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A weekly bulletin for parents/carers of Hodge Hill College is published every Friday with a curation of education news, important dates and advice:

The Motorsport UK Race for Diversity programme is designed to ignite curiosity and passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among young people by connecting classroom learning to the exciting world of motorsport. The recent event at TeamSport Oldbury offered pupils a unique opportunity to engage in practical, hands-on activities that showcased engineering, mathematics, physics, and technology in action. By linking these experiences to potential careers, the programme broadened pupils’ understanding of the diverse pathways available within STEM industries.

A group of enthusiastic Year 9 pupils represented our school on 10 November 2025 with pride and professionalism throughout the day. Their engagement and teamwork were exemplary, making the event a memorable success. Congratulations to those involved for their outstanding participation.

The day featured a series of high-quality STEM-focused sessions, including:

• Coding Workshop – Developing logic, sequencing, and computational thinking skills.
• Lego Engineering Challenge – Designing and building mechanisms under time pressure.
• Pit Stop Mathematics Challenge – Applying speed, measurement, and problem-solving to optimise pit stop performance.
• TeamSport Go-Karting – Experiencing the physics of motion, forces, and racing strategy firsthand.

Pupils approached each challenge with enthusiasm, perseverance, and strong teamwork, making the most of every learning opportunity.

Through these activities, pupils strengthened essential STEM competencies such as:

• Teamwork, communication, and leadership
• Logical and computational thinking
• Applying mathematical reasoning to real-world scenarios
• Engineering design and evaluation
• Understanding speed, acceleration, and vehicle dynamics
• Awareness of careers within motorsport and related industries

Highlights of the day included the creativity displayed during the Lego Engineering Challenge, the excitement and competitive spirit of the karting sessions, and the impressive solutions developed during the Pit Stop Maths activity. Many pupils demonstrated resilience and growth across the challenges, reflecting a genuine enthusiasm for STEM learning.

This experience strongly supports our curriculum intent by promoting problem-solving, creative thinking, and STEM literacy. It aligns with our school values of Courtesy, Achievement, Respect, and Excellence, giving pupils the chance to collaborate effectively and apply their learning in innovative, real-world contexts. The event provided invaluable insight into potential careers in motorsport and inspired pupils to aim high as they continue their educational journey at Hodge Hill College.

During the Autumn 2 half-term, Year 7 pupils will complete the Future Skills Questionnaire.

The Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) is a set of questions specifically designed for young people in schools and colleges to help them think about their skills, strengths, and what they might like to do in the future.

FSQ is a key feature of our school's careers programme. We will analyse learner responses to evaluate our careers provision, plan future careers activities, and identify learners who may need additional support.

The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. There are up to three sections of the questionnaire that cover the following areas:

• Careers knowledge and skills
• Essential skills for life and work
• Career planning

Completing FSQ should be an engaging and insightful activity for learners that will encourage them to continue thinking about their future choices and next steps after school or college.

The FSQ is completed online via the digital product Compass+. This short 2-minute video has been designed to encourage pupils to meaningfully complete the FSQ. The video explains the purpose and value of FSQ, how easy it is to complete, and how pupil responses will be used.

All pupil data is processed in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). More information about how Compass+ collects, uses, and stores personal data can be found on the CEC Privacy Notice.

If you would like to find out more about our careers programme, please contact me on 0121 783 7807, or alternatively, send an email to enquiry@hodgehill.bham.sch.uk. 

A weekly bulletin for parents/carers of Hodge Hill College is published every Friday with a curation of education news, important dates and advice: