College students design workshops for special needs school kids
A new partnership between Middlesbrough College and Discovery Special Academy in Middlesbrough is helping young people with complex learning needs explore science and technology through creative, student-led sessions.
The project began when Discovery Special Academy sought support to strengthen its STEM and careers provision, leading to a recommendation from video game developer Double Eleven and a collaboration with Middlesbrough College's Digital department.
Cher Griffiths, curriculum team leader at Middlesbrough College, said: "The experience has been incredibly rewarding for our students, who have stepped outside their comfort zones and learned how to engage meaningfully with children who have special educational needs.
"The feedback from both sides has been fantastic.
"Watching the students work together to achieve something meaningful has been inspiring – it's what our social action projects are all about."
Over the past three months, college students have designed and led practical workshops in robotics, problem-solving, photography, and more.
Pupils have built cars and robots using Lego Mindstorms, taken part in digital photography activities, and created visual storytelling projects.
One session involved using puppets to tell the story of a typical day at the academy.
College students helped the children set up scenes, take photographs, and assemble a visual narrative.
The collaboration has also led to the creation of a bank of classroom resources for Discovery Special Academy's teaching staff to use beyond the life of the project.
The partnership will continue for the remainder of the academic year, with plans for academy pupils to visit Middlesbrough College and explore its digital facilities, including a professional film studio and e-sports arena.
Both organisations say the project has delivered meaningful benefits for all involved.
Pupils have gained new experiences in STEM, while college students have developed skills in leadership, communication, and creative problem-solving.
Middlesbrough College hopes to expand the partnership in the future, exploring new areas of digital learning and building on the success of this year's social action project.
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