b'To live is to change wrote Cardinal Newman, and the past 12 months have seen a dramatic series of changes at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys.It is in the nature of school life that thereMost significant, of course, have been are frequent transformations in personalitiesthe changes in school leadership in what and characters in the student body, asmay be remembered as The Year of Three every September we welcome aroundHeadteachers. The three school terms 150 new faces to Year 7, and later in theof 2023-24 have been unusual in that summer term wish students in Years 11 andeach has been under the stewardship of 13 every success as they leave to preparea different headteacher; and in this years for exams. This academic year, however,edition of The Bridge we bid farewell to we have also witnessed teacher promotionsDr Bird as he leaves us with his parting to the leadership of three subject areas,thoughts, and look back with Mr Conway English, Science, and Modern Foreignon a career journey which brought him Languages, together with three new Headsto the headteachers office at HGS. And, of Year appointed to Years 7, 9 and Sixthjust as with London buses, we welcome Form. We wish everyone success andMr Johnson as the new headteacher, fulfilment in their new roles. who reflects in these pages on his road to Here at The Bridge, the annual schoolHandsworth.magazine also finds itself under newAd multos annos!management with the departure of Ms Brown as editorwe thank her for her hardMr Kevin Organwork and years of service and send very best wishes for the future.3'