A state-of-the-art secondary school sponsored by the University of Cambridge has been placed into special measures just two years after opening.

The University Technology College Cambridge (UTCC) was visited by Ofsted for the first time in September, when inspectors raised concerns over its “inadequate” management.

Despite the school’s world-class research support and high-tech £10 million site on Addenbrooke’s Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Ofsted is believed to have highlighted a lack of consistency in the safeguarding procedures and attendance records at the academy.

The school is sponsored by the Cambridge University Health Partners comprising the University of Cambridge, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Jon Green, chair of the board of governors, said: “I am sure this rating will come as a disappointment to many people who are rightly very proud of the progress which the college has made in its short life. 

"In the last year, our academic results have improved and our record of 100 per cent of pupils progressing to full-time employment or further education is fantastic. However, the inspection found areas which were not good enough. We fully accept these findings and have already taken significant steps to deal with the issues which were highlighted.”

Based in southern Cambridge, the college caters for students aged 14 to 19 considering a career in the local technology industry. Its purpose-built campus was opened in September 2014, when it welcomed its first 180 students.

The college, which teaches biomedical and environmental science and technology, has been led since 2013 by scientist Melanie Radford. 

However, a spokesperson for the college said she was “not at work at the moment”, but would not confirm whether or not she had been suspended. 

It is now being run by acting principal Sian Foreman, with the trust’s executive principal Andrew Hutchinson serving as interim executive principal.

Mr Hutchinson said: “We have already taken a number of steps which we feel address the processes and procedures which were found to be at fault. We believe these measures and others will rapidly take the college out of special measures and help us with our journey to become an excellent college.”

The college is non-selective and non-fee paying, and provides the option to take GCSEs at age 14 and A Levels or BTECs at 16. 

Ofsted inspectors will monitor the college’s progress, with a follow-up inspection to take place within the next 15 months

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the school is run by the University of Cambridge. This is incorrected, it is in fact sponsored (not run) by the Cambridge University Health Partners comprising the University of Cambridge, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Varsity would like to apologise for this error