The Midland Metro Alliance has awarded trophies and medals in a special celebration event for the winners of a creative design competition it has been running with pupils from Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) schools and Alternative Provision (AP) schools.
The competition received entries from more than 400 participating Black Country students and was launched in April 2023. It was designed to introduce pupils to the light rail and construction sectors and showcase students’ exceptional artistic talents through the design of bug hotels and tram stops and to empower and inspire students while promoting inclusivity.
The Midland Metro Alliance, which is designing and building new tramway schemes on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, invited 180 young people and their teachers, to a specially planned event at Dudley College on Monday 10 July as part of their ongoing careers advice and skills workstream.
Rose Rees, Head of Engagement and Skills at the Midland Metro Alliance, said: “Throughout the competition, my colleagues and I have been deeply impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by all participating schools. Each entry has exhibited a remarkable level of imagination and skill, highlighting the unique talents of these exceptional students. The alliance firmly believes in fostering opportunities for SEND and AP school children to express their creativity and has been delighted to witness their artistic brilliance unfold throughout this competition.”
Pupils excelled in various categories, with all participants receiving individual medals and winning teams receiving trophy supplied by Wolverhampton Trophy Centre.
Winners on the day included:
Bug Hotel Category:
Dudley College – “Land of the Ladybugs”: The students from this school have created a bug hotel design that not only provides a welcoming habitat for insects but also demonstrates a deep understanding of sustainability and environmental conservation.
The Nightingale Centre – “Creature Comforts Coronation Chair Fit for Royalty”: The creativity and attention to detail showcased in this school’s bug hotel design have set a new standard, highlighting the students’ commitment to nurturing biodiversity.
Cherry Tree Learning Centre – “Buggingham Palace”: The students’ bug hotel design from this school beautifully integrates aesthetics with functionality, showcasing their impressive knowledge of insects’ needs and habitats.
Tram Stop Category:
Castle School: This school’s tram stop design used Lego blocks in the design to ensuring practicality and accessibility.
Mikey at Rosewood School: Mikey skilfully designed a tram stop that merged functionality with artistic expression, providing a safe and welcoming environment for passengers. Mikey has also been asked to present his design to technical design colleagues at alliance partner, Pell Frischmann’s Birmingham offices later in the summer.
Westcroft School: Judges were impressed with the colourful and playful take on a city centre tram stop and thought it displayed the students’ exceptional vision and talent.
Tina Chance, Key Stage 5 teacher at The Meadows, said: “We’re really grateful for the Midland Metro Alliance for organising such an interesting and exciting event for our students. They’ve been abuzz all spring planning, discussing, and building their designs and it’s been fantastic for developing their teamwork skills.” Jamie Dulson, Technology Teacher at Rosewood School, added: “Children and young people attending SEND or AP schools can be forgotten when it comes to additional employability support and guidance, so it’s fantastic that there’s been such a focus since the spring on these pupils being able to express their exceptional talents in this competition.”