🎄 Bring it on Brum! – Christmas Holidays

Eligible families will have received an email from school with details on booking procedures for the Christmas holiday programme. Please check your inbox and follow the instructions provided.

If you believe you are eligible but haven’t received an email, contact Miss Conway enquiry@handsworth.bham.sch.uk

On Wednesday 19 November, Mr King represented the school at the House of Commons as a commentator at the AI and Democracy Forum, an event organised by the Hellenic Tech Network and chaired by Sir Roger Gale MP.

The forum brought together contributors from education, technology and public service to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping everyday life. In his contribution, Mr King drew on themes that regularly arise in his work with students, families and the school community, particularly how young people encounter and understand AI at home, in school and online.

Reflecting on the discussion, he said:

“People are not afraid of technology; they are afraid of not understanding the systems that shape their lives. Our role in schools is to make that understanding accessible to every learner.”

His comments highlighted the kinds of questions and perspectives that teachers often hear across the school community, helping ensure that the discussion recognised the everyday experiences of learners as well as national experts.

The themes explored at the forum connect closely to work already happening at HGS through the Computing curriculum and our CyberFirst Silver Award, both of which help students develop the digital knowledge, confidence and critical thinking needed for further study, future careers and informed participation in an AI-driven digital world.

On Friday 7^th November, Quantum Theatre came to our school and performed A Christmas Carol in the hall, and it was an amazing experience that aligned academically with our English Literature specification! It was a high energy, emotion-filled performance, and most of us didn’t know the story beforehand so it will prove helpful when analysing the story in our studies. The play was conveyed by each actor for a character perfectly, showing their character change over time.

A Christmas Carol is about a miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who hates Christmas and everything about it. One night, he’s visited by three ghosts who take him through his past, present and future. In doing so, he learns how his actions have impacted other people and how meaningful it is to be giving and kind.

The actor who played Scrooge himself was totally suited for the part. He started off cold and angry making sick jokes about others’ misery. But little by little, as time went on, you could see the transformation. By the end of the play, he seemed a different man going past what even an ordinary civilian is expected to do: donating a full large turkey to a family and donating plenty to charity. The rest of the cast, only two other actors, were equally impressive and able to portray many different roles, keeping the audience captivated for the whole time. We also were introduced to background information by Mr Organ, that made the story’s purpose make sense. Charles Dickens, a boy with a troubled childhood, leaving school at 12 years old to work in a factory with a dad who was imprisoned for debt, wrote A Christmas Carol to raise awareness of the plight of the poor and to advocate for social change, believing that the rich had a responsibility to look after the poor.

The set was very well lit and presented a jolly atmosphere with constant carols being sung to welcome the time of Christmas. The timing with the actor switch arounds and their different gestures expanded Dickens’ world for us, transforming a book into a play despite the barriers that may be there because of reality’s limits.

Overall, Quantum Theatre’s A Christmas Carol was engaging and compelling. It found humour and the heart of the story both at the same time and strongly carried through the moral – that it’s never too late to change, but when you do, it’s important to be compassionate and generous.

Muhammad Ibrahim (Year 10)

On Friday 7^th November, our year group was taken into the school hall to watch a live-action performance of A Christmas Carol by the Quantum Theatre group, and it was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The play lasted about an hour and managed to capture the heart and spirit of Charles Dickens’ classic story through a combination of clever acting, humor, emotion, and festive energy.

What really made this performance impressive was that it was only done by three actors. Although there are more than ten major characters in A Christmas Carol alone, such as Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the three Ghosts of Christmas, each character had a distinct and believable role. Each actor made every character unique through creative costume changes, facial expressions, and strong body language. Many times,peoples emotions quickly changed character to character.

Transitions between scenes were smooth and very well-timed. Actors moved seamlessly from one moment to another, keeping the audience engaged all the time. The props and set pieces present were simple but effective to bring about the change of location or time but did not distract one from the performance. For example, a few quick changes in lighting or a small prop were enough to transform a cheerful Christmas scene into a dark and eerie moment with one of the ghosts.

The inclusion of music and sound really helped bring this story alive. The songs made for a more vibrant and celebratory atmosphere, while specific sounds added tension in the dark scenes. These touches were professional and helped make the performance seem immersive and dynamic. All in all, the performance by the Quantum Theatre group was a very enjoyable one: fun, easily understandable, and full of Christmas magic. The actors did a great job retelling Dickens’s timeless story in their own expressive and engaging way, reminding the audience about the need to be kind, generous, and compassionate. It was indeed in line with the Christmas Spirit, and it left everyone in the hall smiling at the end.

Nathan Patel (Year 10)

We’re proud to see Norman King CITP FBCS , our Head of Computing at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, contributing as a commentator at the AI + Democracy Forum at the House of Commons.

Mr King’s leadership in computing education, digital inclusion and ethical technology continues to make a real impact—both within our school community and nationally.

👏 Congratulations, and thank you for representing us with such distinction.

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