Its School Organisation Team received a Team Excellence Award in recognition of the key role it plays in ensuring there are sufficient places for the city’s growing pupil population.
And Young Persons Advisor Sam Neath received a Special Award for his work in spearheading the National Championship Cup 25 football tournament for care leavers, which gave over 200 young care leavers the chance to compete, connect, and showcase their skills on the hallowed turf of Molineux Stadium this summer.
The School Organisation Team has worked tirelessly to introduce an additional 539 places – equivalent to over 17 forms of entry – across 26 mainstream primary and secondary schools, including the planning and delivery of 8 capital schemes.
It is also delivering additional places for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities through the expansion of existing special schools and the introduction of more Resource Bases and SEN Units.
Meanwhile, Sam was presented with the first ever Special Individual Award – given to someone ‘whose personal contribution has made an extraordinary impact’ – for his tireless work organising the National Championship Cup 25. It brought together young carers leavers from across England to compete at Molineux Stadium – and received praise in the House of Commons.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “I would like to congratulate our School Organisation Team and Sam Neath on these accolades; both are richly deserved winners.
“In the face of ever rising demand, our School Organisation Team has shown incredible resilience and tenacity to find solutions across the city, leaving no stone unturned as they work with schools and Academy Trusts to add additional capacity into Wolverhampton’s schools.
“The team is utterly committed to helping children in the city achieve their best possible outcomes, and it is this sense of purpose that keeps them motivated and feeds their resilience.
“And I am delighted that Sam has been recognised for his tireless work, year in, year out, for our young care leavers. Once again, this year’s National Championship Cup proved the old adage that football is more than just a game – for some, it can be an escape and a breath of fresh air.
“This annual event gives young people the chance to not only showcase their talents on the pitch of one of England’s most prestigious sporting venues, but also to demonstrate their resilience and spirit off it.”
Nigel Minns, Chair of the West Midlands Association of Directors of Children’s Services, added: “Across our region, teams work tirelessly to support children, young people, and families – often in ways that go unseen outside their own service. This is our chance to shine a spotlight on that work, to say thank you, and to share the stories that remind us why we do what we do.”
