LAMDA Results
Our latest LAMDA results are below, these are excellent performances from the LAMDA Exams taken at the Birmingham Public Centre in July 2023. Congratulations to all involved and to Mrs Reynolds our LAMDA teacher.
Focus on Education September 2023
Once upon a time, in a medium sized county where rugby was the dominant religion and there were more sheep than people, an unremarkable young boy grew up and went to school. It was the 1970’s and 1980’s, an embarrassing couple of decades, now banished from the history books because nothing eventful happened during those drab years other than some appalling hairstyles which were a crime against humanity. The young boy’s name was Simon and the school he went to is immaterial, other than to say that it was a fairly average school. Which is much worse than being a bad school. At least bad schools are ultimately fixed or closed. Average schools just trudge along the well-worn paths of the status quo, fearful of any deviation that may plunge them into a dark and scary land called Tomorrow. Average schools are usually led by average Headmasters and staffed by average teachers. Well-intentioned souls who nevertheless shy away from taking a tilt at excellence, content enough with each new day bringing neither calamity nor risk.
To be fair, young Simon enjoyed his time in his average school. Nonetheless, he suffered there, although he did not realise it until years later. Not through ill-treatment; Simon was far from perfect and undoubtedly deserved the many punishments that were dished out. To this day, he regrets the incident with the Bunsen burner and the dissected rabbit, which drove his Biology teacher to almost abandon his profession. Nor did he suffer through undue pressure or unrealistic expectations pushing him to breaking point. Far from it. Fanciful notions of excellence were unheard of in the 1970’s and 1980’s. No, the nature of his abuse was mediocrity. Of the institutional variety. A prevailing ethos that ‘near enough was good enough’. As a result, he was shielded from the crushing disappointments of failing to get A grades, losing tournament finals, or forgetting his lines on opening night. Not because such opportunities didn’t exist, but because nobody really expected him to partake.
Our story takes place even before the era of the snowflake generation. This is simply a tale of colourless indifference, set in a time of low aspiration. Not that our young protagonist brought much rigour to the party himself. His English teacher once wrote in a school report “Simon will succeed in spite of himself.” Yet teenagers are not wired to make life hard for themselves, that’s the job of their parents and teachers. At that age, high standards work best when they are expected by others. Don’t get the violins out just yet though, for there is a happy ending.
In his final year of school, just as a life of unchallenging monotony was looming, an inspiring teacher tore up young Simon’s carefully handwritten application for a horribly mundane job in front of his eyes and replaced it with a university prospectus. So shocked was he at this show of faith, it didn’t occur to him that he might not be good enough to go there. He just dutifully left and did what was expected. That led to 32 years in a rich and fulfilling career, which sees him, today, proud to work in a School that is anything but average. I may have missed out on an inspiring secondary education, but I did learn a lasting lesson in those distinctly average years. Namely, that expectations are self-fulfilling. Young people will, invariably, rise or fall to the expectations that are held of them. Show a child that you think they are likely to fail, and they will happily oblige. Demonstrate that you genuinely think they will succeed, and the same is true. Most of us go into new situations alert for cues as to what might be expected of us. What might be considered the norm. Show young people that you genuinely anticipate they will be proficient, or engaged, or respectful, or any other admirable quality and, in my experience, they will be. Sadly, the same is true of signals, even subliminal ones, that you think they will struggle, rebel, misbehave, or aren’t good enough. That’s why we don’t spend an undue amount of time at HGS lecturing young people about the things they can’t, shouldn’t, or must not do. That speaks of an expectation that they will transgress. From Year 7 to Year 13, the messages are of high expectation, not low. Spoken and subliminal. We try to show to every child that we automatically presume good intent on their part. That we expect extraordinary feats from them. That we are convinced they possess a unique flair. This is what our values system of HGS CARES is all about. They rarely let us down.
As for the now-not-so-young Simon, he is eternally grateful for the power of aspiration, remains terrified of mediocrity, employs the best teachers, and always encourages the Science Department to lock up their Bunsen burners.
Stay well and safe.
Be kind to yourself and others.
Best wishes,
Dr Bird
10 – 16 September Broad Street Closure, Birmingham : Disruption to Bus and Tram services
Please see the below information from Transport for West Midlands:
Broad Street roadworks 10-16 September 2023
From 6pm Sunday 10 September until 6am Saturday 16 September 2023, Broad Street will be closed to all vehicles to allow remedial repairs to take place to the carriageway by Midland Metro Alliance.
During these repairs, the road will be closed in both directions to all traffic.
Bus services will be diverted and trams will terminate and start at the Library by Centenary Square and not serve the route to and from Edgbaston Village.
Pedestrian access will be maintained and businesses along Broad Street will remain open during the works
Bus Service Diversions:
Diversions will be in place for all buses on the following routes: 9, 12, 12a, 13, 13a, 23, 24, 126, X8, 10 and X10
Please refer to our dedicated webpage www.tfwm.org.uk/westside and check with National Express West Midlands Buses via www.nxbus.co.uk
for more information
West Midlands Metro
Tram services will start and terminate at the Library in Centenary Square with no service to and from Edgbaston Village.
Timetables can be found at
Metro tickets will be valid on all National Express services between Colmore Row and Edgbaston Village.
Travel Advice
You will still be able to get to where you need to go, but please consider the following:
- Plan ahead and leave more time for your journey. If you travel, you’ll need more time for your journey to take account of changes and diversions.
- Think about your options. There will be changes to bus stops and routes.
- If travelling by bus please be aware that diversions will be in place
- If travelling by Metro please be aware that the Metro will terminate at Library and will not call at Edgbaston Village during the works
Thank you for cascading this information for us.
Transport for West Midlands would like all young people to travel out on the network and get where they need to go easily, safely and cheaply.
Any queries then please do not hesitate to contact us on education@tfwm.org.uk
Open Evening
Our next Open Evening will be between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday 14th September 2023. All welcome!
Update on the provision of bus services
Please see the below three documents providing an update on the provision of bus services for students.
Academy Trust letter to parents – School Transport – September 2023
Endeavour Coaches letter to parents – School Transport – September 2023
Endeavour Coaches parent information pack – School Transport – September 2023
Ground Hog Day – what goes up must come down…. or so the saying goes!
The news this morning was typically focussing on the decline in the number of pass grades and top grades that have been awarded this year.
This is the Department for Education and Ofqual’s stated aim of moving the grade boundaries and proportion of grades back to where they were pre-Covid in 2019. Students in England have been the sharpest hit as compared to Wales and Northern Ireland.
With the above context in mind, we are delighted to share with you the GCSE results which our Year 11 students have received today. 4 students attained all grades 9 to 8 and 17 students attained all grades 9 to 7.
HGS achieved a 100% pass rate in English and Maths at grade 4 or above and 97% pass rate of strong passes in English and Maths at grade 5 or above. 99.3% of the cohort achieved 5 or more passes including English and Maths. Nearly 60% of all entries were at grades 9 to 7 and over 30% of all entries were at grades 9 to 8.
The estimated Attainment 8 score is 71.21 and the estimated Progress 8 score is 0.56.
The above results are all an improvement on the 2019 results which is a huge achievement. It is testament to the hard work and effort of our students and their teachers. It must not be forgotten that from Year 8 the education of this cohort has been significantly disrupted by the pandemic.
Thus, HGS has enjoyed and celebrates some outstanding GCSE results again this year and our students will be taking the next steps in their academic careers as they commence their A Level courses. We look forward to welcoming them, along with our new joiners to the Sixth Form in September.
This past year has been very positive given what our students have been through since 2020 and all the associated upheaval, unrest and uncertainty. HGS students have worked hard to get their results but also have enjoyed and contributed positively to school life. They have risen to the challenge of their first set of public exams and thoroughly deserve the results they have achieved.
Congratulations!
Stay well and safe.
Be kind to yourself and others.
Best wishes,
Dr Bird
Computing Trip to Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park was recently awarded Best Heritage Venue at this year’s School Travel Awards and on the 7th of July, 40 Year 10 Computer Science students visited this home of the famous codebreakers during the 2nd World War. These students were not only given a tour of the grounds and living space of the codebreakers, but they were also treated to a short film revolving around the work of Alan Turing and William Tutte.
The first half of the day saw us take part in a complex workshop which detailed the use of encryption in transmitting sensitive data across a network, as well as watching a short documentary on the secret acts of the codebreakers in intercepting enemy transmissions. This documentary also showed how the acts of the codebreakers shortened the war, consequentially saving millions of lives.
After a refreshing break in the shade from the sweltering sun, we were given a guided tour of the grounds. We then ventured inside the mansion which served as the headquarters for cryptology prior to the war. We also visited the office of Commander Denniston, the head of the Government Code and Cypher School. We were then shown the numerous huts within which the transmissions would be decoded by the many people employed as the codebreakers.
Finally, we were taught about the underground people who aided our efforts, such as the three Polish scientists, Marian Rejewski, Jerzy Różycki and Henryk Zygalski who originally cracked the enigma code in 1932. These scientists have a memorial at Bletchley, in the form of a stone book. Alan Turing used their original machine as the basis for his Enigma machine. By the end of this visit, we were far more informed of the lengths gone to by many different people to ensure victory and minimise the loss of life.
We are incredibly grateful to the teachers who organised this opportunity for us, Mr King, Mr Hawkins, Mr Ahmed and Mr Eaton.
Oliver Fance – 10H
House 500 Word Short Story Competition
This summer pupils across the school participated in the House 500 Word Short Story Competition. Our departing Head of English, Mr G Dubay had the unenviable job of judging the competition, with winners for KS3, KS4 and Sixth Form each receiving a £10 Amazon voucher for the efforts as well as valuable House points for their respective houses . The winning entries have been published below, however a massive thank you goes out to all the pupils who submitted an entry.
Mr M.Mohsin
Assistant Headteacher (11-16)
KS3 Winner – Hrithik Bansal 8H
I gazed at the calming sunset, from my bedroom window. Grateful for the moment of peace. The golden tone submerged my room. The last few weeks had been a disaster: the summer being full of bickering and relentless teasing from siblings. It was constant; I needed a break. I wanted to explore the new town. I’d heard the hills could be serene. Perhaps this sunset could be enjoyed there.
I reached the hills. The lush grass was like a bed. The sunlight and greenery were soothing. Thankfully, I was away from that life of stress. I closed my eyes and lay down. After a moment, I stood up.
I escaped. My agony was like a wildfire burning inside me. Moments ago, I’d put a young girl to rest. I needed more to fuel my need. The prison they had kept me in was disgusting. The hell hole littered with convicts. My sanity was in shards. I could not control myself. How peculiar, a child right in front of me. Another misery on this planet. I was overwhelmed with a desire to kill. A delight in murder.
A silhouette stood distantly, in their fists a dagger. Bloody. Dripping. Terror began to take over me, my eyes widened in horror. They came closer, their slow footsteps seeming like a countdown to my impending death. Their soulless eyes gloomed into my soul. The hairs on my neck stood as they approached. My heart pounded as I searched frantically for an escape route, through the bushes. Backing up, each step was punctured with fear. I had to get away. But they were too close. I had no other choice but to confront them, no matter the cost.
I approached slowly, them stepping back. A smile enlightened my scarred face, as I watched his desperate soul crumble under pressure.
Closer and closer. The cold steel of the knife glistened in the sunlight. Quickly, a flurry of attacks was unleashed. I dodged without thought. Grabbing his wrist, I compelled him to throw the knife away. Trading blows, I delivered a punch, sending him sprawling to the ground. Yet the victor was yet to be decided. Picking up the knife, I darted away, the only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears.
Imbecile. He ran off. But I am the predator, and I was not finished with that boy. Escape from me was inevitable. I chased after him. Hungry. A flame of slaughter burned in my heart.
I was too slow. He’d caught up with me. Feeling a sharp push, I fell in pain. Bruises coating my legs. The knife lay on the floor, a meter away. Crawling toward it, I felt agony as he digged his nails into my leg. Grasping the knife, I pierced his chest. Blood seeped down my fingers. Watching in fright, a tear formed in my eyes. My mouth was open in shock. Sweat tricked down the temples of my head. The murderer was dead. Or was he?
KS4 Winner – David Fadairo 11G
Sarah had always been a thrill-seeker. She loved the rush of adrenaline that came from pushing herself to the limits, whether it was skydiving, bungee jumping, or exploring abandoned buildings. But when she heard about the old mansion on the outskirts of town, she knew that this would be her biggest adventure yet.
The mansion had been completely empty for years, ever since the wealthy family that had owned it had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Rumors had swirled around town for years, with people gossiping about strange noises, eerie lights, and a feeling of dread that hung over the place like a dark cloud.
But Sarah wasn’t afraid.
She was sure that it was all just a bunch of silly superstitions, and she was determined to prove it to her friends. So, one night, they gathered at the edge of the woods, ready to make their way to the mansion and explore its untold secrets.
As they walked through the dark woods, Sarah could feel her heart pounding in her chest. It was exhilarating, like being in a horror movie. But as they got closer to the mansion, she began to feel a sense of unease. There was something wrong here, something that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
They entered the mansion through a broken window, their flashlights illuminating the dusty old furniture and cobweb-covered chandeliers. At first, it was just like they had expected: spooky, but not too scary. But as they explored further into the mansion, things began to take a turn for the worse. Strange noises echoed through the halls, as if the house was alive with some unseen force. Shadows danced on the walls, flickering, and changing shape. And then there were the whispers, faint and indistinct, but somehow still audible. Sarah tried to brush it all off, telling herself that it was just a figment of her imagination. But then one of her friends screamed, and everything changed.
In the dim light of their flashlights, they could see that the walls were moving, pulsing as if they were alive. And then, out of the shadows, came a figure, cold, dark, and twisted, with glowing red eyes and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Sarah and her friends ran, their hearts pounding in their chests as they raced towards the window. But the house seemed to be alive, its walls shifting and changing, blocking their path and herding them towards the center of the mansion. And then… they were trapped, surrounded by darkness and the sound of whispers, with no escape in sight. As Sarah’s friends began to disappear one by one, taken by some unseen force, she realized that this was no game, no thrill-seeking adventure.
This was real, and she was trapped in a nightmare that she could never escape from. As the darkness closed in around her, she knew that she was doomed, just another victim of the mansion’s terrible, haunting power.
House of Horror – by David Fadairo 11 Galahad
KS5 Winner – Eshan Khan 12GDR
The Man in the Window
The photograph was of a temple, a shrine you could say. But what mystery did it hold within its vibrant exterior and its soaring towers, the young boy thought. He carefully placed the photograph back on the surface of the small cabinet in front of him. What the boy had failed to realize was that this photograph was the place of origin of the Evil that lurked within this town.
William stood in the blackness of Charles Marlow’s home, the new owner of the derelict house at the heart of Angel Island Park. No one had ever seen the man, Marlow, not his face anyway. On the way back from school, William would catch the silhouette of a man in the window of this very house. Just staring out through it, standing very still.
William now stood just a few feet away from that very same window. He wondered, will he be able to see what that man had been staring at if he looked out of it, will he catch a glimpse into the mind of a killer? Ever since Marlow moved in, the cases of missing people have risen to an extraordinary amount, the rumor was that Marlow was the culprit but the police investigated the property but found no evidence so Charles couldn’t be convicted.
William emerged from the shadowy depths of the bedroom, he crept closer to the window. The blazing rays of the sun attracted the young boy as he now stood in front of the drab glass. He could see the entire park from the vantage point he possessed, it was a haven he thought. William’s eyes drew to the spot beside the apple tree outside the house, the spot where he would stop and stare at the silhouette inside the house. There was no way the person in the window, whoever it was, could have missed me standing there on the walkway, he thought.
He noticed something else in the window. His reflection, his eyes started to focus.
But there was someone else.
No, something else.
In the window, he could make out the image of a large, black, waist coat but no one to fill its sleeves and body. The person appeared to be invisible. William swung his body around, the young boy’s mouth hung open, his body unmoving. He could barely breathe as the temperature of his body surged. He became fragile in the face of fear.
There was something in that coat, not a man, it couldn’t have been. William’s eyes were drawn to its human face, to its evil eyes. They were the darkest eyes.
From outside the house, the silhouette of the young boy could be made out, it was still. Then the blackness of the silhouette was painted with a splash of scarlet red. The curtain shut and what remained of the young boy was smeared across the window where the man once stood.
Logan Page – RAF Cadets
As a member of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, I’ve had the opportunity to start my career in aviation with multiple training and experience flights in both RAF initial training aircraft (which are the Grob Tutor and Viking T1 gliders). These flights often take place at official, fully operational, RAF bases. So, for example, my time in the Grob Tutor has been split between RAF Cosford and RAF Wittering, whilst my flights in the Viking T1 was at RAF Little Rissington.
The day does start early but its undoubtedly worth it. You start by making your way to a chosen location where you meet with about 10 other cadets from up to 5 other squadrons. Then you travel to the location of the flight and then the day truly begins. The first hour comprises of basic training such as safety measures in case of a very rare emergency. The training covers basic things such as canopy release and using a parachute, followed by some extra medical checks to ensure you’re fit to fly.
Whether you’ve had plenty of flight experience or none at all, you are near enough guaranteed time at the controls. Once in the cockpit the key differences between the two aircraft become apparent. The Viking T1 requires smooth gentle movements as it has no engine and relies solely on aerodynamics and the hunt for thermals. Thermals are simple columns of hot air which are utilised by the pilot due to increase the altitude by many hundreds of feet. The Grob Tutor is a powered aircraft and doesn’t need to use thermals to stay airborne and isn’t subject to the same manoeuvrability limitations. This means that tighter turns, high ‘G force’ movements, zero ‘G force’ movements, and even aerobatics is possible and depending on the experience of the cadet, can place the cadet in controls of rolls and loops.
Of course, my time in the air and time at Air Cadets is great fun with great people. However, these activities do have a deeper purpose, that being a career. Since the first lockdown I longed to be in the air and flying which spurred my desire to join what is the best flying institution, the Royal Air Force. The aim after A-Levels is to progress on to university, whilst simultaneously joining a University Air Squadron which is in essence a step between Air Cadets and the RAF, there is certainly a bigger emphasis on flying and that can only be a good thing!
Logan Page
