King Edward VI Handsworth School

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King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
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 / 52.5018; -1.9237Coordinates: 52°30′06″N 1°55′25″W / 52.5018°N 1.9237°W / 52.5018; -1.9237
Information
Type	Grammar Academy
Motto	Dieu et mon droit
Established	1883 (1883)
Specialist	Arts and science
Department for Education URN	137047 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Headmistress	Amy Whittall (Easter 2017–present)
Staff	Approximately 87[1]
Gender	Girls
Age	11 to 18
Enrolment	1086[2][3]
Houses	4
Colour(s)	Navy blue, emerald green, light blue
Publication	The Beacon
Website	https://kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk[4]

King Edward VI Handsworth School is a state grammar school for girls aged 11–18 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 Edward's Aston on the site where its brother school, King Edward VI Aston School, remains to this day. In 2019 there were 1086 girls on roll.^[2]

The school has a record of high attainment and was deemed 'outstanding' in its last Ofsted inspection.^[3][5] In 2019, the Birmingham Mail ranked it as the second best school in the West Midlands, down from first place in 2018.^[6][7] Since 2017, GCSE pupils at King Edward VI Handsworth have consistently achieved above average results compared to state-funded schools both in Birmingham and across England, with 99-100% of all pupils receiving above Grade 5 in their English and Maths GCSEs.^[8] A Level students also typically achieve above average scores.^[9]

History[]

The school was originally three separate schools: Aston (Girls section), Summer Hill, and Bath Row in the King Edward VI Foundation. On 14 September 1911 the three were merged and the Head Mistress of Aston – Miss Nimmo – became the new Head.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[10] In the beginning, the sixth form was very small with as few as 6 pupils in a year.^{[citation needed]} Transfer to King Edward VI High School for Girls for sixth form studies was not unusual.^[10]

The new school at Handsworth cost £50,000 to build.^[10] The architect, P. B. Chatwin,^[10] designed a very modern building with a number of specialist areas which included the library and the "playroom" (a whole school common-room).^[10] 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.^{[citation needed]} Since the renovation of the church (bought by the school) into a music centre, this room is now used as an ICT suite.^{[citation needed]}

View of the School Field - February 2018

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. In 1997 a new Sixth Form block was built with the help of the King Edward VI Foundation fund.^[10] In 2005, the new sports hall was built, using sponsorship money from companies such as O2,^{[citation needed]} and a church organ was bought by the school to be renovated and used for music studies.^{[citation needed]} The school also gained specialist performing arts status.^{[citation needed]} 2011 saw the building of a new library by the field; a modern building with a slanting roof and colourful window panes. This includes a mezzanine area upstairs with computers.

Latin was also removed from the curriculum in 2004^{[citation needed]} and replaced with drama,^{[citation needed]} which had previously been on the curriculum in the late 20th century.^{[citation needed]}

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 – Brontë, Pankhurst, Franklin and Nightingale, and when an extra form group was introduced in 2003 the new house of Curie, then un-introduced in 2005.

In September 2009 the houses were renamed, once again after famous women, this time – Parks (yellow), Keller (blue), Astor (green) and Cavell (red)).

In September 2020, the house Astor (green) was renamed Baker - after Noor Inayat Khan - following a suggestion by students and staff.

The Beacon[]

An annual magazine written by the lower sixth form is released every year, called The Beacon, and this magazine can trace back to the originals from maybe 100 years ago or so. It has general info about the school, and memorable moments from the year.

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.

Notable former pupils[]

• Emma B, radio presenter^{[citation needed]}
• Felicity Jones, actress^{[citation needed]}
• Abigail Kelly, soprano opera and concert singer^[11]
• Sarah Manners, actress^[12]
• Flora Spencer-Longhurst, actress
• Zarah Sultana, Labour MP

A society for alumni, the Handsworth Old Edwardians' Society (HOES), has been running since the turn of the 20th century.^{[citation needed]} The society holds meetings for former pupils of all ages three times a year at the school.^[13]

References[]

• Thorne, Alison (1986). King Edward Grammar School for Girls, Handsworth 1883–1983.

External links[]

• King Edward VI Handsworth School website