It is a very busy time of year for our schools, not least with many of our pupils tackling the first in-person examinations to have taken place since 2019. We wish them the very best with their results and thank all colleagues for steering them through this tumultuous period.
Back in January I shared the very positive news about the Ofsted inspection at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls. Since then, two more of our academies have been inspected. While one report is still undergoing moderation by Ofsted, I am delighted to share the news that King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys remains outstanding, which we know to be a significant achievement under this new, highly rigorous framework. I would like to share a few phrases from the report which sum up the school’s achievement. “This is a school where pupils have a keen desire to do well. Pupils are inquisitive learners and thrive on the knowledge they gain from their lessons. They enjoy school and wear their uniform with pride. Staff are committed to ensuring all pupils are successful.”
Warm congratulations are due to the pupils, staff, governors and families of Handsworth Grammar. Following the success at Camp Hill Girls and a very positive Regulatory Compliance Inspection by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate at King Edward’s School earlier in the year, our schools are having a good year in terms of regulatory checks, a testament to colleagues’ commitment.
Over the Jubilee weekend, I was very pleased to be invited to the world premiere of the West Midlands Platinum Jubilee Anthem inside Birmingham Symphony Hall, a piece of music composed by young people in Birmingham and performed by the Symphony Orchestra and a combined choir which included a large number of pupils from King Edward VI High School for Girls. It was an extremely enjoyable event and the pupils sang very well. As I had arrived a little early into the city centre, I stopped by the Library to see an exhibition called “From City Of Empire To City Of Diversity: A Visual Journey”. It was an excellent pictorial journey through Birmingham’s transition from the late 19th century to now. What struck me was how sensitively the curators dealt with historical issues which are currently controversial. There was no censorship or “cancelling” of historical views, images, wording or events, but a well-balanced and objective narrative alongside them. It was a useful stimulus for some of the work that are attempting to undertake around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including our first in-person Student EDI Committee for some time coming up soon.
Finally, the last edition of Foundation News was devoted to ConnectED 2022,our second annual Foundation conference, designed to provide opportunities to share learning and practice, connect colleagues together and continue our exciting Foundation wide collaboration work. I do hope that as many of you as possible are able to sign up and join in.
