• Urinary tract infection (women aged 16–64)
• Sinusitis (adults and children aged 12+)
• Sore throat (adults and children aged 5+)
• Earache (children and young adults aged 1–17)
• Infected insect bite (adults and children aged 1+)
• Impetigo (adults and children aged 1+)
• Shingles (adults aged 18+)

Using the Pharmacy First service can help parents, staff and students avoid GP wait times, get treatment sooner, and return to school more quickly.

For more information on how your Community Pharmacist can help visit Think pharmacy first :: NHS Birmingham and Solihull, or watch the Pharmacy First video for parents by clicking here: Think Pharmacy First- for parents.

*Usual prescription charge rules apply.

During his workshop, Breis introduced a range of poetic and lyrical techniques, showing how rhythm, rhyme and wordplay can be used to communicate personal experiences. Students were then given the exciting opportunity to write their own lyrics, guided by his creativity and enthusiasm.

He also performed songs from his debut album, Stranger on Earth, giving students a live insight into how poetry becomes music. Alongside his performance, he spoke about his three published books:

• Brilliant Rappers Educate Intelligent Students
• Diary of a Creative Mind
• Stranger on Earth

The impact of his visit was clear. Students were energised, engaged and inspired by his message of resilience, creativity and self-belief. Here’s what some of them had to say:

• “It was amazing, he was very interactive and funny.” — SA
• “It was very inspiring to learn how to persevere, be resilient and never give up.” — AM

Breis’s visit was a vibrant celebration of creativity and identity, leaving students motivated to use their voices with confidence and pride.

https://www.hodgehill.bham.sch.uk/ofsted

During the inspection, inspectors spent time in school observing lessons, speaking with pupils, staff and governors, and reviewing a range of information, including responses to the Ofsted Parent View survey. We would like to thank all parents and carers who took the time to share their views through this process.

We would like to thank our pupils for their positive conduct and our staff for their continued commitment and professionalism. We also value the ongoing support of our school community.

As always, we remain committed to building on our strengths and continuing to improve outcomes for all our pupils, and we are grateful for your continued support.

To help both groups of students better understand the Washwood Heath area, a visit to Ward End Park was arranged. Students explored the area through the lens of community and belonging. They completed written, drawing, and photography tasks in collaboration with Braidwood students. A highlight was seeing students from both groups communicate via sign language for the first time outside structured sessions, using the finger spelling techniques learned in the residency program.

The Year 9 students demonstrated our CARE values by considering others' needs and including them in conversations with friends. They were responsible and courteous members of the community and excellent examples of mature, respectful Hodge Hill College students.

After this, they engaged in a 45-minute workshop on the business side of Manchester United, focusing on branding, sponsorship, engagement, and communication. This was a brilliant presentation which also included practical elements and finished with a chance to take photos and try on match-worn shirts, boots and gloves (even Cristiano Ronaldo’s).

Following the workshop, the pupils received a tour of the stadium, going from the stands to the changing rooms, to the tunnel and dugout, before finishing in the press conference room.

Overall, this was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to see a world-class establishment in different scenarios and industries, which could potentially be a driving point for a potential career pathway.

Throughout the trip, students displayed impressive respect and excellence, earning praise from college staff. To conclude, everyone had the chance to be coached and play on a non-league football ground by UEFA A and B qualified coaches—showcasing their skills, enjoying the experience, and relishing the chance to play at a football club’s stadium. The trip was a resounding success, forging a valuable partnership that will hopefully open up further opportunities for our students and broaden their awareness of the many career paths available in sport and further education.

Two new Lived Experience Surveys are now open on Birmingham’s Local Offer, one for young people with SEND and one for parent carers of children and young people with SEND.

We’re asking you, as professionals working with families, to help us reach as many people as possible by sharing these surveys with the young people and parent carers you support.

For young people:

We want to know what life is like for them in Birmingham, at school, at home, or in their community to get a sense of how they’re feeling and what matters most to them.

For parent/carers:

We want to hear about their experiences of support and services for their child or young person. Their insight helps us understand what families are experiencing and how things could be better.

Please share these links with the families you work with:

• Lived Experience Survey for Young People
• Lived Experience Survey for Parent/Carers

The surveys are multiple-choice and hopefully won't take up too much of their time, but the feedback will make a big difference to improving services for children, young people, and families across Birmingham. The surveys close on 12 December.

If anyone has questions or needs support completing a survey, they can contact localoffer@birmingham.gov.uk

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.

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. 

For further guidance and information on a Happy, Safe Halloween & Bonfire Night, please read the attached letter. 

Parents have been sent a letter containing a unique code to place their order.

All orders must be made directly with the company via their website: https://shop.fizz-group.co.uk/shop/hoodie. 

The deadline for placing orders is 27 April 2026, and each hoodie costs £28.99.

Aston University Engineering Academy: Open Evening: Wednesday 26th November 2025 16:00 to 18:00

Bishop Challoner Sixth Form: Open Evening: Wednesday 8th October 2025 17:00 to 19:30

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School: Sixth Form Open Evening Dates Coming Soon

BOA Stage and Screen: Open Event: Saturday 18th October 2025

BOA: Open Evening: Thursday 16th October 2025 17:30 to 20:00

BMET: Open Event: Saturday 18th October 2025, 10:00 to 13:00. Register your interest online by clicking on the college site you want, e.g., Matthew Boulton, Sutton Coldfield, jameswattcollege@bmet.ac.uk

Cadbury College: Open Day: Saturday 11th October 2025. Register your interest at cadcol.ac.uk

Joseph Chamberlain College: Open Day: Saturday 18th October 2025 10:00 to 14:00. Register your interest online by visiting jcc.ac.uk

King Edward’s School Birmingham: Whole School Open Evening: Monday 22nd June 2026 17:00 to 20:00. Registration will open to interested students closer to the time of the event

King Edward VI Five Ways School: Sixth Form Open Evening: Wednesday 5th November 2025

King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys: Applications for September 2026 will open in November 2025 and close in February 2026. The Open Evening date is coming soon. Please visit camphillboys.bham.sch.uk for further details about the school.

King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls: Open Evening: Thursday 20th November 2025 17:00 to 20:00. Further details will be updated on the school website kechg.org.uk

King Edward VI High School for Girls: Saturday 20th June 2026 09:15 to 12:30. Registration will open closer to the event date. Please visit kehs.org.uk for further details.

King Edward VI Lordswood School For Girls: Details of Open Events to be confirmed soon.

King Edward Sheldon Heath Academy Sixth Form: Open Evening took place on Wednesday 10th September 2025, but please register your interest in applying to KESH by arranging a school visit via keshacademy.com

Sandwell College: Open day Saturday 11th October 2025. Please register your interest for this event via sandwell.ac.uk

Solihull College: School Leaver Open Event, within which you will be given the opportunity to experience subjects of your choice- Saturday 29th November 2025, 10:00 to 14:00. Please register your interest for this event via solihull.ac.uk/news-events/open-event

Solihull Sixth Form College: Open Events: Monday 20th October 2025 & Monday 26th January 2026. Please register your interest for these events via solihullsfc.ac.uk/applying/open-days/

South & City College: Open Day: Thursday 16th October 2025, 16:00 to 19:00. Please register your interest for this event via sccb.ac.uk

University College Birmingham: Open Day: Saturday 18th January 2026. Please register your interest for this event via ucb.ac.uk/open-days/college-open-days

University of Birmingham School Sixth Form: Open Evening: Thursday 13th November 2025 17:00 to 19:30

Walsall College: Open Event: Tuesday 26th November 2025. For more information, please visit www.walsallcollege.ac.uk/events/

WMG Academy Solihull: Please register your interest in applying via solihull.wmgacademy.org.uk. The deadline for applications for the September 2026 to start is Sunday 31st January 2026

These thoughtful kits, which included essential toiletries, were designed not only to support families but also to promote awareness of the food bank and the vital work it does. The Pupil Leaders personally handed out the kits and engaged warmly with parents, taking time to explain the food bank’s services and encourage those in need to make use of the support available.

Their efforts were met with appreciation from both staff and parents, who recognised the pupils’ maturity, compassion, and commitment to helping others. Mrs Sajed and Miss Reid are very proud of all the Pupil Leaders involved – a massive well done to each of them for representing the school with such kindness and leadership.