King Edward Foundation Ceremony
On Friday 9 October 2026, all Year 7 students attended the King Edward Foundation Ceremony, a special event held each year to welcome new pupils into the school community.
The ceremony serves as an important rite of passage, marking the beginning of students’ secondary school journey. Throughout the event, students enjoyed a range of performances, including music, spoken word presentations, and historical storytelling.
A particular highlight was Henrique Challoner, who was selected to represent the school by performing a piece of spoken word poetry. Henrique delivered his performance with confidence and professionalism, making the school community proud.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for students to learn more about the rich history of the King Edward VI Foundation, which has supported education in Birmingham since 1552. By taking part in this longstanding tradition, students were able to feel connected to generations of learners who have come before them and gain a deeper sense of belonging within the wider Foundation community.
The event was a memorable experience for all Year 7 students and an inspiring start to their time at the school.
Mr Hussain
Head of Year 7
My Foundation Ceremony experience by Henrique Challoner 7W.
To prepare for the debate, I read several articles explaining why social media should be banned and magpied some of the key points to include in my speech. My mum also recommended a podcast on the topic, which gave me additional ideas and different perspectives. I then researched possible questions that might be asked during the debate and prepared responses so that I felt confident and ready to defend my arguments.
In our forms, we split into groups and began presenting our arguments and key talking points. After listening to everyone, our form tutor selected me and several other students to form a team of finalists who would go on to debate against representatives from the other forms.
The competition was tough, but in the end, Nelson, William and I were announced as the winners. We were thrilled! The judges commented that William had been particularly convincing, and our team was declared the overall winner.
When we returned to class, our classmates had been watching the live stream of the debate. As soon as we walked in, they began cheering and congratulating us, which felt amazing.
A few days later, Mr Hussain told me that I had been chosen to represent the school by speaking at the Foundation Ceremony. I was told that my clear, confident delivery and persuasive speaking style had impressed the judges, which is why I had been selected for this special opportunity.
I was given a poem by Ms Harvey, which I practised several times with both my form tutor, Miss Sohal, and Ms Harvey, the Deputy Head. Their support helped me build my confidence and prepare for the performance.
When the day of the Foundation Ceremony arrived, I felt quite nervous. However, once my name was called, I walked to the stage, placed my poem on the lectern, and began speaking in front of an audience of more than 450 people. As I delivered the poem, my confidence grew, and I focused on speaking clearly and expressively.
When I finished, I was met with a huge round of applause from the audience. It was a proud and memorable moment, and I left the stage feeling relieved, accomplished, and honoured to have represented the school.
Henrique 7W
