Learning

This event took place on 9 November 2023 and involved pupils from a range of secondary schools in Southampton. Faith leaders, RE teachers and pupils came together in discussion, sharing information about how faith impacts our daily lives.

We will be running our 'Speed Dating' style event again this year, with faith leaders and pupils joining together to talk about key issues of faith which are relevant to them.

Our event aims to promote respect, improve understanding and collaboration between all faith groups and those who do not profess a faith. We feel it is vital to work together for a more inclusive, tolerant city where we celebrate our differences and learn from each other.

Each April for a number of years has seen the city’s Science Intervention Day take place. This has the purpose of focussing revision and specific input for each Year 11 student who attends, ahead of their GCSE Science exams.

This year the event hosted over 180 students from 13 schools in the city. They attended workshops chosen using their mock exam performance to tailor input to their specific revision needs, and also took part in a walking, talking style mock paper exercise. They had the opportunity to work with students from other schools, and to receive input from specialist teachers from across the city.

We were also delighted to be supported by Student Ambassadors from the University of Southampton at this event. Students shared their journeys to University and assisted in the delivery of sessions.

At the end of the day, 75% of students said the workshops helped them understand concepts better than they did before.

Students came away saying, “I know more than I thought, but I also still learned more” during the day.

In June 2023, Maths teachers in the city came together, with the University of Southampton Education School and Mathematics Department, to host a Maths Day for high achieving Year 9 pupils.

The day comprised workshops, an escape room, fast-paced puzzles, a university tour, and talks on cryptography and theoretical physics.

Pupils were challenged to “think like a Mathematician” and use their problem-solving skills in practical ways to solve challenges and work together as a team.

Teams of gifted geographers from five schools came together on 10 July 2024 to compete in a geography quiz including rounds such as:

• Flags around the world
• Wordle
• Local Geography
• Lego Landscapes

We were hosted and supported by the University of Southampton Education School, and a fantastic time was had by all who participated.

Solent University organised and hosted our business event on 25 June 2024. Teams from schools and colleges across Southampton came together to present their business proposals to an expert panel of judges and compete to be winners of the Business Challenge 2024.

Pupils presented their business ideas on the theme of "Using AI in business". They looked specifically at ThinkEngine, a Southampton based digital marketing company, thinking about how AI could support them or undermine their professional offering. It was a fabulous event and all judges were impressed by the quality of presentations, with pupils from Woodlands Community College winning this year’s challenge.

The day also included a campus tour of Solent University, and the opportunity to work with students from other schools and be inspired by other pupils' ideas and approaches. Business teachers in the city, together with Solent University, worked to make this a fun, informative and inspiring day.