From 3^rd March to 9^th March a group of 40 students and 5 staff visited Italy for a two-centred trip organised by the Geography Department.

We met at school very early on the morning of 3^rd March and travelled by coach to Heathrow airport for our flight to Rome.  After leaving our bags at the Hotel Archimede we enjoyed a walking tour of the capital city of Rome, where we were able to visit many places including the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. We then headed back to the hotel to settle-in before heading out again for our evening meal at a local restaurant.  On the next day, we enjoyed another walking tour, this time including the Colosseum, where we saw where gladiators would have fought in front of an audience of 85,000 people. Shortly afterwards, we went to the Vatican City and saw the famous Sistine Chapel which has the magnificent ceiling designed by the artist Michelangelo, adorned with religious symbolism, and architecture that dates back to the 16th century.  We also visited St. Peter’s Basilica before heading back to our hotel.

On the next day we boarded a coach to travel to the bay of Naples and visited Pompeii on our journey where we were able to clearly see remains of life in 1st Century Italy. We were able to see ancient streets, houses and atriums all of which were preserved by volcanic ash and then uncovered and restored by archaeologists.  We were based at the Hotel Albatross in Sorrento for the next 3 nights.  From here, we visited the Island of Capri.  On our ferry journey there, the choppy water meant that many of our group were sick – our teachers (Mr Thaper, Mr Sanders, Miss Morgan, Mr Campbell and Mr Jones) were kept busy supplying sick bags to us (and some other passengers!)  We then had a boat trip around the island to see gorgeous cliffs, mountains and sea- caves.  On the following day we climbed the infamous Mt. Vesuvius which is famed for destroying the city of Pompeii. The climb was easy but exciting, as throughout we were met with incredible views. We then visited Herculaneum, which was also destroyed during Vesuvius’s eruption in AD79.

For the full duration of the trip, we ate authentic Italian cuisine, which was mouth-watering and flavourful. On our final day, we took part in a gnocchi-making session at a farm and, after taking a tour of the farm whilst our food was cooking, ate what we had made.  It was very tasty!  From here, we headed to Naples Airport for our flight home, after what had been a very enjoyable, educational and tiring week.

Amrit, Amaan and Yazan

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Year 10 GCSE History Visit on 19 June 2024

After doing preliminary work and enduring a 90-minute coach ride, we finally arrived at Hardwick Hall. My first impression was that the building was huge and had many windows; in fact, at the time, it was described as having “more glass than wall”. After a brief tour, where we saw luxurious tapestries and antique furniture, we attended a talk about Bess of Hardwick, the first owner of Hardwick Hall- and I must say that the history behind the building is fascinating. Then, we took a tour of the Old Hall, which is now in ruin, and walked around in the gardens. The whole experience showcased the wealth and status of Bess of Hardwick. (Suhban Alam, 10G)

I found the Hardwick Trip very interesting because I had the opportunity to see a house that was roughly 500 years old and was built for Bess of Hardwick. I also found the trip informative because we learnt about the history of Hardwick Hall. It was built for Bess of Hardwick because she wanted to show her wealth and power, which the house symbolised through its location and the letters ‘E’ and ‘S’ (Elizabeth Shrewsbury) that stand on top of the house. (Hamza Bashe, 10A)

The visit to Hardwick Hall was fascinating. The house allowed us to step into the shoes of people living in the 16th century, being able to experience their ideas of fashion and even architecture. We discovered that Hardwick Hall was designed by one of the earliest British architects, Robert Smythson, who implemented Renaissance designs of symmetry into the grand mansion. Also, the owner of the house, Bess of Hardwick, used the house as a show of her incredible wealth, using expensive glass panes formed from smaller pieces of glass and having elaborate patterns of her title ‘ES’ to constantly boast her wealth. The trip will also be useful for our upcoming exams for GCSE History and gets us very close to experiencing what life was like in the 16th century. (George Lin, 10W)

Hardwick Hall was such a wonderful educational experience, we learnt all about Bess of Hardwick and had a talk that was around 15 minutes explaining a lot of things about her life. The tapestries in the house are exceptional and lovely to look at. There are over 40 rooms, and each one is filled with its own unique history. The gardens are peaceful and well maintained, however, the same can’t be said for the Old Hall, which is in ruins, but despite this, it still has an amazing view at the top. Overall, I really enjoyed Hardwick Hall and would say that it was a thought-provoking visit. (Inderveer Singh, 10G)

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Congratulations to Alvin Chan (8 Alfred) pictured below, receiving his Cyber Explorers Champion Certificate for completing all levels and missions on the Cyber Explorers learning platform.

Cyber Explorers is the government’s flagship online learning platform, currently teaching Cyber Security skills to more than 60 000 key stage three students across the UK.

Mr King – Head of Computing was approached by the Cyber Explorers team to discuss how our students find the programme and what factors would motivate them to consider a career in Cyber Security.

Please click here to read the full case study.

On Tuesday, 4th June 2023, students from Year 10 and 12 were graced with the presence of the ever-exuberant and captivating John Sweeney, investigative journalist, author, and now hopeful Liberal Democrat candidate for Sutton Coldfield. He indulged the attentive audience with a selection of unparalleled experiences, from his time undercover in North Korea to his dealings with the Church of Scientology, while also providing interesting perspectives on global affairs, particularly concerning the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the tyranny of Vladimir Putin (whom he has in fact interviewed and nearly thrown up on as a result of a dodgy kebab—a story he enthusiastically divulged to us). Sweeney managed to maintain a humorous disposition while expertly educating all observers on the harsh reality of life in Russia and the constant pursuit of true democracy through the recounting of multiple ordeals with figures such as Alexei Navalny and even with Ukrainian soldiers who initially mistook him for a Russian spy.

Students and teachers alike were enthralled and therefore asked a range of questions, including those regarding the impact of social media on modern journalism, how former president Donald Trump has maintained seemingly high levels of popularity, and whether there is anything more sinister behind the relationship Russia has with the West, or if the fundamental disagreements between the two societies are so profound that peaceful coexistence may never be an option. Domestic policies were also discussed in depth, as Sweeney’s care for his constituency was displayed through his many ideas, including his desire for red deer to return to Sutton Park—after all, if they were good enough for Henry VIII, they are good enough for us.

Jack Gallagher 12PJO

He discussed the importance of democracy, acknowledging its flaws but emphasizing its value, especially after having experienced life in Putin’s Russia and North Korea. Referencing his time as an MP candidate for Sutton Coldfield, he expressed his frustration with those who choose not to vote. While I always understood the importance of democracy, hearing about his experiences in authoritarian regimes gave this sentiment a whole new depth. John Sweeney was an excellent speaker, and his passion for protecting democracy was evident. While I was somewhat familiar with many of the topics he discussed, his expert knowledge and real-world experience provided a deeper understanding.

Emils Jakubonis 12KOR

On the 23^rd May, 14 year 10 students swapped the industry and bustle of Birmingham for the Cotswold stone and colleges of Oxford. They had an inspirational day chock full of aspiration and great advice from current student guides. The guides armed our students with students with everything needed to make a strong application to a top university. The highlights of the day included a wonderful guest lecture from current PHD student Clare Burgess where the lads excelled in their perceptive questioning and got a chance to showcase their scholarship.  Next we followed in the footsteps of JRR Tolkien and visited the breath-taking Exeter College. In the words of Ethisham Hussain (10N):I learnt a lot from the experience, such as the fact that Oxford University consists of near 40 colleges. The tour of Oxford displayed its long and evident history, as well as the fact that it has also changed with time, and so has maintained its relevance even today, nearly 1000 years since its original founding. The trip has solidified my thoughts of attending a university like Oxford, or potentially even Oxford itself. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and found it fascinating hearing about the journey from secondary school to Oxford, from Oxford students directly.