Congratulations to Ibrahim Mahmood of 9 Galahad who has now completed all his badges for the certification of the Duke of York Silver Award in Digital Enterprise. To win the Silver award Ibrahim successfully passed a series of badges and quests online which helped him learn digital, employability and enterprise skills. The badges were split into five different categories: Citizen, Worker, Maker, Entrepreneur and Gamer. Ibrahim has now set his sights on the Duke of York Gold award for the near future.

Our annual Prize giving was a very special occasion as it was only our second as a member of the King Edward VI Foundation and King Edward VI Academy Trust and we welcomed the Foundation Bailiff Mr Barry Matthews to present the prizes. We also welcomed Professor Joe Biddlestone, former Chair of Governors and Charity Trustee as our Principal Guest and speaker. He spoke about the opportunities a School like ours affords its students and encouraged them to get involved in all that we have on offer such as the house system, sport, drama, debating and music. He was delighted to note the progress made at KEVI HGS over the past year. He highlighted the need for perseverance, careful planning and support from family and school so that if and when a setback occurs it can be effectively overcome. He also asked the students what they wanted their world to look like in 30 years’ time which is the amount of time he has served as a Governor. He provoked much thought about issues such as pollution and plastic waste and how we need solutions to such pressing issues. The School is very grateful to Professor Biddlestone for his dedication and unwavering support over 3 decades. It was a lovely event and I enjoyed meeting so many families as we celebrated the success of our School community.

Sixth Form students at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys go onto a variety of destinations post A Levels. The vast majority move to University following extensive Careers advice and guidance with their UCAS application which is a major part of their Sixth Form programme (even when they have left school!) alongside the broad Enrichment programme. Students follow a variety of courses at a large selection of Universities such as:

University of Nottingham Engineering and Physical Sciences

University of Leicester Accounting and Finance

University of Manchester Pharmacy

University of Loughborough Economics

University of Aston Medicine

University of Leeds Dental Surgery

University of Bristol Physics with Astrophysics

University of Birmingham Psychology

University of Warwick Mathematics

University of Cambridge History

University of Coventry Computing

King’s College London Dentistry

University of Cardiff International Relations and Politics

Royal Veterinary College Veterinary Gateway Programme

Some of our students take up Apprenticeship Programmes with leading firms such as Deloitte’s, EY and PWC where they receive salaried on the job training and professional development – others move straight into employment and some take a GAP year. The school believes it is their job to support each and every individual student according to their needs and requirements. There is no one size fits all approach at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys.

On Thursday 11th October, I was part of a group of historians who went to the REP Theatre to watch a performance of the Wipers Times. The Wipers Times was a play set in the First World War, based on a true story, on how the 12th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters began a satirical newspaper whilst fighting on the front line in Ypres. The play provides an insight into some of the soldiers’ lives and views of the war on the front line.  This was good preparation for those historians who will be visiting Ypres during the October half term. (Dhiren Gaddu, 11G)

The Wipers Times trip gives a new perspective to the First World War. It is about soldiers on the front line who found a printing press in mint condition. They went on to use the press to make their own satirical newspaper. This demonstrates how soldiers would find ways to distract themselves from the horrors of war which is shown in the play as the violence happens in the background. Overall the Wipers Times play was very thought provoking. (Akeem Wellington, 11A)

The Wipers Times was about two officers in the First World War in the Belgium town of Ypres (mispronounced as “Wipers” by the British soldiers) who found a printing press and made newspapers for the men in the front line designed to lift their spirits. Despite, the many challenges  they faced during the war, the Wipers Times was produced for two years. This performance gave us a valuable insight into the lives of the men that fought in the First World War and all the hardships they faced. I would like to thank Mrs. Hartt on behalf of everyone that went for organising and taking us to see the performance.  (Gagandeep Josan, 11A)

We have raised over £500 this term for the British Heart Foundation. A special thank you to Mr Jones and his band of intrepid 10km  runners for all their fantastic work.

Amaan Jahangir is holding an Art Exhibition between the 15th an 21st December between 12pm and 5pm.

Please click here to see more information about Amaan.