HEADTEACHER'S BLOG - 17th october 2025

⛰️Peak Performance ⛰️

The Power of Participation: Y8 Extracurricular Adventure 🌟  

As students move into Year 8, many are building on the confidence, teamwork, and enthusiasm developed in Year 7. After finding their footing in secondary school, this is the year they begin to shine - continuing the Peak Performance Enrichment they started last year and expanding their horizons through new challenges and opportunities. 

Students threw themselves into a brand new set of clubs this half term from Sporting Activities such as Football and Fitness, to STEM & Literacy Clubs such as our brand new Book Club and the Lordswood Publishing House. 

Students also had an opportunity to show off musical talents in the 'Let's Pop' club & a chance to learn new instruments too! 

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY MATHS & ENGINEERING (STEM)

❤️ STEM Club Gets to the Heart of Science! 🫀 

This week, our brilliant Year 8 students became mini cardiac surgeons as they explored the structure and function of a real sheep’s heart! 🐑🔬

During the dissection, they identified the chambers, valves, and arteries, before testing their surgical skills by trimming fat and removing a “blood clot.” 💉❤️ Along the way, they discovered how biology connects to exciting STEM careers such as surgeons, biomedical scientists, and engineers 👩‍⚕️👨‍🔬.

It was a hands-on, messy, and utterly fascinating session that truly brought science to life! 😄💓

Literacy Highlights

From Ms Russell, Assistant Principal 

Perfect Planners & The Importance of Spelling 📑✅

Our Year 7 Ravens have been showing tremendous pride in their Literacy work this term! It’s been wonderful to see how much care they take in the presentation of their planners. Each one has become a showcase of effort, creativity, and progress, reflecting the time they put into organising their work and tracking their learning.

One area where parents can make a real difference is in spelling practice. Encouraging your son to use his planner to regularly practise spellings is a simple but powerful way to reinforce learning, build confidence, and help him take pride in his progress.

College & Extra-curricular Highlights

From Mr Insley, Assistant Principal

💪 🔥 Year 9 Extra-Curricular Relaunch – Bigger, Better, and Built Around Student Voice! ⚽🎮🍳🎯
At LBS, learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings. Our extra-curricular programme is where character grows, friendships form, and passions come alive.

After listening to Year 9 student feedback, we’re relaunching our clubs after half term with a refreshed line-up, designed by students, for students! 🙌

Here’s what’s new:

🍳 Cooking Club – Learn to cook healthy meals, master kitchen skills, and build confidence and independence.
🎮 Gaming Club – Teamwork, strategy, and fun through FIFA tournaments and co-op challenges.
🎯 Darts Club – Build precision, focus, and patience in this exciting new addition.
⚽ Before School Football – Start the day strong with teamwork, fitness, and motivation.
💻 Coding Club – Explore coding, create games, and discover the digital world’s inner workings. 🚀

Our existing clubs in sport, art, science, and robotics will continue, giving students more choice than ever!

Next week, Year 9 students can sign up for one club to commit to after half term. Parents and carers, please discuss the options and encourage your son to choose something that excites him. 💬✨

Joining a club isn’t just fun, it builds self-discipline, commitment, and confidence. Research shows that students involved in extra-curricular activities have better attendance, stronger motivation, and higher self-belief, qualities we see every day in our Lordswood Learners.

👉 Action for Parents:
1️⃣ Talk about which club interests your son most.
2️⃣ Look out for the sign-up link next week.
3️⃣ Encourage weekly commitment after half term.

Let’s make this next chapter of the Year 9 extra-curricular journey our best yet! 🌟

💪 Tug of War – 24th October
Our first Athletic Event of the year promises strength, laughter, and College pride! Students (and maybe even staff!) will battle it out for points and glory. 🚩

With mental and physical challenges ahead, our College System is alive with teamwork, leadership, and school spirit. 💙💚💛❤️

Teaching & Learning and Homework updates

From Ms Bunger, Assistant Principal

Safeguarding Updates

From Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal

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

Weekly Sports Round-Up

From Mr Janes, Director of Sport

Sport fixtures and training schedules 

⚽ Team Spirit in Action: Year 8 ESA Footballers Shine on the Pitch! ⚽ 

There’s plenty to celebrate this week as our Year 8 ESA Football Team continues to make us proud on and off the pitch! Wins like these are about more than just the scoreline. They highlight the resilience, collaboration, and sportsmanship that define our students and show the power of working together with a shared goal.

A huge well done to the team, and to the staff supporting them, for their dedication, passion, and school spirit. We couldn’t be prouder! 👏

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

Go, LBS! 💙

💪 Pushing Limits in PE: Health and Fitness in Action!

This week in Physical Education, students have been working hard in their Health and Fitness lessons, focusing on high-intensity training and exploring the short-term effects of exercise on the body.

The sessions were filled with energy and enthusiasm as students embraced the competitive spirit, challenging themselves — and each other — to reach new personal bests. It was fantastic to see so many pupils showing resilience, teamwork, and determination throughout their workouts.

A brilliant effort all round — well done, everyone! 👏

⚽ Year 8 & 9 Football Training – Fantastic Attendance and Commitment!

What an incredible turnout at our Year 8 & 9 Football Training last night, with over 60 students taking part! 🙌

It’s fantastic to see so many of our boys embracing the opportunities within our Football Provision, showing real commitment, teamwork, and passion for the sport. Their dedication to improving their skills and supporting one another truly reflects the spirit of Lordswood Boys’ School.

Well done to everyone involved, the hard work and energy on display were outstanding! 💪

Weekly Music News & Schedules

From Mrs Lowndes-Ford, Director of Music

🎶 Lordswood Boys’ Students Shine at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire! 🎶

Six of our talented students took part in the Soundlab Music Composition Project at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire this week — and they were outstanding! 👏

The boys showed incredible creativity, teamwork, and enthusiasm, impressing Conservatoire lecturers with their attitude and engagement.

This marks the start of a year-long collaboration with three other Birmingham schools, creating original compositions to be performed later this year. We can’t wait to hear the final pieces! 🎵

🍪🎵 Building Biscuit Towers in GCSE Music! 🎵🍪

Learning about Musical Structures took a creative twist this week in GCSE Music (10XMS1)!

After exploring how composers organise music, students were challenged to build biscuit towers to represent different sections — listening carefully to identify binary, ternary, and rondo forms.

The best part? If they got it right, they could eat their masterpiece! 🍪🎶

A fun, hands-on way to understand musical form — proving that learning can be both educational and delicious! 😄

🎻🎶 Student Composer Takes the Baton! 🎶🎻

This week, our Pop Symphony Orchestra rehearsal had a special twist — Year 8 student Mahdi took the lead!

Having composed and notated a full piece for the orchestra, Mahdi conducted the session himself, guiding his peers as they learned their parts. His creativity, confidence, and leadership were truly inspiring.

We can’t wait to hear Mahdi’s composition performed at upcoming school events — a bright future indeed for this talented young musician! 👏🎵

🎺🎻 Exciting Music Opportunities at Lordswood Boys’ School! 🎻🎺

National Youth Orchestra Visit – Sunday 26th October
We’re thrilled that the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) will be visiting Lordswood Boys’ School during the October half term! Students working at Grade 3 or above are invited to take part in an afternoon Open Event with NYO members — a truly inspiring experience.

📝 How to apply: Complete the online form here and collect a letter from Mrs Lowndes-Ford if you haven’t already. Don’t miss this unforgettable opportunity! 🌟

Jazz Band Returns – Wednesday 5th October
Our Jazz Band is back after half term, running 3:00 – 4:00 pm in G15, led by the talented Robbie Moore from B:Music. Students will explore new repertoire, refine their performance skills, and enjoy another term of high-energy music-making. 🎷🎵

It’s shaping up to be an exciting term for all our musicians — we can’t wait to see the boys in action!