As the academic year ends, we say farewell to two of the Foundation’s longer serving heads, Martin Garrod from Camp Hill Boys and Yvonne Wilkinson from Five Ways.
Martin will this year complete seven years as Head at King Edward VI Camp Hill Boys, following 11 years as Deputy Head (Curriculum) and maths teacher. Previously he had a long career at other Foundation schools:
Handsworth Boys, 1993-1997, as a maths teacher, games teacher and housemaster; Aston, 1997-2003, as Head of Maths, games teacher, ICT GCSE teacher for two years and Assistant Head in his last year at the school. His connections with the Foundation are many, including his wife who is a Camp Hill Girls Old Girl, brothers-in-law are Camp Hill Boys old boys, daughter at Handsworth Girls and two sons at Camp Hill Boys. He has given stunning first-class service to the school and the Foundation, including maintaining his support for football where, despite the demands of headship, he contrived to be master in charge of football. Fortunately, we don’t say a total goodbye, as he has agreed to return and do some maths teaching.
Having earlier been the Deputy Head at King Edward VI Five Ways, Yvonne returned as Head in September 2012, completing nine years of headship there this year. She was not new to headship, having previously been head at two other schools. Returning to what she described as a ‘special and remarkable school’, she views her nine years as ‘the icing on the cake’ of a career that has included teaching in comprehensive, selective, state, independent, boys, girls, co-educational and international schools. It meant she was a good choice to be seconded for two terms to assist progress at Small Heath School and had a significant role in the Prince’s Trust. Already a happy school, Yvonne developed further the quality of relationships within the Five Ways community, whilst leading change in the formal and co-curriculum provision. Her contribution was also visual with artwork celebrating student work regularly displayed.
Thank you, Martin and Yvonne and all our good wishes for the future.
