An innovative technological project led by young people at Arc Oakbridge School in Birmingham has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.
The Birmingham school has been named as a finalist in the NASS (National Association of Special Schools) Innovation Category for their ‘Music Technology and Podcast Project’. This amazing project saw two young people from the school create and record an innovative podcast and involve the whole school in the process.
Arc Oakbridge School is a small specialist school supporting autistic young people in the heart of Birmingham. As part of its curriculum, the school embraces technology and its role in helping pupils fall back in love with learning and to help them re-engage with subjects and overcome challenges.
The project shortlisted for the award saw Music Technology help students learn impressive skills which they can take forward in their further education and careers, including developing, producing and hosting an impressive podcast.
As part of their course work – Managing a Music Project - they created ‘Kedleston’s 18th Poddy’, a podcast which brought the school together, and showcased everyone’s talents. They gathered feedback to ascertain everyone’s talents and views, researched and bought the required equipment, tested it, scheduled and scripted the podcast and also promoted the event as well as recording and editing it.
Headteacher at the school Jilly McCarrick said: “The podcast was led by two young people who had previously struggled with social and communication difficulties. The impact on their self-esteem – and the whole school - was phenomenal.
“We are thrilled that their hard work has been recognised in being named as finalists for this wonderful award. We are incredibly proud of the young people, and they should be rightly proud of themselves.”
The winner of the award will be announced at the NASS Conference, being held in Leeds on October 3rd 2024.