ONE of the UK’s leading motor racing circuits is making the grade as an educational venue and providing a unique learning experience away from the traditional classroom.
The Northamptonshire circuit has teamed up with the Enterprise Education Foundation (EEF), to establish the Rockingham Education Partnership, which aims to provide hands-on projects and learning experiences based around the business.
The EEF, which is a not-for-profit organisation, will be working with young people aged 11 to 25 across Northamptonshire and will be responsible for managing and delivering all of the circuit’s educational services.
As part of the partnership both groups and individuals will have the opportunity to take part in a number of activities to help develop personal and business skills which can be transferable in all aspects of life.
Chief Executive of Rockingham, Charlotte Orton, said: “We have always recognised the key role industries such as motorsport can play in helping to inspire young people to pursue the right choices. The EEF has a wealth of experience working within education and with young people, and therefore we are delighted to have them on board to manage and deliver this area of the Rockingham business.
“The Rockingham Education Partnership will allow us to strengthen our relationship with educational organisations and ensure we add value to the participants own work through the hands-on learning experience we offer.”
The framework of the partnership has been designed to be flexible and projects and activities can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals or groups. It has been split into three overall categories which are:
Targeted Education – this covers four areas of employability, enterprise & young business, environment/green energy and co-ordination & partnership.
Community Engagement – this looks at ways in which Rockingham can be used by the wider community and is not necessarily academic-led.
Engineering – this area will focus on motor vehicle education and training.
Director of Enterprise Education Foundation, Graham Lloyd, said: “We are very excited about the education we can provide using the unique backdrop of Rockingham. We know already that young people are instantly inspired by just being at the circuit.
“The partnership offers us a real chance to work in collaboration with Rockingham and to use their business expertise to offer a range of educational opportunities. We know some of the most engaging education is delivered through partnerships and this is what we will be developing with Rockingham over the next few years.”
The partnership will look to build on a number of educational events held at Rockingham over the past 10-years, such as the Shell-Eco Marathon, Rockingham Festival, Inclusion Days for young people with learning difficulties and severe disabilities and other school activities.
Anyone who would like more information about the partnership or is interested in holding an educational project at Rockingham can contact the EEF on 01536 2700030 or email Graham Lloyd at graham.lloyd@rockingham.co.uk.
