Focus on Education November 2022
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is the ability to live happy and independent lives. When they leave school at 18, they will then be prepared to take responsibility for their own choices and to forge successful futures – and we can only hope that their choices will be morally-informed and that their futures will be shared generously with others.
The worst sort of education is therefore one which encourages spoon-feeding, however attractive this appears at the time and whatever the short-term, easy gains. Unfortunately, the nature of GCSE exams can sometimes encourage this (‘teaching to the test’), and it is important that we teach pupils to play the game according to the rules; however, it is also vital that they learn to think for themselves.
This approach begins early and positively at HGS: we pitch questions back at pupils rather than giving them the answers; we tell them it’s fine to make mistakes and thus learn from them; we encourage them to be curious; we challenge them to grapple with a problem when the solution is not immediately forthcoming; we set them both independent and collaborative tasks; and we take them out of their comfort zone in a supportive environment. We hope that this gradually builds self-confidence, so that they have the resilience and wherewithal to enjoy the challenges and to overcome the difficulties which will surely come their way from time to time in adult life.
In short, we enable our students to use their knowledge carefully, to be informed, to know what to do when they don’t know what to do. To become a Force for Good.
But most importantly, in addition to hard work and determination to achieve exceptional academic results, it rests on five values.
You will be constantly reminded of these in the months and years ahead. You’ll find them on posters, forming part of your learning and the House System and they will serve as a foundation for how we believe you need to live your life at school, and how you subsequently live your life when you leave.
Community, Aspiration, Respect, Endeavour, Service.
HGS CARES
If you embrace these values, if you show ambition in everything you do, whether it is in Geography or Football, if you keep resilient and determined whatever challenges life throws at you, if you’re humble and can walk with Princes and Paupers, if you show love and care and kindness in all your dealings, and if you can really support others in their darkest of moments by showing compassion in your words and your actions, you will not just simply be a fine young person, you will be a role model to others – a true Handsworth Grammar student who leads by example. A force for good through your actions and deeds, which will stay with you your entire life.
Stay well and safe.
Be kind to yourself and others.
Best wishes,
Dr Bird
