Orhan writes:

In July 2024, forty students from Year 8 took part in a breathtaking trip to see the famous landmarks of Rome and the natural beauty of the Bay of Naples. On this trip we used most methods of transport including plane, coach, boat and the bustling metro of Rome.

Day 1: We eagerly awoke to meet at Birmingham Airport very early in the morning. All of us were ready to embark on our flight to Naples International Airport. Once we landed, we took a fast coach transfer to the ancient city of Rome.  After the journey, we promptly dropped our bags in the cosy 4-star Hotel Noto and travelled to the smallest country in the world (The Vatican City) on the metro. We were astonished by the architecture and sculptures in St. Peter’s Square. After learning about the Vatican, we were allowed to roam around the area and explore it for ourselves. Due to the hot weather most of us bought an ice cream and admired the Vatican’s beauty. After we took the metro back to the hotel, we indulged in a delicious meal consisting of pasta and some lovely chocolate mousse.

Day 2: All of us woke up early to eat a continental breakfast and then we walked from the hotel to the Colosseum where we had a guided tour of this ancient landmark.  We learned that the Colosseum used to be covered in marble and had a roof to provide protection from the scorching sun.  We also walked around the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill; this was where all the rich and influential people lived because it was so close to the Colosseum. Whilst drinking litres of water we walked to the world famous Trevi Fountain where we were let loose to buy lunch from local shops or even McDonalds. It was midday in Rome which means it was around 37 degrees, so it was time for another ice cream!  Then we headed to the Spanish steps named after the “Piazza di Spagna”; we took many pictures then moved on to the Piazza Navona where we had time to purchase souvenirs. After that we had a look at the great Pantheon followed by a filling dinner, a true Italian carbonara. To end the day, we watched the Euros final in a room that a local café let us use. However, we all left disappointed.

Day 3: Everyone had a good night’s sleep and, fully rejuvenated, we headed to the Bay of Naples where we ate an authentic margarita pizza before exploring the ruins of Herculaneum, where we saw real skeletons. After arriving at the Hotel Albatross, taking in the extraordinary views during the journey, we took a dip in the pool to cool off then just relaxed on the sun beds for a bit. We freshened up then ate a 3-course meal in our hotel.

Day 4: Once we had enjoyed our filling breakfast we set off to the lost city of Pompeii. This city is renowned for revealing so much information about the way that the Romans lived. In Pompeii we saw many casts of bodies that died where they lay. After another delicious pizza we boarded a coach which took us most of the way up Mt Vesuvius. However, we were still left with over a mile’s hike uphill to see the crater of the volcano; it was huge. We took a rest on the top of the volcano and took an abundant number of pictures before heading down to drive back to the hotel.

Day 5: There was yet another early arising to see one of the most beautiful coastlines on earth, the Amalfi coast. As soon as we arrived at the town of Amalfi, full of energy, we rushed to explore the local shops and stunning streets. Once our free time was over, we boarded a boat that transferred us to Salerno, and then headed onward by coach to see the amazing Caves of Petrosa.  These caves were opened in 1932 and we had to take a small boat to reach the inside of the cave system, which was really fun, before exploring more on foot. When we got back to the hotel, we immediately took yet another refreshing swim in the pool before having a hotel dinner.

Last day: We woke up extremely early, drove to Naples International Airport and did some last-minute shopping.  It was then time to board the plane back to Heathrow.  Most of us then slept during our final coach journey home. Italy is such a beautiful country and we were sad to have left.

Alvin writes:

On Saturday 13^th July, we landed at Naples International Airport around 11 a.m. and took a bus to the terminal before collecting our luggage. We then took a 3-hour coach ride to Rome, where we dropped off our luggage at the hotel. Next, we took the metro and finally arrived at Vatican City. Mr. Thaper mentioned that Vatican City is the smallest country and that it even has its own military and police force!

The next day, we walked to the Colosseum, where we had a tour of the largest Roman amphitheatre. It is the place where Romans enjoyed watching gladiators fight in a large arena. We then walked up Palatine Hill and saw the Roman Forum. After lunch near the Trevi Fountain, we walked along the streets and saw the Spanish Steps. Many of us recognised the famous architecture from movies. Shortly after, we visited the Pantheon before heading back to the hotel.

We woke up early the next day to put our luggage onto the coach before transferring to the Bay of Naples. On our journey we visited Herculaneum, which is not as famous as Pompeii, but both suffered the same fate by being destroyed by the infamous Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD79. For the rest of this trip, we stayed in Hotel Albatross. Many of us were excited about the pool outside, and some of us were lucky enough to have a sea view from our rooms!

The following day, we first took a coach ride to Pompeii. People and buildings were engulfed by lava, and we saw casts made of bodies which had been covered by a layer of volcanic rock and vaporised. Next, we took a coach ride to Mount Vesuvius and hiked to the crater of the volcano. Mr. Sanders gave us an interesting talk about volcanoes before we reached the breathtaking views at the highest point we could reach. Everyone was astounded by the view, and we took a break before heading back down.

We took a ride next day along the Amalfi Coast. Mr. Thaper told us that many famous people spend their holidays here! The teachers let us explore the town of Amalfi before we took a boat ride to Salerno. During the boat ride, the teachers were cautious about us getting sick and gave us sick bags, advising us to put our phones away. We then took a short coach ride to the Caves of Petrosa, where we experienced the coolness of the caves and the magnificence of rocks eroded by water, before heading back to the hotel. Mr. Thaper told us he was extremely impressed by our behaviour and gave us some traditional lemon sweets!

We woke up very early on the last day to put our luggage onto the coach before heading to Naples International Airport. The hotel gave us packed breakfasts, and the teachers bought us some snacks in case we were still hungry. Finally, we took a flight to London Heathrow before heading back to school.

The food we ate in Italy was mouthwatering and delicious, many of us satisfied our hunger with traditional Italian food such as pasta and pizza.

Overall, this trip was amazing, and I thank Mr. Thaper, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Jones and Mr. D’Arcy for providing us with a wonderful experience in Italy, and unforgettable memories with friends!

Click here to view more photos in the gallery.

When we were introduced to leadership roles in year 12, I was super-intrigued by the Mental Health Ambassador role. The idea of helping students in my school and making a positive change sounded like something for me. In addition to this, I could use my experience and time at this school to resonate with younger students.

Recently, I completed an intensive leadership training program designed to enhance strategic thinking, communication, and team-building skills. This training has equipped me with the tools necessary to effectively lead and inspire others, ensuring that our students continue to feel safe and supported, and have someone to rely on. In addition to leadership training, I also participated in mental health awareness training. This program emphasized the importance of mental well-being and provided strategies for supporting peers who may need a bit of help, such as the PERMA model of mentoring. Using this model allows all MHAs to offer support, in an empathetic and responsive environment.

Looking ahead, I am excited to take on a mentoring role for younger students. This initiative aims to provide guidance, support, and encouragement to help them navigate their academic and personal lives. The training and preparation I have received has equipped me with the ability to be a positive and understanding figure to younger students, as well as helping them with any issues and concerns they may have. I have learned that just being present and a simple conversation can be enough to make improvements in someone’s mental health. By sharing my experiences and offering advice, I hope to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Gaganvir Hayer, Lead Mental Health Ambassador

On Friday 12th July, Handsworth Grammar School were fortunate to host a visit with the Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell MP. He spoke about his illustrious career as a Member of Parliament with us. The talk was an insightful experience on the world of politics and current international issues and we really appreciate him for the way he graciously answered our questions with thoughtfulness and clarity.

Andrew firstly spoke about his beginnings as an MP. He first entered the cut and thrust world of politics at 24 and he summarised his relationship with politics as having “great highs and great lows.” He expressed his great fondness of politics with his successful “Keep Justice Local” campaign to safeguard the jobs of the now retired Sutton Coldfield Magistrates Court gaining over 5,000 votes in the process!

During his enthralling speech, Mitchell spoke about the necessity of social cohesion around the world. He gave heart provoking examples across the globe from the Russo-Ukrainian war to the Darfur conflict as reasons to care and be interested in the world environment. Mitchell preached to us that we as the upcoming generation are the new voice of the world who can either stop the suffering or cause the world to be a dystopia. 

Mitchell gracefully requested to the audience to ask any question they desired. He answered questions not just with flair but also with patience making sure no one was left disappointed. He also made sure to discuss with Parliament the relevant issues raised by the well-informed audience. Fellow students were very eager to site their positive reviews, “thanks to Mr Mitchell’s talk I want to become a politician and help my community”.

Overall, the talk was an inspiring and enriching experience. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to hear from such an eminent personality who has played a key role in influencing British politics and international relations. His words of wisdom will stay with us long after he has left our school.

Ali Afzal 12GDH

On Friday 28th June, a group of 40 students embarked on a trip to the famous Bletchley Park, the home of famous WWII codebreakers to discover and explore its occupants’ history.

For the first half of the day, we explored the grounds surrounding the mansion house and the museum displaying objects from the Second World War. We watched a short film outlining the crucial work of Alan Turing and William Tutte and looked inside the huts where the codebreakers worked to decode the encrypted messages.

After lunch, we were led by a tour guide around the grounds. We discovered many things, such as the reason why the government chose to use Bletchley Park specifically and heard about the often-overlooked Polish codebreakers, such as Marian Rejewski, who helped to pave the way for codebreaking at Bletchley Park. We also learned about the crucial role the codebreakers played during D-Day and the tour provided us with a new sense of respect for the codebreakers.

Finally, after a quick stop for ice cream in the warm weather, we attended a workshop where we practiced cryptography. We came across the Lorenz code and machine, which were used by Hitler and the more prominent members of the Axis to send messages, as well as the many steps taken to decipher the code, including the building of the first computer at Bletchley Park. We tried to decipher some code ourselves, and even got to see a real Enigma machine!

Overall, we had a fantastic day and would like to thank Mr King, Mr Hawkins, Ms Marriner, and Ms Brown for such an interesting trip.

Darren Lounguedy (9 William)