The English Department is seeing huge success and engagement in our year 7 – 9 students use of Reading Plus – a reading programme designed to improve reading ability. As our students progress through the levels, certificates are awarded. We’re awarding, on average, 50 certificates each week. We’d like to congratulate all the students who have engaged with the programme and, in particular, for the outstanding progress they’ve made.
Our latest LAMDA results are below, these are excellent performances from the LAMDA Exams taken at the Birmingham Public Centre in December 2022. Congratulations to all involved and to Mrs Reynolds our LAMDA teacher.
The pantomime was a trip that a selected few in year 7 were privileged to attend. It took place in the Hippodrome where the students watched the pantomime ‘Dick Whittington’. The Hippodrome itself was filled to the rafters with students across Birmingham schools and the atmosphere was most definitely electric! From the outside, the Hippodrome is a grand building, but this does not begin to show you the palatial extravagance from within.
From beginning to end the performances were comical, the special effects astounding and the performances outstanding – oh no it isn’t – oh yes, it certainly was! There was even a special guest, Dr Ranj from CBBC, who I think has found his calling as a Fairy Prince.
Midway, the obligatory interval ensued during which free vanilla ice cream had been handed out to the audience – who doesn’t like a freebie? Once the interval ended, the show continued.
In the second half we welcomed two fire performers and the audience was captivated by their dangerous tricks. The comedy, tension and surprise continued. Overall, it was an excellent experience and I am looking forward to the next one.
Azlan Jaffri (7W)
Mr. David Taylor, Head of Brass for Birmingham Music Service, delivered 6 sessions to some of our year 7 and 8 students. Mr. Taylor was hoping to inspire another generation of brass players at KEVI HGS. Our boys were using instruments know as ‘PBuzz’ which are an effective way for students to see what it is like to get a sound out of a brass instrument without the need for expensive instruments.
The students enjoyed the challenge of trying to get a sound out of the ‘PBuzz’ with the session culminating in a performance of the main theme from We Will Rock You.
Any students interested in studying an instrument should speak to Mr. Ward.
I am pleased to announce that our C. Bechstein piano arrived late on 31st January 2023 from Manchester. The previous instrument dated from at least the 1890s and had reached the end of its working life, having served the school for many years.
Stefan Czepiel and I embarked on a wonderful journey of discovery late last year to find a replacement instrument for Big School that will last well in to the next century. As part of this process, we visited a couple of piano studios. We started local by visiting Belbroughton with a small number of our boys. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to try playing some of the finest quality pianos available.
A few weeks later we ventured to C. Bechstein Manchester Ltd located in a purpose-built studio in the heart of the city. This studio had a wider range of instruments with prices from £3,000 up to £170,000! One of the challenges we faced was finding an instrument powerful enough to fill Big School. Although Big School does not have a large floor space, the high ceilings make it difficult for a piano to be heard at the back. After several hours of playing and pondering we found the perfect piano. It is almost 2m 30cm in length and weights approximately 415kg.
The piano needs a few weeks to settle before being tuned again but then it will be heard and played by the staff and students of KEVI HGS for many years to come.
M. Ward
I have been dipping in and out of an interesting book lately by Marc Randolph, co-founder of Netflix and author of the book That Will Never Work – which many of you would enjoy.
What I found interesting was what multi-millionaire Marc Randolph thought were key steps to success. All steps we can take ourselves and also what he considered being successful meant so far as he was concerned. It transpires that this is essentially, enjoying being challenged by a new project.
When you play in a sports fixture you will, I imagine, have in your mind what success looks like for you and the team, be that beating the opposition, or perhaps performing better than in the last match; if you perform in a concert, perhaps success is playing your piece note-perfect or perhaps it is more than that? Is it stirring up real emotion in the audience because of the way in which you play or sing? I wonder, have we got a picture in our mind of what success will mean for us as individuals at the end of this term or the end of the year? Do we know what steps we need to take to achieve that success?
As a School, a key our measure of success is our students. We say that we seek to produce happy, creative, moral citizens who live motivated, fulfilled lives while enriching the lives of others. In other words, we say that HGS is successful if our students are able to flourish, and follow the right path for themselves in the right way, and make the lives of others better in the process. Be a Force for Good guided by our HGS CARES values. All the components of a HGS education are hopefully steps to ensure that success for our students.
Recently, I took a brief trip to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. It is a really interesting and fascinating place and well worth a visit although currently it is partly closed for renovation. And although the museum is not surveying visitors there was a notice asking them to comment on what they want the museum to be like. The notice says:
We believe we can be a place:
Those three targets for success could apply here at HGS. We all need to seek opportunities to be inspired; we need to speak to others and listen to them so that they all feel comfortable…and if we do things really well, our students and HGS will have an impact on others across the world.
Keep seeking success and enjoy the challenge of solving problems along the way.
Stay safe and well.
Be kind to yourself and others.
Best wishes,
Dr Bird
The education team at Birmingham City Academy have awarded Arijus Ahmadian (8G) the under 13 student of the week award for being an excellent ambassador and role model in both his academic studies and as an aspiring professional footballer. His picture has been added to the wall of fame in the academy classroom at the training ground and Arijus has also received a certificate and medal for his recent achievements.
Congratulations to Arthur in Year 13 who has been offered a place to read Land Economy at Homerton College, Cambridge University. This is a wonderful achievement.
