King Edward VI Handsworth School
| Motto | Dieu et mon Droit (French for 'God and my Right') |
|---|---|
| Established | 1883 |
| Type | |
| Headmistress | Mrs Elisabeth Wager (2012-present) |
| Location |
21 Rose Hill Road Birmingham West Midlands B21 9AR England Coordinates: 52°30′06″N 1°55′25″W / 52.5018°N 1.9237°W |
| DfE URN | 137047 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Staff | 55 teaching staff (approx.) |
| Students | 801 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Houses | 4 |
| Colours | Navy Blue, Emerald Green |
| Publication | The Beacon |
| Website |
www |
King Edward VI Handsworth School is a grammar school for girls aged 11–18 and is located in Handsworth, Birmingham, England. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI. The school was founded in 1883 as King Edwards Aston on the site where its brother school, King Edward VI Aston School, remains to this day. In 2014 there were 801 girls on roll.
The school has been noted for being the top school in Birmingham as well as one of the top schools of the United Kingdom In 2013, the school was placed as the 3rd best school in the country by the school's guide, beating all the other schools in the West Midlands and the other schools who are part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI.
History
The school was originally three separate schools: Aston (Girls section), Summer Hill, and Bath Row in the King Edward VI Foundation. On the 14 September 1911 the three were merged and the Head Mistress of Aston - Miss Nimmo - became the new Head. When the school first opened, and for many years afterwards, girls were not permitted to eat in the street and had to wear gloves on the journey to and from school.[1] In the beginning, the sixth form was very small with as few as 6 pupils in a year. Transfer to King Edward VI High School for Girls for sixth form studies was not unusual.[1]
The new school at Handsworth cost £50,000 to build.[1] The architect, P. B. Chatwin[1] designed a very modern building with a number of specialist areas which included the library and the "playroom" (a whole school common-room).[1] As it was built on a slope, there are two ground floors, and originally the gymnasium was located in the room on the lower ground floor later used as a Music room. Since the renovation of the church (bought by the school) into a music centre, this room is now used as an ICT suite.
To celebrate the centenary of the school in 1983 a new block was built to house a meeting room and the changing rooms for the sports field.[1] In 1997 a new Sixth Form block was built with the help of the King Edward VI Foundation fund.[1] In 2005, the new sports hall was built, using sponsorship money from companies such as O2, and a church organ was bought by the school to be renovated and used for music studies. The school also gained specialist performing arts status. 2011 saw the building of a new library by the field; a modern building with a slanting roof and colourful window panes. This includes an mezzanine area upstairs with computers.
Latin was also removed from the curriculum in 2004 and replaced with drama, which had previously been on the curriculum in the late 20th century.
Houses
School Houses were introduced at the beginning of the 20th century, with each House having its own name and colour. Nightingale house was mauve, Kingsley house was green, Fry was pale blue and Browning was brown. By the 1930s there were awards given for winning competitions against other houses in sports. In the beginning there were House notices in the Playroom and a strict House conduct system.
In 1939 four more Houses were added and they were renamed after the different royal Houses (Windsor, Stuart, Tudor, Hanover, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Normandy).
In the 1970s the houses were rearranged again and given names of precious stones (Amethyst, Coral, Garnet and Topaz) because of the school's proximity to the Jewellery Quarter.
At the end of the 1990s they were renamed once more after famous women - Bronte, Pankhurst, Franklin and Nightingale) - and when an extra form group was introduced in 2003 (then un-introduced in 2005) the new house of Curie was created. In September 2009 the houses were renamed, once again after famous women, this time being Parks (yellow), Keller (blue), Astor (green) and Cavell (red)). In 2011 the ties, a compulsory element of winter uniform, were redesigned, featured a coloured stripe to reflect the wearer's assigned house.
Traditions
The school has a number of traditions and rules. Junior school (year 7-9) must wear blazers whereas seniors (year 10-11) replace these with cardigans. Other customs separate the two such as junior break being held from 10.00-10.20am. Seniors must attend two lessons before bring permitted to their break (11.00-11.20pm).
KS4 also hold a number of other privileges, such as being able to relax in their form rooms after 1pm during lunch break, as well as access to the mezzanine computers in the library.
An unwritten rule/tradition of King Edward VI Handsworth School is that blazer buttons and cardigan buttons are to kept open - year 7s are often reminded of this by older girls when they first begin the school.
The girls also aren't allowed to leave the school in their Physical Education kit, even if PE is the last lesson of the day.
Towards the end of year 9, girls travel to King Edward VI Aston School for a day of various activities, called Festival Of Cultures (FOC). These activities vary every year and in the last have included tai chi, gospel singing, ballroom dancing, pizza and smoothie making, comic art, mendhi and fusion dancing to name but a few.
The Beacon
An annual magazine written by the lower sixth is released every year, called The Beacon, and this magazine can trace back to the originals from maybe 100 years ago or so.
Extra-curricular activities
The school endorses its pupils to partake in extracurricular activities, including over 50 musical, sports and general clubs such as Christian Society, STEM, debating and chess.
Most of these clubs take place during lunch break as a lot of the school travel far and wide so they have to catch buses, meaning they aren't able to stay after school. However, a few do take place after school such as Archery, Cricket and homework club, where pupils may study in a calm and nurturing environment and gain any help or support that they need. This club is also available for those who need to catch up on any work that they may have missed.
Uniform
The school has a strict code of conduct. Girls must adhere to the rules obediently.
In KS3, girls are to wear a navy blue blazer with the school logo on the chest pocket, a navy blue jumper with the school crest(optional), a blue blouse (in the summer term: worn without a tie), or a winter shirt alongside a house tie - girls are notified of their houses before beginning the school), navy blue tights (preferably 60 dernier to avoid laddering) and black shoes. No boots, trainers or any other kind are permitted.
In KS4, girls are to wear a navy blue cardigan, a navy blue jumper with the school crest(optional), a blue blouse (in the summer term: worn without a tie), or a winter shirt alongside a house tie - girls are notified of their houses before beginning the school), navy blue tights (preferably 60 dernier to avoid laddering) and black shoes. No boots, trainers or any other kind are permitted.In KS4, girls are permitted to wear a single ring.
No jewellery is allowed apart from one pair of stud earrings of a silver or gold colour and a watch. Make up is not permitted.
The School Timetable
Registration: 8:30-9:00am (this includes assembly and staff briefing on Monday) Period 1: 9:00-10:00am
Junior Break: 10:00-10:20am
Period 2 (seniors): 10:00-11:00am
Period 2 (juniors): 10:20-11:20am
Senior break: 11:00-11:20am
Period 3: 11:20-12.20pm
Lunch break: 12.20-1.30pm
Period 4: 1.30-2.35pm
Period 5: 2.35-3.35pm
End of school day
Notable former pupils
- Emma B, radio presenter
- Felicity Jones, actress
- Abigail Kelly, soprano opera and concert singer[2]
- Elizabeth Locke, The Apprentice, series six
- Sarah Manners, actress[3]
A society for alumni, the Handsworth Old Edwardians' Society (HOES), has been running since the turn of the 20th century. The society holds meetings for former pupils of all ages three times a year at the school.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://www.kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk/about-us/history/
- ↑ http://www.kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk/former-student-abigail-kelly-and-the-english-touring-opera/
- ↑ Laws, Roz (14 Feb 2010). "7 things you never knew about Sarah Manners - Birmingham Mail". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ http://www.kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk/about-us/hoes/
King Edward Grammar School for Girls, Handsworth 1883-1983, Alison Thorne, 1986