HEADTEACHER'S BLOG - 13th june 2025

And They’re Off… Year 10 Embark on Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award Practice Expedition! 🏕️

What a brilliant way to round off the week! Our incredible Year 10 students have officially set off on their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award practice expedition – ready to embrace the challenge, the adventure, and maybe even squeeze in a bit of History and Science revision along the way! 😂📚

A huge shoutout to our young adventurers who looked full of energy, excitement, and determination as they embarked on this outdoor journey. This is such a valuable opportunity for building resilience, teamwork, and independence – all key skills both in and out of the classroom.

We’re wishing them all the very best for a successful and memorable expedition. Here’s hoping for blue skies, dry socks, and absolutely no unexpected wildlife encounters! 🐾🌦️

A massive thank you to Mr Jackson and Mrs Bone for taking the students on this adventure. We can't wait to welcome everyone back on Saturday and hear all about the stories, challenges, and triumphs from the trail!💪🌲

A brilliant, well-rested night under the stars — spirits high and tents still standing!Now for breakfast, boots on, and back to the adventure! 🥾🌄 

FOUNDATION STUDIES 

Poetry Day ✍️

Last Friday, our Year 7 students took part in a fantastic Poetry Day as they created their entries for the Birmingham City University Future Writers Competition!

The competition draws inspiration from Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem ‘Nature Trail’, and our students embraced the challenge with creativity and enthusiasm. 

To kick off the day, students ventured out on their own nature trail around the school fields. Armed with notebooks and plenty of curiosity, they explored the sights, sounds, and textures of the natural world. 

They then set to work creating their poems!

They drafted and redrafted, focussing on vocabulary and literary devices and we are so proud of their efforts! We are submitting the poems to the Young Writers competition so keep your fingers crossed!  

Please enjoy this beautiful poem by Ilias in the Dolphins - we think it captures the day perfectly! 

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & MATHEMATICS (STEM)

In our latest STEM Club session, we reached an exciting milestone by bringing together all our individual work into one dynamic group presentation on “How a Rocket Works.” This marked the culmination of our Bronze CREST Award project, where every member contributed their unique insights and expertise to create a cohesive and engaging presentation.

Throughout the project, each student prepared their own slide focusing on a specific aspect of rocket science — from propulsion and fuel types to aerodynamics and launch procedures. What made this session special was the collaboration involved in assembling these individual pieces into a unified PowerPoint presentation. Each participant took ownership of their slide, rehearsing and delivering it confidently as part of the group’s overall presentation.

This collaborative approach not only helped us understand the topic better but also gave everyone valuable experience in teamwork, communication, and presentation skills — all important elements of the CREST Award criteria.

As part of the Bronze CREST Award process, individual presentations were carefully reviewed to assess if they met the standards required for the award. We’re proud of the dedication and effort shown by all members throughout this project. The final group presentation highlighted how working together can make complex topics more accessible and enjoyable.

This session was a fantastic way to wrap up our CREST Award journey in STEM Club, celebrating both individual achievements and the power of collaboration. We’re excited to see where our next projects will take us!

Stay tuned for more STEM adventures! 

Literacy Updates

From Miss Russell, Assistant Principal

DrawAlong with Dapo Adeola - Illustrator Workshop 🎨 

Year 7 Students had an amazing online workshop with award winning illustrator Dapo Adeola! The Reading Agency invited us to join their live event to launch their Summer Reading Challenge for 2025. 

The students were taken on a visual and creative journey through the magical world of Story Garden  with a special draw-along session. 

Students had so much fun getting creative and practising being illustrators themselves! 🧑‍🎨

Teaching & Learning Updates

From Ms Davis-Musabayana, Assistant Principal

📚 End of Year Assessments Reminder!

Year 8, 9 - your exams start on Monday and Year 10 - your exams started today! Now’s the time to get organised and keep revising. 💪

👇 Check out the topic lists below for every subject to help you get started! 

College Updates

From Mr Insley, Assistant Principal

The Final Stretch: Who will take the College Trophy?🏆

With just six weeks to go until the end of term, the competition is heating up across our four incredible colleges – Midland 🟢, Mercia 🔵, Central 🟡, and Westerly 🔴 – and the race for college glory is on!

Each college is battling for top honours in not one, but three prestigious categories:

• The Sports Day Trophy 🥇

• The Behaviour and Attitudes Trophy 🌟

• And the big one... The Overall College Trophy 🏆

Right now, Central College holds a narrow lead in the Behaviour and Attitudes race – but it’s still anyone’s game! Every positive point makes a difference. So we need every student showing up every day, giving their best, and bringing that outstanding Lordswood spirit. “Every lesson, every moment, every positive attitude – it all adds up!”

🎉 What’s Coming Up?

We’ve got a jam-packed half term ahead, including the launch of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” hosted by none other than Mr Mitchell! 💸📚
Get ready to test your knowledge, win big, and earn points for your college in true game-show style. More information coming soon!

And of course, we’ll wrap it all up with our legendary Sports Day! 🏃‍♂️🏆
Every sprint, every relay, every throw and jump will bring your college one step closer to victory. Who will take home the coveted shield this year?

💥 Let’s Finish Strong!

Whether you’re leading the way like Central, chasing close behind like Mercia, bringing the Midland fire, or flying the Westerly flag with pride – this is your moment. Now’s the time to show up, step up, and make your mark.
The Overall College Trophy is still wide open – so let’s make every day count.

Let the final countdown begin! ⏳🔥

Year 11 Updates

From Ms Bunger, Assistant Principal

The GCSE exam season is almost over when it concludes on Wednesday 18th June with just Physics Paper 2, Music, Spanish Writing, DT and Further Maths remaining. I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible efforts and resilience shown by our Year 11 students over the past few weeks.

It's been a demanding period with a total of 64 exams (!) and I have been consistently impressed by the dedication, maturity and perseverance our students have demonstrated throughout. From early revision sessions to focused exam halls, the commitment shown by every student has been something to be truly proud of. Staff, and I am sure you supporting at home, have seen first-hand the determination that’s gone into preparing for these important exams and it has not gone unnoticed. I am incredibly proud of what Year 11 have accomplished — not just in exams, but in how they have carried themselves during this crucial time. They have shown a level of focus and responsibility that will serve them well beyond school. The students' commitment to Saturday School will also be celebrated on Monday with the vouchers the boys will be awarded with!

As we look ahead, I am very much looking forward to celebrating all of their hard work and successes on Results Day on Thursday 21st August 2025! Keep going Y11, you are almost there!

🎓 GCSE Results Day – Thursday 21st August 2025

GCSE results will be available for collection on Thursday 21st August, between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM.

To collect your results, you’ll need to complete two forms, which will be provided on the day.

If you’re unable to attend on the 21st, a family member may collect your results on your behalf, but you must provide written permission and ensure the two forms are completed by Friday 18th July, before the summer break. If this is not completed and signed in advance, unfortunately, we will not be able to make exceptions on the day.

For anyone who cannot collect results in August, they will also be available from Monday 1st September, once the school reopens.

👕🎓 Uniform for Kindness: Donate & Dine After Physics Exam! ❤️👔

Year 11, we have a request. On Monday 16th June, right after your Physics exam, we’re offering a FREE chicken burger to any student who donates their full uniform to school.

Why? Because by giving back your uniform, you’ll be helping other students in our community who may need a little extra support. It’s a great way to finish your exams on a high and do something kind.

Simply hand in your complete uniform after the exam – that includes your blazer, shirt, trousers and tie. Once you’ve donated, you’re welcome to change into your own clothes to travel home in.

We completely understand that if you have a younger sibling, you may want to keep your uniform.

Burgers will be served up hot and fresh – it’s our way of saying THANK YOU for being brilliant and generous.

Let’s end your school journey with full stomachs and full hearts. Don’t miss out – Monday 16th June, straight after Physics!

Pastoral Updates

From Miss Williams, Director of Learning for Behaviours & Attitudes

🎯Sharp. Smart. Ready. Thank you for raising the Standard!🎯

This week at Lordswood Boys’ School, we’ve been blown away by the sharp blazers, smart shoes, and incredible pride our students are showing and it’s all thanks to your fantastic students and the support at home. 🌟

Uniform standards are excellent, and it's making a real impact on the atmosphere and learning in school. From tidy ties to polished shoes, our young men are stepping up — and it shows. 💼💪

A massive thank you to all our families – your help each morning, making sure everything’s in place, is noticed and appreciated. You're helping us build a culture of excellence. 🙌

🎯 Don’t Forget the “Magic Three”

Let’s keep the momentum going by making sure every student brings:

📖 A reading book
✏️ A fully stocked pencil case with the correct equipment
📅 A literacy planner

These essentials help set the tone for focused, productive lessons. Please support us by:

✔️ Checking bags each evening
🛒 Replacing missing items when needed
🗣️ Chatting with your son about being prepared

We’re so proud of the strides we’re making — together. Let’s keep aiming high! 

Safeguarding Updates

From Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal

🕊️In Memory of Leo Ross: Student-Led Fundraiser for Life-Saving Bleed Control Kit🕊️

Our student prefect team is proud to launch a powerful, student-led fundraiser in support of the Daniel Baird Foundation, with the aim of installing a bleed control cabinet outside Lordswood Boys’ School.

This campaign is being organised in memory of Leo Ross, a 12-year-old boy from Birmingham who tragically lost his life to knife crime earlier this year in Yardley Wood. While Leo was not from our immediate community, his story struck a deep chord with many of us — and inspired our students to take meaningful action.

💙 Why This Matters

The Daniel Baird Foundation was established in response to the fatal stabbing of Daniel Baird in 2017. Since then, the charity has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about knife crime and to install emergency bleed control kits in public areas — kits that have already saved lives across the UK.

By raising funds for a bleed control cabinet at our school gate, we’re not only helping to protect students, staff, and the wider community, but also taking a stand for safety, responsibility, and solidarity. Our goal extends beyond our school — we also hope to fund additional kits for Bearwood High Street, where many of our students and families live, shop, and travel.

🙌 How You Can Help

We warmly welcome donations from parents, carers, and local businesses. Every contribution will go directly towards the purchase and installation of the bleed control cabinets.

To donate or learn more, please contact: 

d.metcalfe-molinari@lordswoodboys.co.uk

🛑 Together, we can raise awareness. Together, we can save lives.

Thank you for your continued support in making Lordswood not just a school, but a safer, stronger community.

NOS Updates 

The National Online Safety programme publishes a weekly #WakeUpWednesday update for parents/carers. This week's free guide focuses on social media and mental health. It highlights a number of tips such as how to hide content, setting daily limits and discussing what children have seen online. 

An estimated one-third of children have a social media account, so it’s important that trusted adults know what content young people are consuming; what they’re posting; and what interactions they’re having. On social media, it can be easy to go down a rabbit hole that isn’t beneficial to our wellbeing. As platforms grapple with managing ‘legal but harmful’ content, lives are being impacted – sometimes to tragic effect. We might be daunted by the scale of the tech giants and their content which enthrals young people, but we can still help children to be mindful of their mental wellness: recognising when something isn’t OK … and knowing what to do about content that upsets them.

In the guide, you'll find tips such as how to hide content, setting daily limits and discussing what children have seen online.

Dance, Performing Arts and Extra-curricular updates

From Mrs McKeon, Director of Learning of Foundations Studies and Extra-curricular learning

Weekly Sports Round-Up

From Mr Janes, Director of Sport

Year 9 Cricket Fixture Report 🏏

The Year 9 Cricket Team took on Camp Hill on Tuesday in an exciting league fixture. LBS set a strong total of 150 runs, with a standout performance from Manraaj Benning, who scored an impressive 83.

In a thrilling finish, Camp Hill managed to chase down the target with just two balls to spare – a fantastic game played in great spirit by both sides.

The team now looks ahead to their next challenge as they travel to face Moseley on Tuesday. Best of luck, boys!

Year 10 Football Final – A Performance to Remember ⚽🔥

Our Year 10 boys came agonisingly close to pulling off one of the greatest upsets in school football history. In a final packed with heart, drama, and sheer determination, they pushed an unbeaten King's Norton side to the absolute limit — eventually falling just short in a heartbreaking 3–2 defeat, sealed by a last-minute goal.

Every single player gave more than anyone could have asked for. More leadership. More belief. More resilience and self-discipline than we thought possible. To come so close against a team with such a dominant record speaks volumes about the talent, teamwork, and character within this group.

At 2–1 down, King's Norton were forced to bring on a player who had just signed for Manchester City from Wolves — someone who wasn’t even expected to play. That tells you everything about the pressure our boys put them under. This is a team that had won other year group finals 7–1, 9–0, and 10–0. But this 3–2 against Lordswood will be the one that raises eyebrows across the Midlands.

Yes, the result hurts. But what this group achieved — and how they carried themselves — is far bigger than the score line. They represented our school with pride, class, and a spirit that will serve them not just on the pitch, but in exams, in challenges, and in life.

Please take a moment to congratulate them when you see them around school. They’ve earned every bit of praise, and then some. Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it.

A huge thank you to Mr Mitchell for his relentless hard work and commitment with the team and driving the spirits high to build this team from the start of their journey.

Year 7 Football – Gearing Up for a Big Week! ⚽

Our Year 7 football team made the most of the dry weather yesterday, getting back out on the training pitch after last week’s downpour. With two big fixtures next week, the boys focused on tactical preparation as they look ahead to an away match at Shenley and a home game against Wheelers Lane.

Plenty of energy, focus, and teamwork on display — we’re excited to see how they perform!

🎶 Music Dates for Your Diary – Summer 2025 🎶

The summer term is full of exciting musical opportunities! From creative workshops to inspiring performances, here’s what’s coming up in the Music Department – make sure these dates are in your diary:

📅 Monday 16th June
🎻 Cello Lessons Begin
📝 GCSE Music Listening Exam (PM) – Good luck to our Year 11 students!

📅 Friday 20th June – Make Music Day 2025
George Dixon Primary visit LBS for interactive music workshops.
B Music Jazz Band performs live at Symphony Hall.

📅 Monday 23rd June – Ex Cathedra Vocal Workshops
Inspiring vocal sessions with one of the UK’s top choral organisations.

📅 Thursday 26th June – Arts Award Trip: Michael Jackson Musical
A high-energy West End experience for our Arts Award students.

📅 Friday 4th July – All Together Now
A massed singing event in partnership with Ex Cathedra, featuring local primary schools.

📅 Wednesday 16th July – Pop Symphony Orchestra at the Youth Proms
Performing at Symphony Hall – a celebration of young musical talent.

📅 Thursday 18th July – Horizon Voices Visit LBS
A day of singing workshops led by this acclaimed vocal ensemble.