As expected, the demographic of pupils has shifted, with more students on pupil premium, in care and from ethnic minorities.
Information around the intake of UTCs is patchy because full data on the number of students receiving the pupil premium isn't available.
The secondary school serves two of the most disadvantaged wards in the country, with 65% of students entitled to pupil premium.
In other initiatives some headteachers have opted to fund tutoring for disadvantaged students using the pupil premium, which is paid by the government to schools for every child on free meals.
They should take note therefore of the report of the Higher Education Commission, set up by the Institute for Public Policy Research and published last week, which suggested awarding universities a "pupil premium" for every student from this background they enrol.
The NQT's students were certainly a challenge; set five of six, 70% of the students were classed as pupil premium and over half had statements of educational need, yet all were now on task and making progress.
At the same time, schools will receive more money to spend on struggling disadvantaged students via an increased pupil premium settlement.
