Shaping Portsmouth

This year’s competition challenged young people to design and create a product to mark a significant milestone: the City of Portsmouth's 100-year anniversary.

Mary Rose Academy rose to the challenge, entering three creative and innovative teams, each showcasing imagination, enterprise, and purpose.

• Poseidon Class created a delicious “Brookie” – a brownie and cookie hybrid that proved a popular treat.
• Magic Wand Business Enterprise Group designed and produced a thoughtfully crafted
  cushion.
• Wildlings Business Enterprise Group, made up of our incredible Post 16 students, created something truly special.

The Wildlings team took 1st place overall, beating 11 other teams in a highly competitive
field – a remarkable achievement and a testament to their dedication, teamwork, and
creativity.

Their winning product, SenScapes, is a beautifully handcrafted interactive sensory board designed specifically with inclusivity in mind. SenScapes supports sensory exploration and engagement and includes a QR code linking to a bespoke music video, adding an exciting multi-sensory element. The product was created with our younger pupils at Mary Rose Academy at its heart, ensuring meaningful impact and accessibility for children with special educational needs.

One of the most powerful moments of the conference came when a Wildlings student bravely took to the microphone to address the audience.

Speaking with confidence and passion, they highlighted an important issue: there are still not enough toys available in mainstream shops for children with special educational needs. SenScapes was created to help address this gap – a powerful  reminder of the importance of inclusive design and student-led innovation.

The success doesn’t stop there. Following their win, SenScapes is now moving into full production and will soon be on sale at the Spinnaker Tower, allowing the students’ work to reach an even wider audience and make a lasting impact within the community.

Congratulations to all our teams, and especially to the Wildlings – you’ve done it again!