in Chemical Engineering.

Daniela, Sajalu and Thomas, engineering experts from across industry, spoke with our students to discuss:

• Why Chemical Engineering?
• What do Chemical Engineers do?
• Routes into this career
• Benefits of Chemical Engineering
• Mentoring opportunities and help with stepping into a new role

IChemE is a global professional membership organisation that provide connections to a network community of Chemical, Biochemical and Process Engineers who exchange knowledge, practical experiences, promote competence and commitment and support CPD.

Discovering more about how to keep ourselves safe online was incredibly useful, not just for our students but for our parents and staff too. To find out more, please follow the link below.

On Wednesday 17th June a number of our new year 9 students had a Zoom call with Alistair Kennedy from Humberside Police and Emma Davies from The Armour Group, to discuss cyber security and how to keep safe online.

Alistair who works within the Cyber Crime Investigation Team, and Emma who works as an Ethical Hacker, discussed a variety of topics surrounding cyber security including:

• How to keep yourself safe online
• What to look out for
• How hackers work
• The dark web
• Career opportunities available within cyber security
• Websites for further advice and help

Discovering more about how to keep ourselves safe online was incredibly useful, not just for our students but for our parents and staff too. To find out more, please follow the link below.

During the period of school closure, the ENL UTC are running a number of challenges for our students to get involved in. These STEM-based challenges, sponsored by our wonderful industry partner Phillips 66, allow our students to be creative whilst keeping them inspired and motivated.

Our first challenge asked our students to construct/make something during this time to showcase their skillset and engineering knowledge. Whether it be fixing something around the house for the family, constructing something they had always wanted to build or experimenting with a new idea: there is no better time to put our STEM skills to the test!

To take part, students were asked to send in a photo of their creation along with a brief description. We received some incredible entries and are so proud of what our students have achieved whilst at home.

Well done to everybody who took part! Prizes will be announced shortly.