PUBLIC TRANSPORT LINKs FROM EACH NODaL POINT TO SHIRELAND BIOMEDICAl UTC ACADEMy
At Shireland Biomedical UTC, we are committed to serving families across all six towns of Sandwell: Wednesbury, Oldbury, Smethwick, Tipton, West Bromwich, and Rowley Regis. To support this borough-wide vision, our admissions process is built around a nodal point structure.
The interactive map below shows where nodal points are located and the most convenient bus route available. (Click on a route on the map to display more information.)
what are nodal points?
A nodal point is a key location within each of Sandwell’s six towns. These points represent a central reference location we use when assessing applications and planning accessible transport routes. Rather than focusing on how close a student lives to the Academy itself, we look at how close they are to their nearest nodal point.
HOW DO NODAL POINTS WORK?
Where the number of applications exceeds the number of available places in a year group, we apply the oversubscription criteria outlined in our Admissions Policy. Under this structure, a child’s proximity to their nearest nodal point will be taken into consideration — not just their distance from the school building.
This means that:
- Students from all six towns are considered equally and fairly.
- Your location within Sandwell still matters — but it’s based on the nearest nodal point, not the school’s postcode.
- The Academy remains truly inclusive and representative of our wider community.`
For more detailed location information, please refer to our full Admissions Policy.
From Wednesbury
Nodal point location: Wellcroft & Trouse Lane
Transport options:
- National Express West Midlands bus 79 towards West Bromwich (18 minutes).
From Oldbury
Nodal point location: Where Regent Road meets Oakham Road.
Transport options:
- National Express West Midlands bus 12 towards Birmingham then National Express West Midlands bus 4 towards Walsall (42 minutes).
From Smethwick
Nodal point location: Where the Harborne Road meets Abbey Road.
Transport options:
- National Express West Midlands bus 48 towards West Bromwich (25 minutes).
From West Bromwich
Nodal point location: Where Dartmouth Street meets West Bromwich High Street.
Transport options:
- Walk 2 minutes to High Street and Shireland Biomedical UTC.
From Rowley Regis
Nodal point location: Where Long Lane (A4034) crosses Horner Way (A4099).
Transport options:
- National Express West Midlands bus 4 towards Walsall (41 minutes).
From Tipton
Nodal point location: Where Sedgley Road East (A457) crosses Dudley Port (A461).
Transport options:
- National Express West Midlands bus 74 towards Birmingham (38 minutes).
