🤝 Endless Gratitude to Our Unwavering Supporters 

We extend our deepest thanks to the Dhaliwal, Pama and Kang families, who have generously joined the LBS community in supporting this initiative. Their kindness is a beacon of hope, and we are truly grateful for their contributions. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

🌟 Building Resilience Through Giving

Acts of kindness strengthen resilience, proving that even in difficult times, compassion prevails. Our commitment to giving extends beyond Easter as we continue to uplift those in need.

Lordswood Boys' School – United in Kindness, Strengthened by Resilience.

💥 "Giving is Power" 💬 MP Preet Gill Ignites a Movement of Compassion.

We were honoured to welcome MP Preet Gill to Lordswood Boys' School, where she spoke powerfully to our students about the transformative impact of giving. Highlighting the stark levels of deprivation across Birmingham, she encouraged us to look beyond ourselves and understand the real struggles many families face—right on our doorstep.

Her message was clear: compassion isn’t just kind, it’s necessary. She urged students to recognise the strength in community, the importance of supporting children and families in need, and the tangible difference their generosity can make.
Her visit left a lasting impression—empowering our students to become changemakers in a world that needs their empathy more than ever.

🎉 WOW! LBS ALSO SMASHES COMIC RELIEF FUNDRAISING RECORD! 🎉

The final figures are in... and they are INCREDIBLE! This year, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our amazing school community, we have raised a record-breaking £1,500 for Comic Relief! Each year, our contributions have grown:

2023: £1,300 2024: £1,400 2025: £1,500 🎉

💪 Fundraising Highlights

• Plank Vs. Teacher/Tug of War: £5

• Samosa Sale: £53

• Sponge a Teacher: £120

• Non-Uniform Donations: £179.84 (Special mention to the Year 10 Rams for contributing £15.50!)

• Coombs Donation: £1,143.16 🎈

❤️ Every Penny Counts!

From wacky challenges to delicious treats and generous donations, every effort has made a huge impact. Comic Relief helps to change lives both in the UK and across the world, and we are proud to play our part in this incredible cause.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all our students, staff, and catering company Coombs for making this possible. Your kindness and generosity continue to inspire, and together, we are making a difference! 💖

Lordswood Boys' School – Giving Back, Having Fun, Changing Lives!

Year 7 & Literacy updates

From Ms Russell, Assistant Principal

📻Radio Presenter Workshop 🎙️

Year 7 students had an amazing time last week in their workshop with Callum from BBC Radio 1. There was a Q&A session all about careers in news, presenting and radio before students had the opportunity to create their own 3 minute news bulletin and present!

In teams the students had to look through media and research what they thought were the most important headlines for their bulletin. They also had tips on how to present, from public speaking to making sure your stories are heard! 

The students were so inspired and they oozed confidence!

A huge thank you to Callum Leslie and the BBC! 

Oracy Champions showing off their 'Talk Tactics' 🔈

Year 10 students have been learning about how to structure their debates using Voice 21 'Talk Tactics' including how to Build, Challenge, Probe and Summarise in debates.

This week 10.1 discussed misogyny and its harmful effects on society from 1912 (when their GCSE set text 'An Inspector Calls' was set) to now including current affairs and media trends.

The quality of talk just kept getting better and better as students really enjoyed learning how to make their voices heard.  

Read for Good Charity Collection📚

Our amazing Year 7 Student Parliament have been busy collecting the sponsorship money for the Readathon, raising money for children in hospitals to have access to new books and storytellers. We can't wait to share the total with you! 

College updates

From Mr Insley, Assistant Principal

Let’s Make a Difference – Fundraise & Compete, Lordswood! 

At Lordswood Boys', we’re uniting for a great cause—supporting four brilliant charities: Prostate Cancer UK, Pet Search Rescue West Midlands, Crohn’s & Colitis UK, and Women’s Aid 💙🐾💜

Our students have already made an impact through the Enterprise Challenge, showing real creativity and drive. Next up? We’re planning a Sponsored 5K Run 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️—and we’d love your ideas too! Whether it’s a bake sale, talent show, gaming marathon, or a teacher vs. student match, we’re all ears! 💡

Fundraising isn’t just about giving back—it builds teamwork, leadership, and earns college points toward the Community Trophy! 🏆

📬 Drop your ideas in the Fundraising Box outside the main hall or speak to your form tutor. Let’s raise as much as we can—together!

🎯 Upcoming College Competitions:

⚽ Football 7-a-Side – This Wednesday!
Get on the pitch or cheer loud from the sidelines! Don’t forget your PE kit or college colours—every goal and cheer earns your college points! 💙❤️💛💚

🐝 Spelling Bee – Starts Next Week!
Flex your vocabulary and help your college climb the leaderboard. Let’s see who can spell their way to victory!

Get involved, have fun, and make a difference.
Midland, Central, Mercia, Westerly – let’s go! 🔥

Year 11 updates

From Ms Bunger, Assistant Principal

As the Easter break approaches, Year 11 students are entering a crucial stage of their GCSE journey. With exams just around the corner, it’s essential to use this time effectively while also taking care of your wellbeing. Here’s how you can make the most of your revision over Easter and set yourself up for success.

1. Have a Structured Revision Plan

A well-planned revision timetable can make all the difference. Allocate time for each subject based on your strengths and weaknesses. Use the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of focused study followed by a 5-minute break) to keep your concentration levels high.

Make sure to include a mix of:

• Past paper practice

• Active recall techniques such as flashcards and mind maps

• Exam questions under timed conditions

• Self-quizzing to check understanding

Please use the online resource document that gives you access to thousands of resources!

2. Attend Intervention Sessions

Your teachers are offering valuable intervention sessions and these are a great opportunity to strengthen your understanding of key topics. These sessions cover exam techniques, common mistakes and specific areas where students typically struggle. Don’t miss out on the chance to get tailored support and ask any questions you may have.

3. The Importance of School Attendance

Every school day counts, especially as your GCSE exams draw closer. Teachers provide essential revision tips, exam practice and guidance that you won’t get elsewhere. Attending school daily ensures you stay on top of your learning and don’t miss out on crucial information that could appear in your exams.

4. Look After Your Wellbeing

While revision is important, taking care of yourself is just as crucial. Here’s how to maintain a healthy balance:

• Get enough sleep. You should be aiming for 7-9 hours per night.

• Eat well by eating nutritious meals that help keep your brain sharp.

• Exercise every day, even if it’s a short walk to help reduce stress.

• Take breaks to ensure you have time to relax and recharge.

• Stay positive! Believe in yourself and your abilities.

• Set realistic goals for each revision session and reward yourself for achieving them.

• Don’t hesitate to talk to teachers, friends or family if you’re feeling overwhelmed. We are all here to help and support you.

Your GCSE exams are a stepping stone to your future and with the right balance of revision, attendance and self-care, you can achieve your best. Use this Easter wisely, attend your intervention sessions and stay consistent with your revision – your hard work will pay off.

As always, Good Luck Y11!

Personal Development Updates

From Miss Sandhu, Assistant Principal

As well as raising money for Comic Relief, students engaged in a range of enriching activities throughout the day. They embraced STEM challenges, exploring sustainability and even planting trees for a greener future.

Year 9 students embarked on a magical trip to the Clent Hills, while others took part in Police presentations on knife crime and the dangers of county lines. Thought-provoking antisemitism workshops and careers talks from external specialist speakers further enhanced the day’s learning.

We also embedded our school virtues of compassion and belief by linking activities to British Values, reinforcing the importance of unity and respect. Students even had the opportunity to learn British Sign Language—just one of many exciting experiences that made the day so memorable!

Enjoy the video below to see the students engaged in the different events.

If any parent (irrelevant of your son's year group) has the capacity to provide a work experience opportunity for one (or more) of our Y10 students, please do not hesitate to contact Miss Sandhu on k.sandhu@lordswoodboys.co.uk

Teaching & Learning Highlights

From Mrs Davis Musabayana, Assistant Principal

This week Miss Savani challenged Year 9 students with tasks focused on perpendicular measurements, aiming to deepen their understanding of geometric concepts. She guided them through practical applications and exercises that involved measuring and identifying perpendicular lines and angles, helping them develop a deeper grasp of spatial reasoning.  

Year 11 students are receiving personalised and detailed feedback on their recent mock exams in German from Mrs Greatrix. This feedback is specifically designed to identify and address the individual areas where each student may need further improvement. The goal is to ensure that students have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to focus on the most crucial aspects of the language. As they prepare for their upcoming GCSE examinations, this targeted support will help them refine their skills in areas such as grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The feedback process is an essential part of their ongoing preparation, providing them with the tools and insights necessary to achieve their best possible performance in the final exams.  Good luck, Boys.  

Miss Duval is offering personalised one-on-one support to students in History, to boost their engagement and foster significant progress in the subject. Through tailored sessions, she addresses each student’s unique learning needs, providing focused guidance on areas where they may be struggling. This individualised support helps to deepen their understanding of the subject topics, improve critical thinking skills, and enhance their ability to analyse and evaluate historical events. By actively engaging with each student, Miss Duval ensures they are equipped with the knowledge and confidence needed to excel in their studies and achieve their academic goals.   

SCIENCE, MATHS ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (STEM) 🚀 

Maths Meets the Moon: Rocket Science with Miss Savani  

This week, Miss Savani led the STEM Club as we explored the math behind rockets and space travel. We focused on key concepts that help rockets reach space, from basic physics to complex equations.

First, we introduced the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, which explains how rockets change velocity by shedding mass as fuel is burned. Understanding this equation is essential for designing rockets that can escape Earth's gravity.

Next, we worked with Newton's Second Law (F = ma) to explore how force, mass, and acceleration work together to propel a rocket. We saw how force must increase as mass decreases to keep the rocket accelerating.

Finally, we discussed the fuel-to-payload ratio, a crucial factor in rocket design, and how it impacts the rocket’s velocity and efficiency in space travel.

It was a great session filled with exciting insights into the world of rocketry! Stay tuned for more STEM adventures next week.

— The STEM Club Team 

Safeguarding Updates

From Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal

As Year 11 approach the start of their GCSE exams, it is an appropriate time to remember the importance of mental health and wellbeing.  Being prepared and having a well thought out revision timetable can help to reduce student anxiety and helps to make the whole experience feel more manageable.  Taking regular breaks, both mentally and physically, is proven to benefit the retention of information and it is important that these are included in the schedule. 

BBC Bitesize offers lots of advice and information relating to revision timetables.  Check out the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zn3497h#zq2nf82

Mind provides support to students who are struggling with exam stress: https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/feelings-and-experiences/exam-stress/

NHS England provides practical advice for parents and carers who are supporting their child through the exam period:  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/help-your-child-beat-exam-stress/#:~:text=Support%20from%20a%20parent%2C%20tutor,to%20talk%20to%20their%20teachers.

Please see the HT4 Safeguarding newsletter below:

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

NOS Updates 

The National Online Safety programme publishes a weekly #WakeUpWednesday update for parents/carers. This week's free guide breaks down the potential risks posed by health and fitness apps to their younger users, providing advice on how to address these concerns. 

Over time, more and more fitness apps have been finding their way into circulation. Usually free to download – at least initially – these apps claim to offer helpful advice and assistance in routine management to those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle.

While these platforms can be useful, they do present several safety concerns. These issues become more significant when we consider that children and young people can use these apps to stay active – whether out of concern for their own health or for reasons of body image. Our free guide breaks down the risks of health and fitness apps and offers expert advice on how to address these concerns to safeguard younger users.

Pastoral updates

From Miss Williams, Director of Behaviour & Attitudes

🎯 School Target 96%

Secondary School National Attendance 91.2% 

LBS Whole School Attendance 91.5%  We are 0.3% above National - Well done everyone - let's be even better next week!

Dance, Performing Arts and Extra-curricular updates

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

Sport fixtures and training schedules 

Year 11 Football ⚽

The Year 11 team travelled to Bodymoor Heath to face Tudor Grange in the Birmingham Schools' Cup Final.

The game was a close affair, with both teams testing each other in the first half with regards to formation and style of play. Tudor Grange looked the more threatening, forcing some smart saves from the LBS goalkeeper. Lordswood appeared to be getting joy from wide areas and got into some dangerous positions, they just couldn't find that final pass to create an opportunity.

Tudor Grange took the lead when they re-gained possession in the Lordswood half, they crossed the ball in and the forward was their tap home.

The second half began in similar fashion with both teams asking questions. Lordswood stepped up with their intensity and looked more threatening. Tudor Grange always looked good on the counter with their pace. Tudor Grange scored an excellent goal on the break as they played across the pitch to find the spare man at the back post. Lordswood rallied and showed unbelievable desire to make a fist of it. They were rewarded when the ball was played down the right hand side, the shot was buried across goal and into the far corner.

Lordswood applied pressure in the final few minutes as they chased an equaliser, but Tudor Grange stood firm to seal the victory. 

GCSE Rock Climbing

The Year 11 GCSE students were back in action as they prepare for their practical moderation. Students will be developing their advanced skills over the next few weeks to push them to the higher grade boundaries. 

⚽ Year 8 Football ⚽

Year 8 were out training on Tuesday after School in the sunshine. The students took part in small-sided games as they continue to develop their game understanding. The Year 8 team have a game next week as they host the University of Birmingham. 

🏆Year 10 Football⚽ 

The Year 10 beat Shenley on Monday as they finished top of their league!

Match Report: Lordswood Boys vs Shenley

In a thrilling encounter, Lordswood Boys secured a commanding 3-1 victory against Shenley, showcasing teamwork, determination, and individual brilliance.

The match kicked off with a bang as Leo, Lordswood's formidable striker, scored within just 25 seconds of play. His quick reaction and clinical finish sent shockwaves through Shenley's defense, giving Lordswood an early edge. However, Shenley regrouped and managed to find an equalizer, leaving the teams tied at 1-1 by halftime.

The second half saw Lordswood steadily regain control, and midway through, Yonotan stepped up with a composed finish into the corner of the net to make it 2-1. As the game neared its conclusion, Yonotan struck again, sealing the victory with another well-placed goal to end the game at 3-1.

Eric, Lordswood's sensational midfielder, was unanimously named Man of the Match for his tireless efforts, creative play, and sheer impact on the game. His performance was pivotal in controlling the midfield and orchestrating Lordswood's attacking plays.

The Lordswood coaching trio—Alfie Cutler, Mr. Mitchell, and David Emanuell—were full of praise for their team's performance. Their satisfaction was evident as they celebrated the boys' hard work and the well-deserved result.

A superb match for Lordswood Boys, exemplifying their talent and dedication on the pitch!

🎶 Pop Symphony Orchestra & Drumming Group Make Their Debut! 🎶

We are incredibly proud that on Tuesday, 8th April, our Pop Symphony Orchestra and Drumming Group will take to the stage for the first time at the Services for Education Area Gala! 

Held at the prestigious Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, this is an amazing opportunity for our talented students to perform on a professional stage and be part of a truly special evening of music.

 Get Your Tickets Now!
Don’t miss out—secure your tickets here:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/services-for-education

Come and support our young musicians as they showcase their talent and hard work! 

🎷 Well Done, Class 7.3! – Brass Workshop Success! 🎷

A huge well done to Class 7.3, who took part in a fantastic Brass Workshop with our peripatetic brass teacher, Mr. Cottrell featured here in the photo 

This is part of an exciting series of workshops where all Year 7 classes get the chance to experience what it’s like to play a brass instrument and learn about the wider brass family. 

 Upcoming Brass Workshops:
Class 7.4 – Friday, 9th May (Afternoon)
Class 7.5 – Friday, 23rd May

After their session, students will receive an Expression of Interest letter for parents to sign if they would like to explore brass lessons here at Lordswood! 

Bronze Arts Award – Part C Presentations! 

This Thursday, our Bronze Arts Award students began their Part C assessments, presenting their research on a well-known musician, artist, or actor. 

It was refreshing and inspiring to hear the reasons behind their choices and how these figures have influenced them. A huge well done to everyone for presenting in front of their peers—you demonstrated excellent literacy, confidence, and respect! 

Keep up the fantastic work!