Year 7 Adventure at Whitemoor Lakes
From 20th May to 22nd May, 108 of our Year 7 pupils, accompanied by 11 staff, embarked on an unforgettable three-day residential trip to Whitemoor Lakes Activity Centre. Packed with adventure, teamwork, and personal growth, the trip proved to be a truly exciting and memorable experience for everyone involved.
Upon arrival on the first day, pupils quickly settled into their dormitories, buzzing with anticipation for the days ahead. The communal areas soon came alive with friendly competition, as pupils enjoyed games such as Uno and travel board games, immediately strengthening friendships and creating a relaxed, positive atmosphere. Wasting no time, the group soon launched straight into their first activities, including energetic team-building sports that encouraged cooperation and communication.
The excitement continued into the evening, when pupils gathered to watch Aston Villa lift the trophy on a big-screen projector — a highlight moment that added a special touch to the first night.
Day two was action-packed from start to finish, with pupils taking part in five different activities throughout the day. From climbing and the gladiator challenge to canoeing, raft building, and the zip wire, pupils were constantly challenged to step out of their comfort zones. These activities not only built confidence and resilience but also highlighted the importance of teamwork, trust, and determination. Between sessions, pupils recharged with meals together, sharing stories and building lasting memories.
The second evening ended on a high with a campfire experience, where pupils sang, danced, played games, and enjoyed time together in a relaxed setting. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and energy, reinforcing the strong sense of community that had developed over the trip.
On the final day, pupils squeezed in a few more activities before lunch, making the most of every last moment before boarding the coach home. Despite being tired, spirits remained high as pupils reflected on everything they had achieved.
Throughout the trip, many pupils spoke about overcoming fears, particularly when tackling heights during climbing and zip wire activities. It was fantastic to see such courage and determination, with pupils supporting each other every step of the way. The trip also provided a valuable opportunity for pupils to bond, strengthen friendships, and create shared experiences that will stay with them for years to come.
Pupil Reflections
“The climbing was a challenge but I did it! I’m going to do it even quicker now!” – Ishaq
“Thank you so much for picking these activities, they’re amazing!” – Owais
“Getting Villa on the projector was unforgettable!” – Dom
Overall, the Whitemoor Lakes residential was a resounding success. It was an exciting, enriching experience that combined adventure with personal development, and it is clear that every pupil gained something special from the trip. The enthusiasm, resilience, and positivity shown by the group made it a truly rewarding experience for both pupils and staff alike.
Click here to view more photos in the gallery.
CyberFirst Student Leader Award
Two further students have been honoured with the prestigious CyberFirst Student Leader Award, a national accolade presented by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to honour young people who demonstrate exceptional leadership, a commitment to developing cyber skills, and a strong advocacy for digital safety.
Head Boy Daniyal Mehmood and year 10 computer scientist Mohammad Ibrahim were selected for their contributions to whole-school initiatives, their promotion of responsible online behaviour, and their leadership in organising digital activities that encourage students to explore cybersecurity and digital career opportunities.
The award celebrates individuals who not only build strong computing knowledge but also motivate others, raise awareness of cyber skills, and actively support their school communities in staying safe online. Both students exemplify these qualities, showing initiative, confidence, and a genuine passion for digital innovation. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the positive impact they have made in fostering a safer, more digitally aware school community. The award is also highly regarded by leading UK universities, as it reflects leadership and meaningful engagement with emerging cybersecurity principles.
Year 10 Food Students Practical Exam
Our Year 10 Food students recently completed their mock practical exam, a challenging assessment requiring them to prepare and cook three dishes entirely from scratch within a three-hour time limit.
The atmosphere in the kitchen was focused and purposeful throughout. Students demonstrated excellent culinary knowledge, organisation and practical skills. They managed their time effectively while producing a range of high-quality dishes. It was fantastic to see the progress they have made this year reflected so clearly in their work.
A particular highlight of the exam days was the support of staff volunteers, who tasted the dishes and provided constructive feedback. Their input gave students valuable insight into their strengths, as well as clear guidance on areas for further development.
We are incredibly proud of the effort shown by all students.
STEM Cyber-Fest Masterclass
On Wednesday 10th June, HGS took its Year 12 ICDL and Computer Science students to Bromsgrove School’s STEM Cyber-Fest Masterclass. The event featured an excellent lineup of guest speakers, including representatives from QinetiQ, who demonstrated how cyber analysts can trace digital evidence back to an individual; Dr Harjinder Lallie OBE, who highlighted the growing importance of digital literacy in the context of evolving cybercrime; Dr Adrian Burden, who shared thought-provoking predictions on the future trajectory of artificial intelligence; and Dr Andrew Tomlinson, who illustrated the vulnerabilities present in modern autonomous vehicles.
One of our sessions, led by QinetiQ, focused on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT). It was a particularly engaging and insightful experience, demonstrating how a single image can yield a remarkable amount of information. From one photograph, we were able to determine where and when it had been taken, as well as the type of device used to take the picture. Elements such as architectural features, branding and embedded metadata, all contributed to building a comprehensive picture analysis. These skills were then applied in a collaborative challenge, which encouraged careful observation and analytical thinking. The session provided a strong appreciation for the importance of detail, particularly those subtle clues that are often easily overlooked.
The opportunity to engage directly with leading experts in the field of computer science, felt both inspiring and highly valuable, offering insights that are not always accessible within a typical classroom setting.
To conclude the day, we applied our newly acquired cybersecurity knowledge in a competitive forensic challenge, where we were tasked with identifying the source of a simulated cyberattack. This involved activities such as hash reversal and code breaking. We are proud to report that HGS secured first place in this competition.
Nihal Sharma and Bikramjit Singh.
‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players’
HGS was proud to host the esteemed British actor of stage and screen, Alfred Enoch for an inspirational talk with students on the afternoon of Friday 12th June. Alfred has recently just finished a run as the eponymous lead in Henry V and is currently back in the West Midlands to rehearse for the Cherry Orchard with Sir Kenneth Branagh later this summer and we were tremendously grateful that he was able to find time to leave Stratford for the Soho Road and impart his wisdom to our students. He was able to give lessons and honest reflections from his life and career and was very keen for those attending to follow their passions in life, seize the opportunities presented to them, and enjoy whatever they do. It was fascinating to hear that he very nearly did not get his big break as Dean Thomas in Harry Potter because he was too nervous and worried to put himself out there. Similarly, Alfred made sure that all students attending knew the value of taking advantage when opportunity knocks and that there is nothing worse than having regrets and to be left wondering what if….
The most moving part of the talk was when Alfred eruditely spoke of the emotional connection that acting can bring and how his role in Pericles helped to bring catharsis to him and salve his grief after the death of his father. A real highlight of the session was Alfred’s spellbinding rendition of Henry V and the way that he promoted audience participation and a connection with those attending the talk. I am sure that Mr Organ was definitely the proudest member of the audience as his students could remember key scenes and themes from Henry V.
The students attending definitely did the school proud with the calibre of questions they asked from Giovanni Ellison’s fully comprehensive understanding of our guest speaker’s life and acting roles to interesting questions about how actors get the knack of particular accents. This yielded a rather funny moment as Alfred talked us through the sheer terror of having to do an American accent in the states and the dedication that goes into building a believable accent. Ultimately, the students took much away from the talk and had a tremendously valuable experience last Friday afternoon. Thank you to them for their interest and the high standards of questioning and engagement they showed as well as Mrs Mann, Ms Abdullahi, Mr Organ, Mrs Harvey, Mr Kafai, Mr Johnson, Miss Morgan, Miss Okon and Mrs Shaikh for attending the event.
Alfred – ‘break a leg’ in the Cherry Orchard from all at HGS!
CBSO Rite of Spring Concert with School Orchestra
Exceptional! This is the one word that captured the atmosphere of the evening. As a young musician myself, I was in awe of witnessing such experienced individuals play music that I aspire to play.
On the evening of Wednesday 3rd June 2026, along with my fellow KEVI HGS school orchestra members, I attended a concert given by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by the brilliant Ilan Volkov. The duration of the concert was around 2 hours, yet I was thoroughly engaged throughout all of it despite there being only 5 pieces. All the pieces played were very different but in an interesting, unique way. The pieces embodied different aspects of music; some reflected tragedy and death whilst the main piece, The Rite of Spring, reflected an ethereal environment that slowly descended into chaos.
Something that especially sparked my interest was when Mrs Ward introduced me to the history of the conductor and composer Leopold Stokowski and history of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. It debuted early 1918, made by a Russian composer for the wealthy in Paris, where it also included a ballet performance on top of the music. This pushed too many boundaries for the French which resulted in riots because they thought the music was so bad. I similarly felt like rioting because of how effective the piece was at doing something out of the norm. But overall, for me, the first piece stood out the most. It contained a deeper story that revolved around death and mourning which I think connected most to the audience; reaching a part in the brain that most words could not.
I thoroughly enjoyed the night. I think perhaps what made the night so amazing is that I was able to just sit and enjoy the music, rather than worry about the correct rhythms, notes and pitches I would have to play if I was on the stage instead. It was an overall thrilling experience where I was introduced to a significantly different type of music and was enriched around the history of what music used to be like in comparison to today’s music and I would love to attend again!
Sukhmandeep Sanghera
📣 We’re proud to be featured by UK School News!
Our Junior Baccalaureate at Handsworth Grammar School is inspiring Year 7 to 9 students to aim high, get involved, and embrace every aspect of school life. 🎓✨ From earning badges linked to our CARES values to celebrating outstanding achievements like Ranbir completing all five, the enthusiasm has been incredible! 🏅
A big well done to all our students and staff driving this exciting initiative forward 👏
Mr King Shares Insights at French Embassy AI Roundtable
On Thursday 21 May, Mr King represented the school at the Franco-British AI Inclusion and Trust Roundtable, held at the French Residence in London. The event was organised by Aston University’s Cyber Security Innovation Research Centre in collaboration with the Franco-British Data Society, with closing remarks delivered by Her Excellency Madame Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
At a time when the UK and France are working more closely together on artificial intelligence, the roundtable brought together representatives from education, universities, industry, policy, diplomacy and community organisations to discuss how AI can be used safely, fairly and responsibly.
Mr King, Head of Computing, was invited to attend and contribute to discussions about how young people, families and communities can be better supported to understand and engage confidently with new and emerging technologies.
Topics included AI trust, inclusion, safety, governance and the future of truth in an increasingly digital world.
Reflecting on the event, Mr King said:
“Students should not simply consume AI platforms; they should become informed, confident and critical participants in shaping the future of technology. Education has a vital role to play in building trust, confidence and inclusion.”
The discussions reflected many of the themes already explored through the school’s Computing curriculum, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital ethics and the wider impact of technology on society. They also highlight why understanding AI is becoming an important part of digital literacy, future careers and responsible citizenship for our students.
Click here to see the LinkedIn post from Aston University with a highlights video.
Biology Challenge Success
Well done to all 29 students that took part in the Year 10 Biology Challenge.
All students have done brilliantly, with all achieving either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended certificate.
- Gold: 11 students
- Silver: 12 students
- Bronze: 5 students
- Highly Commended: 1 student
All certificates will be given out during our Rewards assembly later this year.
