King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is an Academy and member of the King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham and the King Edward VI Foundation. The school has been situated in Rose Hill Road, Handsworth since 1911. An extensive programme of building work has been carried out in recent years, including new DT and teaching facilities, a new library, science block and sports hall. We have created both a pastoral and a learning hub to support the emotional health and wellbeing of our students. The school boasts a large site with excellent facilities, we are also fortunate to have a large playing field for sporting activities and for students to enjoy during the summer months. King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls may be steeped in tradition and history, something of which we are fiercely proud, but we are a forward-thinking and outward-facing school committed to preparing our students face and meet the challenges of a fast-paced and ever-changing world.

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is an 11-18 selective girls’ school, forming part of the King Edward Foundation. The King Edward’s Foundation is responsible for the running of the five grammar schools (all of which converted to academy status on the 1st August 2011), two independent schools and the King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy in the City of Birmingham. We currently have 901 pupils, 261 in the Sixth Form. We are very popular and have approximately nine applicants for every place given. We are a Performing Arts specialist college and gained High Performing School Status in 2010, as a result our second specialism is Science.

We are a busy, caring and supportive school which values praise, enjoyment, respect and honesty in all we do. A rich programme of extra curricular provision provides chances for the girls to develop outside of the classroom, particularly in skills of confidence, teamwork and leadership.

We aim to develop young ladies who leave the school with a secure sense of identity, a respect, tolerance for and understanding of difference and diversity, academic success and as well rounded, confident young women who are ready and able to embrace the challenges and opportunities of adult life.

Our five Ofsted inspections have been outstanding, nonetheless we are not complacent and review and plan for further development to strengthen our school. We are an ambitious and forward thinking school, we are firm believers in Building Learning Power, a strategy pioneered by Guy Claxton, and we have spoken at national and local conferences promoting the approach. The vast majority of our lessons are graded outstanding or good.

Our facilities are excellent and provide a 21st century learning environment. Our school is built on a pleasant, enclosed campus, close to the centre of Birmingham. The main building was constructed in 1911 and contains some excellent specialist teaching rooms and a beautiful Hall.

Considering the selective nature of our school, academic achievement is important and we are anxious to provide our pupils with the widest possible choice within and beyond the framework of the National Curriculum. We follow a 50 period fortnight with three hour-long lessons in the morning and two in the afternoon. All our staff are well qualified and very able. All girls in KS4 take at least 11 GCSE subjects. Lower Sixth girls take four AS subjects plus AS Citizenship or Critical Thinking and Upper Sixth girls three A2 subjects in addition to General Studies or the Extended Project. We encourage each girl to participate in the life and activities of the school and we try to provide opportunities for everyone to take on real responsibilities within our community. Meaningful conversations with pupils and feedback on the curriculum are important. Academic standards are very high – in 2012 41.1% of all GCSE entries passed at A* grade and 80.3% at A*/A. At A Level 53.3% were passed at A*/A and 85.6% at A*/B. The school achieved its best contextual value-added measures for Key Stages 2 – 4 in 2012 (1031). The school features prominently in national league tables.

We pride ourselves on the variety of lunch time clubs with intellectual, social, sporting and creative activities organised by both Staff and Sixth Form girls. We have a strong musical tradition with choirs, orchestras and numerous instrumental lessons. Drama flourishes and we have several clubs run by the Sixth Form as well as our school production and joint ventures with King Edward VI Aston School (boys). Teams represent us in all the major sports. A contribution to the life of the School is expected from students and staff alike.

We enjoy a reputation for our friendly atmosphere and our Form Tutors take a special interest in the progress and welfare of the girls in their care. Serious problems are referred to the Pupil Achievement Leaders (PALS) of each year group. It is our policy to involve parents immediately a need arises since we wish to emphasise our belief that education is a partnership between home and school. We have an experienced, talented and committed staff. Teaching is lively and standards of preparation and marking are extremely good. We believe in offering opportunities for professional development through in-service training and opportunities for leadership and personal initiative.

We are committed to the nurture and development of all those who learn here and seek to inspire all to be their best. We embrace the transformative power of education and value a love of learning and intellectual curiosity. We support all within the school to find, develop and enjoy their interests and passions. Our school offers vibrant extracurricular opportunities and participation is both valued and celebrated. We are a happy and caring school which values and takes pride in diversity and celebrates individuality.

Our purpose is developing students with empathy, understanding and appreciation for other views and opinions. We support the girls to develop friendships which will last long beyond their time here and empower them to grow into independent, strong women who are equipped with the flexibility and moral courage to deal with the challenges of the modern world.

OUR VISION
We are committed to the nurture and development of all those who learn here and seek to inspire all to be their best. We embrace the transformative power of education and value a love of learning and intellectual curiosity. We support all within the school to find, develop and enjoy their interests and passions. Our school offers vibrant extracurricular opportunities and participation is both valued and celebrated. We are a happy and caring school which values and takes pride in diversity and celebrates individuality.

We offer a broad curriculum where academic rigour is enjoyed. We are committed to excellent teaching and learning in an environment where students relish the opportunities they are given to master the subjects they are studying, are willing to take risks and enjoy the intellectual challenges this brings.

This is a school which is proud of its history and tradition whilst simultaneously developing staff and students who are forward thinking, outward facing and willing to rise to a challenge.

We develop staff and students who have the desire and courage, combined with the emotional, intellectual and practical capacities to change the world in ways that might be great or small but are always for the better. Our ideals are firmly grounded in honesty and integrity.

Our purpose is developing students with empathy, understanding and appreciation for other views and opinions. We support the girls to develop friendships which will last long beyond their time here and empower them to grow into independent, strong women who are equipped with the flexibility and moral courage to deal with the challenges of the modern world.