FOUNDER of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and former Home Secretary, Lord Baker is to visit the UTC Swindon site next week. The former Kenneth Baker will be given a tour of the campus building site in recognition of his continuing support for the project on Tuesday.

The Baker Dearing Educational Trust promotes the establishment of University Technical Colleges in England as part of the free school programme. During his visit, Lord Baker will meet staff, partners and supporters of UTC Swindon and share insights into the work of the Trust and how other UTCs are working with employers. Kenneth Baker entered parliament as Conservative MP for Acton in March 1968.

He went on to hold several cabinet positions including Secretary of State for the Environment, Secretary of State for Education and Science and Home Secretary.

He was also Conservative Party Chairman from 1989 to 1990. He entered the House of Lords in June 1997.

Catering for 600 students aged 14 to 19, UTC Swindon will provide courses for young people who aspire to a career in engineering. The college’s catchment area includes many parts of Wiltshire and Oxfordshire and include a variety of villages and hamlets.

Angela Barker-Dench, Principal of UTC Swindon, said, “Lord Baker is a visionary for the University Technical College model so it will be a great privilege to give him a tour of the site.

“Everything is coming together and we are proud to showcase what we have achieved so far.”

UTC Swindon will occupy a new £10 million state-of-the-art building at Bristol Street, Swindon, at the heart of the railway village. The location has been generously supplied by Network Rail.

The deadline for applications for places at UTC Swindon is January 31. Download the application form from www.utcswindon.co.uk.