UTC Swindon, the town’s University Technical College, is giving its students a rare chance to build two sports cars during the academic year.
All the parts and materials needed to assemble the Avon model vehicles, pictured, have been supplied by Cambridgeshire firm Tiger Sportscars.
One will be produced by year 10 and 11 students and the other by those in years 12 and 13. Both will be fully road legal. 
The two-litre performance cars will boast specifically engineered aerodynamics, helping them accelerate from 0 to 60mph in approximately 4.4 seconds.
The project will enable students to develop a wide range of vocational and project management skills. Once produced, the cars will be sold by the students to raise funds for similar future projects.
UTC Swindon will also use a branded Avon Tiger Sportscar at events throughout its catchment area to demonstrate the types of projects available at the college.
Swindon UTC principal Angela Barker-Dench said: “Projects like this make UTC Swindon stand out from other colleges. This will deliver exactly what our students want – hands-on work that employers can relate to. The students are excited about getting started on this project in September and we can’t wait to see the results.”
UTC Swindon caters for 600 students aged 14 to 19, providing courses for young people who aspire to a career in engineering. Students at the college can gain the skills necessary across all sectors of the engineering industries, as well as gaining their GCSEs and A-levels.
Students can start their studies in year 10 or year 12 and study full time. College hours are 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8:30am to 4pm on Friday. This enables students to gain excellent qualifications at levels 2 and 3 and the skills to be workplace ready or prepared for university.
UTC Swindon is run by a trust sponsored by Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells and Oxford Brookes University. More than 90 industry partners are involved.
Built in part of Swindon’s original Great Western Rail works, the UTC site creates a link between the town’s engineering heritage and the engineering future.
