Bournville School award nomination: A Birmingham school with a reputation for enriching its students’ lives by building valuable partnerships with everyone from the police to a major football club has been nominated for a prestigious award.
Bournville School, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi Academy Trust (FMAT) has been nominated for the Transforming Lives Through Partnerships Award at the 2025 Education Awards.
The Education Awards recognise the most outstanding contributors to education in a string of glittering events across the UK.
The award recognises educational institutions which have transformed the lives and opportunities of young people through partnerships with outside organisations.
At Bournville, that means close relationships with many major institutions, including the NHS, the Police, local authorities and more, providing enriching opportunities for young people from primary school age all the way through to GCSE.
Principal Marie Rooney said: “It’s a common saying that it takes a village to raise a child – well, it takes solid partnerships to raise a school of children.
“Preparing children for adulthood isn’t just about academics. It’s about teaching them to be independent, to be good citizens and contribute to society, and to be healthy in the way that they live. These pillars of development drive all of our partnerships.”
“Preparing children for adulthood isn’t just about academics. It’s about teaching them to be independent, to be good citizens and contribute to society, and to be healthy in the way that they live. These pillars of development drive all of our partnerships,”
– Principal Marie Rooney
Among the school’s most recent ventures is the opening of their Community Hub, created in partnership with West Midlands Police and the NHS, which provides a place where external services like family hubs and community services can liaise with parents.
Miss Rooney said: “Of course the children are at the forefront of our targets with our partners, but communication with and support for parents is absolutely vital too. The Community Hub is an excellent space for everyone in the school community to access critical services – it’s something we’re very proud of.”
Through a strong partnership with the local authority, Bournville works hard to maximise support for children with SEND (special educational needs and/or disabilities).
Miss Rooney explained: “Our work with the local authority helps us define how to best spend school funds to improve services for children with additional needs. Their support is so important in keeping Bournville an accessible and welcoming place for all students.”
Another partnership, this time with multiple other schools within the Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust (FMAT), is revolutionising how students struggling with the typical curriculum are approached.
At Bournville, students who are having difficulties with the classroom learning environment, and those who might be at risk of suspension, are identified and supported.
Miss Rooney said: “With the help of our fellow FMAT schools, we can give these children vocational opportunities alongside the standard curriculum, whether it’s music, drama, sporting or something else. It really helps them feel valued and accomplished.”
Enrichment opportunities are also provided to all pupils at Bournville through partnerships with outside organisations. In the classroom, each department has its own links to subject-specific organisations.
Pride over Bournville School award nomination
Miss Rooney said: “A wonderful recent example of this is our Personal Development Team, which put on a brilliant Culture Day last week in support of Unicef. Our students got to experience and celebrate different cultures like never before.”
Outside the classroom, a partnership with the Education Services provides music and sport opportunities, and a budding relationship with Birmingham City Football Club Foundation will hopefully be a game-changer.
Miss Rooney said: “We’re currently partnering up with the Foundation, which will hopefully not only provide mentoring a few times a week for children in need but will also promote sport and healthy living opportunities across the school.”
Staff are thrilled that their work has been recognised with this nomination.
Miss Rooney said: “We’re so proud just to have been nominated – we work really hard at Bournville to give our students the best opportunities with the best organisations, and it’s wonderful to see the wider community noticing.”