Mr Dubay’s article on Reading published
Please click on the link below to read a research article on engaging with evidence to inform a school reading culture by Mr Dubay:
Focus on Education September 2021 No.1
Focus on Education September 2021
We have been delighted to see so many happy faces over the last two days, as students new and old begin the Autumn Term. We are meeting for Year group assemblies virtually during the period of the delayed Year 10 and Year 12 Finals in Big School and thereafter look forward to meeting together in person for our assemblies.
We have all enjoyed some inspirational highlights of Tokyo 2020 – both Olympics and Paralympics – over the past months and we would all do well to embrace the theme of ‘Being the best we can be – together’. We can see how Team GB, from languishing in 36th place in the medals table in 1996, have risen so dramatically to 3rd place in London, 2nd in Rio and 4th in Tokyo; matched by 3rd, 2nd and 2nd in the Paralympics. Funding, marginal gains and a focus on the psychological as well as physiological aspects of preparation have all contributed to this incredible success, where winning is now an expectation rather than just a hope.
Many of you will know that the Olympic motto this year has changed from ‘Citius, altius, fortius’ (‘Faster, higher, stronger’) to ‘Citius, altius, fortius – communiter’ or ‘Faster, higher, stronger – together’. This has been accompanied by the #Strongertogether campaign, which has emphasised our need to pull together globally to overcome the pandemic: ‘The world only moves forward when we move together’.
“I never lose. I either win or I learn.”
(Nelson Mandela)
“I didn’t set out to beat the world; I just set out to do my absolute best.” (Al Oerter, four-time American Olympic discus champion)
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” (Pierre de Coubertin, founder of modern Olympic Games)
I encourage our students to think like winners and to stand together with others in our school community and beyond, so as to be the best they can be and to make our school and our world a better place. Be a Force for Good.
A good starting point is our HGS Cares Character and Values system which we have launched this term during Form time and assemblies. These values are linked to our House system and are part of a well rounded HGS education which prepares our students for their future careers and next steps of their education be that University, College, Apprenticeship or the world of work.
Stay well and safe.
Be kind to yourself and others. Best wishes,
Dr Bird
C – Community: equity, friendship, co-operation, inclusiveness (Alfred)
A – Aspiration: ambition, responsibility, leadership, purposefulness (William)
R – Respect: kindness, loyalty, honesty, forgiveness (Galahad)
E – Endeavour: resilience, responsibility, bravery, commitment (Henry)
S – Service: honour, helpfulness, generosity, opportunity (Nelson)
Congratulations Mr King
We are delighted to inform you that Mr King has been elected to Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society: (FBCS, CITP) for his contributions to the IT industry.
Equality and Diversity Committee
The Equality and Diversity committee met this week and have agreed an Anti-Discrimination statement as follows:
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is firmly committed to maintaining a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity in all aspects of school life, nurturing everyone’s ability to thrive in a non-hostile environment, regardless of race, religion, age, sex and gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy and fertility status, disability and neurodiversity. We celebrate our school’s blend of minds, backgrounds and experiences, and have a strong and all-encompassing stance against any form of discrimination.
Through the modelling and guidance of our leaders, our policies and procedures, our curricular, extra-curricular and pastoral programmes, and with an open communication policy where the individual’s view and wellbeing are centre-stage, we strive in our daily work to continue to learn and respond to our community’s needs and lived experiences, holding firm to our school aims, ethos and rule. We recognise the need for ongoing reflection and evaluation against a chosen recognised quality standard, not shying away from taking the necessary corrective and preventive action if required.
- We will PERSEVERE with humility in our fight for an equal and just world.
- Nobody’s AMBITION will be impaired because of discrimination.
- Everyone will have the same OPPORTUNITY to flourish in their life.
- The visible and invisible qualities that make our school COMMUNITY are welcomed, encouraged and fought for.
In having a clear vision of the positive and progressive impact firm anti-discrimination structures can have in our world, recognising our role in nurturing well-rounded individuals who are a force for good, KEVI HGS’s Rule – Treat everybody with respect – demands all forms of inequality are everyone’s concern.
This will be the framework within which we will operate going forward into next academic year. It was agreed by all that awareness, understanding and education are the key drivers of changing society and communities for the better. The work of the committee will link to the work undertaken by the School Council who sit on the King Edward VI Foundation Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee. The next steps are exciting as the committee have been tasked with considering ways to actively and positively promote Equality and Diversity within and across our school community. This could link to work on Enrichment days, in Assemblies, Form time activities as well as within the wider academic curriculum.
It was a very positive meeting with some excellent contributions from all students. Mr Mohsin and Dr Bird were impressed by the student’s commitment and energy. They emphasised the importance of student leadership and engagement and that this was a symbiotic relationship between students and staff where both elements of the school community could learn from each other.
Exciting times are ahead!
Mr Mohsin and Dr Bird
