What made Fame truly extraordinary was the spirit of teamwork and collaboration. Students, teachers, parents, and staff all played a crucial role in bringing this production to life. The camaraderie and support behind the scenes were just as inspiring as the performances on stage. 💪❤️

A huge shoutout to our wonderful parents and families for their unwavering encouragement and belief in our students. Your support made all the difference, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do to help them shine! 🌟👏

To our talented students—YOU WERE SPECTACULAR! 💃🕺 Your commitment to excellence, your resilience, and your boundless enthusiasm have left us all in awe. This production was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of talent, passion, and dedication. You have set the bar high for future productions, and we couldn’t be prouder! 🎬🙌

To our amazing staff - None of this would have been possible without your incredible dedication, you went above and beyond to make this event such a success. A special thank you to Mrs Davis-Musabayana for her outstanding direction, Mr. Noble for the electrifying lighting setup, and Mrs. Lowndes-Ford, Ms. Jeffs, and Mrs. Sillis for bringing the energy with their amazing performances in the band. Behind the scenes, Ms. Russell and Mrs. McKeon worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly. Your hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment made all the difference—thank you for making this event truly special! 

🌟 The Journey Continues…As we revel in this momentous achievement, let’s cherish the friendships forged, the lessons learned, and the memories created. Fame has proven that with hard work and unity, anything is possible. May this success serve as inspiration for even greater triumphs ahead! 🚀💫

Celebrating Success in the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge! 🎉

A few weeks ago, a group of enthusiastic Year 9 and Year 10 students took part in the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge—a prestigious competition designed to inspire and challenge young mathematicians.

This 60-minute, multiple-choice challenge encourages logical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in mathematical techniques. The carefully crafted problems are designed to be accessible to all, while also providing a stimulating challenge for those with more experience.

Taking part in the challenge is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their problem-solving skills and engage with mathematics beyond the classroom.

Our students performed exceptionally well, demonstrating impressive mathematical ability and problem-solving skills. Their outstanding results are shown below - we are so proud of their achievements. A special congratulations to Harry Jiang, who achieved the highest score in the school, and to RJ Taylor, who secured the top spot in Year 10! 🎉We are thrilled to announce that Harry, Aiden, Roy, Mohamed, Benji, Daniel, Yusuf, and RJ have all qualified for the next stage of the competition—an incredible achievement! 🥳

We are immensely proud of everyone who took part in the challenge, showcasing their dedication and talent in mathematics. Please join us in celebrating this fantastic success with them!

A huge thank you to Ms SSava

Year 7 & Literacy updates

From Ms Russell, Assistant Principal

Year 7 Student Parliament - Clean up Club! 🧼

The wonderful Humayl from the Department for Environment is on a mission to make the school the absolute best environment that it can be! He has launched the new Year 7 initiative of his 'Clean up Club' where students can come together and work on the environment as well as socialising and making new friends. There will be incentives and prizes for people helping to clean and tidy the school. 

He has been advertising the group himself and encouraging people to join - we love when students campaign for change and couldn't be prouder of Humayl!

Year 7 Publishing House 📔

The LBS Publishing house have been getting creative writing fiction stories with Ms Clarke this half term where the winning story will recieve a prize! They have been using different titles as inspiration and carefully crafting interesting openings. 

We absolutely love seeing how excited they have been about showing off their literacy skills and we hope you enjoy some of the extracts in the Publishing House Section of the Literacy Newsletter! 

KS4 Debate Competition - ESU Regional Heats!! 

This half term our KS4 debate club competed in the English Speaking Union Regional Debate Competition, hosted at Lordswood Boys' School! 

Our students were paired with other schools in the area to debate and question challenging topics such as 'Why do borders exist?' and 'To improve is to change.' 

Our students were fearless when they came up against formidable opponents! 

Sadly we did not make it through to the finals but the debate team were not deterred and plan to continue competing all year!

At the end of the event, one of the judges approached Jamie to let him know that despite going first he had left an impression on her with his passionate and engaging speech. She was impressed with his skills and let him know that he is going to go far with his talents. Tom and Ayaan were also praised as being two of the most polite and mature students that the teams had encountered. 

Read through all the fantastic literacy updates by following the link below:

College updates

From Ms George, Head of Midland College

Dodgeball: Intensity, Passion and Drive!

Tuesday’s Dodgeball Tournament was nothing short of epic! The energy, determination, and sportsmanship on display made it an unforgettable day.

From the very first whistle, students brought their A-game, demonstrating not only athletic skill but also respect, integrity, and teamwork. The self-refereeing nature of the tournament by students showcased incredible honesty, while the spirit of competition fueled some nail-biting matches. What stood out the most? The support between teammates—and even between colleges!

The Results Are In! 📢

The battles were fierce, but the final scores have been tallied. Here’s how each year group performed:

🏅 Year 7
🥇 1st - Central🥈 2nd - Westerly🥉 3rd - Mercia4️⃣ 4th - Midland

🏅 Year 8
🥇 1st - Central🥈 2nd - Mercia🥉 3rd - Midland4️⃣ 4th - Westerly

🏅 Year 9
🥇 1st - Westerly🥈 2nd - Mercia🥉 3rd - Central4️⃣ 4th - Midland

🏅 Year 10
🥇 1st - Westerly🥈 2nd - Midland🥉 3rd - Mercia4️⃣ 4th - Central

🏅 Year 11
🥇 1st - Mercia🥈 2nd - Midland🥉 3rd - Central4️⃣ 4th - Westerly

🥇 The Overall Winning College…🎉🎉 MERCIA 🎉🎉

🔥 New College Leaderboard Standings!

🏆 Westerly - 190🥈 Mercia - 150🥉 Central - 1354️⃣ Midland - 125

This tournament was only the beginning—there’s still plenty of time for colleges to climb the leaderboard! Keep that competitive fire burning, and let’s see who will take the top spot next!

Thank you to everyone who made this event a success and a special thank you to Ms George for all her amazing organisation and coordination to bring this together!

Teaching & Learning updates

From Mrs Davis-Musabayana, Assistant Principal

Highlights: Engaging Strategies and Strong Student Participation

✅ There was fantastic use of metacognition in Miss George's lesson! Students were actively questioned about how completing tasks would support their learning. They confidently articulated their understanding, demonstrating a clear grasp of the Red Zone's importance.

✅ Lovely to see high levels of student engagement in Miss Jeff's lesson as students took turns clapping rhythms. Miss Jeffs effectively addressed misconceptions and provided live modelling to support students who were struggling.

✅ As always in Mathematics, in Miss Savani's lesson students tackled a challenging task with full engagement, focusing on significant points. 

Teachers used excellent questioning techniques to elicit responses from a range of students. Outstanding behaviour and standards contributed to a strong environment.

Year 11 updates

From Ms Bunger, Assistant Principal

📢 Year 11 – The Final Countdown! ⏳

As we break up for half term, we ask students to keep up the momentum with focused revision—every bit of effort now will pay off in your exams. Stay disciplined, keep practicing, and come back ready to give it your all!

You've got this, Year 11! 💪📖✨

Personal Development Updates

From Kiran Sandhu, Assistant Principal

🌟 HT3 Focusing on Self-Belief & Compassion and Welcoming resilience for HT4 🌟

A big well done to  RJ, Usman and Samy for all achieving their Leadership badge, and an extra well done to RJ for achieving his Belief badge too!

Usman stated: “Receiving this leadership badge has motivated me to strive for the remaining badges. It has taught me that commitment is key and if you work hard, you are able to simultaneously get the badge without knowing! 

My favourite thing about getting this badge is going on trips. Although you might think that I am only saying this because I miss some lessons to go on the trips… I feel that going on these trips has allowed me to experience first hand different career paths, but it also helps you build your character resilience. Recently, I went on a sports leadership course which opened my eyes to the different career paths you can take. 

Finally, this term’s virtue is compassion. Compassion is the act of helping peers when they are down. showing sympathy towards them. So in school, when one of your friends is having a hard time learning a certain subject, we help them and comfort them.”

RJ stated: “I loved being awarded the character badges because they are a tangible way to see my progress as a person. My favourite part was the residential trip to Valencia, but in my opinion, the most useful part was the peer mentoring sessions, which helped me develop my compassion for others.”

Each Monday, the Junior Leadership team meet to discuss whole school initiatives as well as peer reading with the Y8 Saints. Students have a buddy who helps them with their phonics, reading and comprehension skills, which in turn has helped them to develop their confidence and self- belief.

It has also been a platform for students to form new friendships with students from older year groups and a vessel for them to share their concerns and worries.

Mr Mitchell with the assistance of 2 Y10 students: Thomas and Ayyan presented to the whole school how we can achieve our goals and virtues. Going through step by step how we can achieve each virtue and gain your much sought after badges. 

Thomas and Ayyan presented with maturity and passion, informing students the importance of compassion and how these tie in seamlessly with the British values 

Their thought- provoking assembly outlined their time at Lordswood Boys’ School and how their self- belief and compassion has enabled them to achieve their desired goals.

Have a restful half term and please reflect on your own journey, thinking about how you can showcase resilience next half term when you return. 

Thanks from your PDCE Team!

Safeguarding Updates

From Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal

Did you know almost half of 8 to 17-year-olds have been scammed online? 

New research released this week by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), reveals that exposure to scams is a regular part of life online for young people, with 79% of 8 to 17-year-olds coming across scams online at least once a month, and almost half (45%) at least once a week. 

The research identifies that an increasing number of parents think the number of scams online is growing, that they are getting more convincing, and that with the use of new technology (such as AI) they are getting harder to identify.

You can read the full report here: 

The UK Safer Internet Centre website, accessed via the link above, contains lots of helpful information and advice to help keep you and your family safe.

If you have been the victim of an online scam or fraud, you can report it at https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/action-fraud/

If you have any questions relating to safeguarding and need support, we have a very experienced team of Designated Safeguarding Leads in school, please get in touch using the contact details below:

• Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal/Lead DSL, d.metcalfe-molinari@lordswoodboys.co.uk

• Mr Richard Stanford, Deputy DSL, r.stanford@lordswoodboys.co.uk

Pastoral updates

From Miss Williams, Director of Behaviour & Attitudes

🎯 School Target 96%

Year to Date Whole School 93.1% 📈 

When you attend Lordswood Boys’ School all students are expected to follow our Uniform Policy.

There has been an increase in students losing points for not having the correct uniform. It is important than students arrive to school in the correct uniform, half term is the perfect opportunity to replace missing uniform items. Students are able to buy ties in school at a reduced cost of £5. You can order uniform online from Clive Marks or in store on Bearwood High Street. 

The Benefits of Having a School Uniform

Saves Time

By wearing uniforms, pupils no longer have to waste time planning their outfits to wear to school. Wearing a school uniform means that pupils are focused on their education and not on their attire.

Research has shown that when all pupils are wearing the same outfit, classrooms are more disciplined, with lower noise levels and significantly better 'listening' from pupils. Mandatory uniform policies also save valuable class time because they are easier to enforce than a standard dress code.
 

Reduces Peer Pressure

Originally, school uniforms were introduced to hide any social differences between pupils. Wearing a standard uniform saves money - there's no need to buy extra 'fashionable' clothes to impress other people at school.

Pupils who wear a school uniform do not have to feel insecure about their appearance and social status. Because all pupils are wearing the same clothes, there's no judgment.

School uniforms create a level playing field among the student body, which reduces peer pressure and helps to prevent bullying. A school uniform can prevent bullying based on appearance or economic background and encourage positive feelings of being socially accepted.
 

Encourages School Spirit 

School uniforms are also thought to improve school spirit. In wearing one, pupils can feel greater levels of school pride, unity, and community spirit. Whenever your child puts on their school uniform, they are representing their school, along with their peers.

Just as sports fans wear a team's colours to show their support, wearing school uniforms increases and encourages loyalty to a school. 

Power & Speed: Sprint Training in Action 🚀

Monday’s athletics session saw students explode into action with a high-intensity sprint workout. The focus? Power, speed, and acceleration.

Through dynamic drills, they honed their explosiveness and stride efficiency—key for top performance on the track. Every sprint was a step toward faster, stronger racing.

Stay tuned as our athletes keep pushing limits! 💨🔥

Year 9 Football: Fighting Spirit on Display ⚽🔥

Mr. Janes' Year 9 team took on Wheelers Lane in the Trevor Francis Memorial Cup this week. Despite a strong second-half comeback, LBS narrowly fell short in a hard-fought contest.

Abdullah Noori impressed on his debut, delivering a dominant physical performance to earn Man of the Match honors.

A bonus win—thanks to entering the tournament, the team received a brand-new Nike kit, which will be put to great use in the matches ahead! 💪🔵⚽

Year 7 Dodgeball: Ready for Action! 🔥🏆

Year 7 hit the court for a high-energy dodgeball practice ahead of the big College Event. The Giants brought their A-game, showing fierce competition, teamwork, and determination.

With their spirit and effort on full display, they’re ready to take on the challenge. Bring on the tournament! 💪🎯🏐

Basketball Brilliance: Another Big Win! 🏀🔥

Mr. Noble’s Year 10 & 11 squad delivered a dominant 46-16 victory against Bartley Green last night in a fast-paced and physical match.

Match Highlights:

✅ A tight first quarter as both teams battled for control
✅ Outstanding defensive adjustments to shut down their fast-break offense
✅ A stellar second quarter, holding Bartley Green to just 2 points!

With this win, the team strengthens their chance to reach the regional finals again. Mr. Noble’s squad is in top form—exciting times ahead for LBS Basketball! 💪🏆👏

A huge thank you from the Music Department! 

It’s been a busy and exciting half term, and we want to thank all students and staff for their incredible support!

🎭 Highlights of the Week:

• Fame Production – A spectacular showcase of talent!

• Drumming Workshop – An electrifying rhythm-filled session!

• Year 7 CBSO Trip – A world-class orchestral experience!

Your enthusiasm and dedication keep the music alive – let’s keep the momentum going! 🎵

An unforgettable trip to the Symphony Hall 

On Tuesday, 11th February, 30 Year 7 and KS3 students experienced the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra live at Symphony Hall!

✨ Highlights:

• A sold-out venue and front-row seats!

• A musical journey around the world, from Ireland to India!

• A thrilling finale featuring percussionists playing on junk percussion!

• Interactive moments: students danced the Can-Can and even conducted a piece!

An inspiring trip that left students amazed and eager for more musical experiences!

A great experience with drumming!

The Music Department was alive with rhythm last night as our drum kit teacher and a special guest led an exciting after-school Drumming Workshop!

🎵 What students experienced:

• Learning polyrhythmic patterns on the African djembe

• Developing coordination and groove on the drum kit

• An energetic and engaging session full of beats!

🎶 Reminder: Drumming Club runs every Thursday, 3-4pm after February half term—join in and keep the beats going!

🌟 Celebrating our Music Ambassadors! 🌟 

A huge shout-out to our Music Ambassadors who continue to inspire and lead! Special recognition goes to Harvi (Year 9) for taking the initiative to teach Dhol drumming to younger students—a true display of leadership!

🥁 Reminder: Main Dhol drumming lessons run every Monday after school, led by Harvi (Year 9) & Harveer (Year 11).

Well done to all our ambassadors for keeping the music alive! 👏

🎶 Practice Room Booking Reminder 🎶 

Practice rooms are available before school (from 8am) and at selected lunchtimes.

📌 Important: All bookings must be made in advance with Mrs. Lowndes-Ford or Miss Jeffs for safeguarding reasons.

Happy practicing! 🎹🥁🎵