Unique educational facility launched at Birmingham Airport

Learning Hub opened in collaboration with Birmingham schools group.

Birmingham Airport and The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham have launched The Learning Hub, a unique educational venue located at the airport.

Officially opened by the Rt Hon Baroness Estelle Morris of Yardley, the facility will host workshops for pupils as well as CPD sessions for teachers from primary schools across Birmingham and beyond. During school holidays families will be able to take part in activities and share in their child’s learning and most importantly have fun!

Pupils from three local primary schools were invited to the launch to join in the start of this exciting new project and take part in some of the activities on offer from our partners including The Ogden Trust’s Phiz Lab, Raspberry Pi, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Frog Virtual Learning Environment, Peters Books and The Children’s University.

Pete Slough, Director of Access at The Schools of King Edward VI, commented: “The Learning Hub is ideally situated at Birmingham Airport to take advantage of local transport links to enable schools easy access to this inspirational and flexible venue. The space here is fantastic and allows our many educational partners to deliver high quality enrichment activities which revitalise learning, encourage creativity and foster aspirations and self-esteem in our city’s children and the wonderful, dedicated staff who teach them.

“The feedback from teachers who have attended our CPD sessions has been overwhelmingly positive and we are delighted that they are able to use this forum to share ideas and set up strategies in their own schools and classrooms that make a real difference to their pupils’ enjoyment, progress and personal development.

“We also offer family events during the school holidays and at weekends so that parents and children can learn and discover together. A brilliant Raspberry Pi workshop took place here over Easter where 10 families learnt about coding and computers.”

Simon Richards, Chief Financial Officer at Birmingham Airport, said: “We are delighted to be partnering The Schools of King Edward in Birmingham with the ‘Opening Doors’ campaign, not least because it fits so well with our own priorities, where we aim to target our support at those communities in East Birmingham and North Solihull where it can be most effective.

“The Learning Hub allows us to work directly with local children and their parents to raise aspirations and help develop the skills they will need in the world of work. This project is one of many that Birmingham Airport operates to ensure that those local communities which are affected by our operations can share in the economic and social benefits of having a major airport on their doorstep.”

Ms Gill Sparrow, Head Teacher of Hillstone Primary School, commented: “Hillstone Primary School is delighted to work with the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. The range of enrichment activities and quality of the CPD sessions on offer give our pupils and teachers excellent opportunities that they may not otherwise have. We are looking forward to seeing the Learning Hub really take off! Our pupils are always excited when they return to school after an event here.”