Why are technical colleges so short of pupils?

Analysis: Three in five of the specialist free schools have fewer than half their places filled – despite £800m of investment, finds Eleanor Busby

The schools have great resources but aren’t being used to their advantage (Getty)

Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on specialist free schools that prioritise technical education since 2010, and yet the majority of them are still struggling to attract enough students.

The latest report from the National Audit Office reveals that nearly three in five of the University Technical Colleges (UTCs) that are still open are operating at less than half of their capacity.

The Department for Education has invested £792m into the programme over the past nine years and has repeatedly tried to raise their profile – so why are they still facing challenges?