Bartley Green School Triumphs at 20th Next Generation Awards with language inclusion project

Bartley Green School has been crowned the winner of the 20th Birmingham Civic Society Next Generation Awards, securing a £1,500 prize for their outstanding project, Together in Translation — a student-led initiative designed to support families for whom English is an additional language.

Developed by Year 9 pupils (now in Year 10), some of whom are EAL learners themselves, the project offers tailored support packs for parents and children, alongside workshops and community events aimed at breaking down language barriers and fostering inclusion across Birmingham’s diverse communities.

The judging panel was deeply impressed by the team’s empathy, research, and practical approach to bridging communication gaps. Their win was announced at the celebratory finals held at Birmingham Newman University, where the students received their award from the Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Ken Wood, and Guest of Honour Michael Sheehan — one of the original architects of the NGA programme two decades ago.

Mrs Chan, Headteacher of Bartley Green School, shared her pride:

“We are all incredibly proud of our pupils for winning the Next Generation Award 2025 with their project to create support packs for EAL (English as an Additional Language) parents and children. The idea was developed collaboratively by Year 9 pupils (now in Year 10), some of whom are EAL learners, drawing on their own experiences and supported by thoughtful research to design resources that will help families new to English.

“The £1,500 award will enable them to produce and distribute the packs more widely. This success reflects teamwork, creativity and dedication; we are grateful to Birmingham Newman University and the Birmingham Civic Society’s Next Generation Award team for this inspiring opportunity.”

Stephanie Bloxham, Co-Chair of Birmingham Civic Society, added:

“We’re thrilled for Bartley Green School and excited to see how Together in Translation evolves. The 20th year of the NGAs has once again highlighted the creativity, compassion, and civic spirit of Birmingham’s young people.”

Sinead Joyce, Head of Education, Childhood and Professional Studies at Birmingham Newman University, echoed the sentiment:

“We’re proud to support the Birmingham Civic Society’s Next Generation Awards—an inspiring initiative that aligns closely with Birmingham Newman’s ethos of inclusion, community engagement, and empowering young people to shape a better future. As the top-ranked university in England for Social Inclusion in The Times Good University Guide 2025–26, it’s a pleasure to collaborate on a project that reflects our shared commitment to widening participation and nurturing potential.”

With the support of modern foreign languages mentor Ingrid Lee from Birmingham Newman University, the students are now set to bring their project to life — expanding its reach and impact across the city.