AS JCB Academy principal Jim Wade recognises, a 'big leap of faith' was required by pupils and parents as they committed themselves to the UK's first University Technical College. It was a giant step into the unknown as children were persuaded not to pursue a traditional course through secondary school and instead opted for  the specialist potential offered by the Rocester set-up.

It has been running since September and the signs are that their gamble was well worth it. It is an experiment that deserves to succeed. There had inevitably been some doubts about an education establishment  which had such a focus on one  specific area of industry.  But those fears appear to be being answered by the wide range of  interests available to students outside the main curriculum.