HEADTEACHER'S BLOG - 7TH FEBRUAry 2025

Year 7 & Literacy updates

From Ms Russell, Assistant Principal

Peak Performance 

Students have been absolutely loving the Board Game Club with Mrs Sillis as part of Peak Performance! They have been getting super competitive and learning all about strategy with a variety of new games from chess to downfall! This was by far our most popular club this year and we are delighted to carry on running it next half term for our Year 7 students! 

Year 7 Debate Club 

The competition was fierce in this week's Year 7 debate club for Peak Performance as the proposition and opposition went head to head debating the motion 'Should children under 16 be subject to a government curfew?' The students articulated so eloquently and were really passionate! They challenged each other with interesting 'points of information' and had so much fun! 

Year 7 Spelling Stars 

There was so much to celebrate in the Year 7 Giants this week as they have been working so hard on their spellings! They were practising using a 'Look, Cover, Write' method and quizzing each other before the test. Afterwards there were so many celebrations! Well done to Dontae and Richie for their 10/10 scores!

Year 11 Literature Revision Clocks 

The countdown is on for Year 11 in the run up to their mocks and they have been working hard this week on their Revision Clocks! Their task is to recall information and quotations from J.B Priestley's play 'An Inspector Calls' and they absolutely rose to the challenge! 

College updates

From Mr Mitchell, Head of Westerley College

Countdown College Results 2025: An Intellectual Showdown! 🎉🏆

Our colleges recently engaged in a thrilling week of intellectual challenges, and the results were as nail-biting as they were impressive. Here’s a quick rundown:

Monday – Year 7
A heart-pounding contest with only a 3-point gap between the top three!

• Westerly: 40 points (with a decisive 10-point conundrum bonus)

• Central: 30 points

• Midlands: 20 points

• Mercia: 10 points
  Westerly emerged as the champions of the day! 🔥

Tuesday – Year 8
Central took charge in the final numbers round to secure 40 points, leading to a close fight for second place between Westerly (30) and Mercia (20). Unfortunately, Midlands didn’t field a team. 🤓

Wednesday – Year 10
With Central absent, the battle was fierce among the remaining three colleges. After tying through all rounds, the final conundrum (a tricky 9-letter challenge) broke the deadlock:

• Midlands: 40 points (victorious with a quick solution)

• Westerly & Mercia: 30 points each
  A real edge-of-your-seat showdown! 🔍

Thursday – Year 9
In a dramatic finish, all four colleges vied for every point. With Westerly needing only a third-place finish to secure overall victory, the final conundrum bonus made all the difference:

• Midlands: 40 points

• Westerly: 30 points

• Mercia: 20 points

• Central: 10 points
  Midlands’ swift thinking snatched the win from Westerly in the final moments. ⚡

Overall Final Scores:

• 1st – Westerly: 130 points 🔴🔴🔴🔴

• 2nd – Midlands: 100 points

• Joint 3rd – Central & Mercia: 80 points each

A huge congratulations to all our winners! These events not only showcase incredible talent but also enhance the inclusivity and profile of our college system. Thanks to everyone who organised and ran the event and a special thank you to Ms Savani for hosting—your hard work truly paid off. Here’s to many more intellectual adventures ahead! 🎊📚

It’s Time to Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and... Dominate! 🏆

Teaching & Learning updates

From Mrs Davis-Musabayana, Assistant Principal

🌟 Outstanding Teaching & Learning in Action! 🌟

📚 Excellent Routines & High Expectations
Mr Horton creates a calm and purposeful learning environment with excellent routines and expectations. By sitting among students while teaching and referring to the board, they foster an engaging and positive atmosphere where students are fully immersed in learning.

🎭 Year 7 Chargers Drama

Year 7 students showcased fantastic teamwork in Drama with Mrs Davis-Musabayana, modelling to each other and practicing collaboration and support. Their group work skills were on full display as they worked together to bring their performances to life! 

👔 Modeling Excellence
Mr Dawkins took the time to model how to properly tie a tie, reinforcing high standards and attention to detail. A great example of setting students up for success in both presentation and professionalism.

📝 Clear Assessment Guidance
Ms Clarke provided students with a detailed explanation of their summative assessment, ensuring they understand how they will be graded in English. By linking assessments to their progress, students are equipped with the knowledge to strive for success!

Great work from our staff in creating engaging, supportive, and high-standard learning environments! 🌟👏

Year 11 updates

From Ms Bunger, Assistant Principal

📢 Year 11 – The Final Countdown! ⏳

You now have just one week of lessons left before half term! Make the most of this time to collect all necessary resources, ask questions, and consolidate your learning.

Over half term, 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

🌟 Focusing on Self-Belief & Compassion This Half Term 🌟

This half term, our students have been embracing the virtues of self-belief and compassion—key values that shape both personal growth and a strong school community.

Through reflection, students have recognised their achievements, celebrating both individual and collective successes. As a school, we are actively practicing self-belief by replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations and learning how to show empathy toward our peers.

In our video, you’ll see students from various year groups passionately sharing their thoughts on our school virtues. Their enthusiasm is truly inspiring! 💙✨

Safeguarding Updates

From Mrs Metcalfe-Molinari, Assistant Principal

A new Tik Tok trend has been brought to our attention this week - The Flipper Zero.

Advertised as "a multi tool device for geeks", in reality it can interact with digital systems and hack into them, taking control.  This device allows the user to explore any kind of access control system, RFID, radio protocols and debug hardware using GPIO pins.  In short, it is a legal hacking device.

With a large online community, social media sites are full of videos on how to use the device for disruptive and illegal means.  With its large TikTok presence, this device is now showing up in school.  Any devices found in school will be confiscated immediately.  We are supporting students to understand the dangers that devices like this pose, and encourage you to have similar conversations at home.

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  focuses on combatting online bullying. It highlights a number of tips such as playing online games with your child, talking about your child’s online life and being prepared to listen without showing any judgement or criticism. 

A free online safety guide on combatting online bullying. 

Defined as “ongoing hurtful behaviour towards someone online”, cyber-bullying makes its victims feel upset, uncomfortable and unsafe. In the digital world, it has numerous forms – such as hurtful comments on a person’s posts or profile; deliberately leaving them out of group chats; sharing embarrassing images or videos of someone; or spreading gossip about them. Cyber-bullying can severely impact a young person’s mental health … so, in support of Anti-Bullying Week, we’ve provided a list of tips to help trusted adults know what to look for and how to respond to it. 

In the guide, you'll find tips such as playing online games with your child, talking about your child’s online life and being prepared to listen without showing any judgement or criticism. 

Pastoral updates

From Miss Williams, Director of Behaviour & Attitudes

🎯 School Target 96%

Year to Date Whole School 93.1% 📈 

Dance, Performing Arts and Extra-curricular updates

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

Year 8 & 9 Football: On the Move! ⚽️🔥

Tuesday evening saw our talented Year 8 and 9 football teams hit the training ground with energy and focus. The session was packed with skill-building drills and competitive games, ensuring everyone had a great time while sharpening their abilities.

Highlights:

• Great Turnout: Both teams showed strong commitment.

• Engaging Drills & Games: Sessions designed to boost skills, teamwork, and tactical play.

Upcoming Fixtures:

• Year 9: Ready to face Wheelers Lane next week.

• Year 8: Set to take on Bishop Challoner.

Well done to all our players—your hard work is paving the way for a thrilling season ahead! Keep it up! ⚽️🎉

ESA Cricket: Bowling Into Tactical Brilliance! 🏏✨

Our students had a fantastic after-school cricket session on Wednesday, working closely with our expert external coaches. The session focused on mastering bowling variation—adjusting both the pace and length of the ball to suit specific game scenarios. This practical approach is not only honing their technical skills but also deepening their tactical understanding of the game.

By exploring different strategies and techniques, our students are learning how to adapt their play in real-time situations. This initiative is paving the way for smarter, more versatile players on the field.

Great work to everyone involved—your passion and dedication are truly making an impact! Keep swinging for success!

ESA Basketball: Year 10 Showing Unstoppable Court Dominance! 🏀💪

Mr Noble had the Year 10 students back on the court for a high-energy training session yesterday as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures. The focus was firmly on building fitness, and the results are clearly paying off.

Mr Noble is thrilled with the team's remarkable fitness progression—a testament to the hours of hard work and dedication they've put in. This improvement is evident on the court, where our players are showcasing physical dominance and impressive endurance during games.

Keep up the great work, team! Your commitment and resilience are paving the way for even more success in the upcoming fixtures.

Alfie's Rising Star: A New Chapter in Football Coaching! ⚽️✨

I’m excited to share a great success story about Alfie—a true football coaching enthusiast! For those who know or teach him, you’ll appreciate just how dedicated he is. Alfie gives up his time after school to support the Year 7 team alongside Mr. Badu and makes sure to attend all the home fixtures across every year group.

Not only is he out on the pitch, but Alfie also regularly emails me his session plans, always eager for feedback and fresh ideas. His enthusiasm is absolutely inspiring!

This week, while volunteering at Bartley Reds, Alfie caught the eye of an FA Coach. The coach was so impressed that he approached Alfie’s mom to discuss the exciting possibility of Alfie joining his football company, Player Plus. This opportunity is a fantastic testament to Alfie’s perseverance and passion.

Please join me in congratulating Alfie on this incredible milestone. His journey in football coaching is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where his drive and talent take him next! Congratulations, Alfie! 🎉👏

🎸 Year 9 Rockin’ Through the Decades! 🎶

Our Year 9 students have kicked off an exciting new pop music project, exploring the evolution of popular music from the 1950s to today!

🎹 Starting with Rock ‘n’ Roll, they’ve been:
✅ Revisiting keyboard chords from Year 8
✅ Learning how chords shape pop music
✅ Mastering 12-bar blues chord sequences & bass lines
✅ Working in pairs & bands to create their own Rock ‘n’ Roll hits!

Their creativity is shining—keep rocking, Year 9! 🤘🎵

🎼 Celebrating Our Year 11 Composers! 🎶✨

A huge well done to three talented Year 11 students who have completed their first compositions to an outstanding standard this week! 👏

🌟 Special shoutout to Plaisance, Muhammed, and Shaheem for their impressive work, covering a range of styles:
🎬 Film music – dramatic and atmospheric
💖 Heartfelt ballads – full of emotion
🎻 Modern classical pieces – beautifully arranged

Your dedication and creativity are inspiring—keep composing! 🎵

🎭 Extra-Curricular Music Update 🎶

After the February half term, our Extra-Curricular Music Timetable will be changing as our school production wraps up.

📌 Check the Music Noticeboard for the updated schedule—exciting new opportunities are coming, so don’t miss out!

🎹 Piano & Keyboard Lessons for GCSE Students 🎼
Mrs. Lowndes-Ford will be offering a limited number of piano and keyboard lessons for GCSE Music students.

🔹 Places are first-come, first-served and are only available to students who have chosen piano or keyboard as their focus instrument.

🎵 Exciting Music Events – Save the Dates! 📅

Get ready for an incredible year of music! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.

🎶 Primary School Workshops
📌 Fri 14th & 28th Feb, 7th March – Inspiring the next generation of musicians!

🎭 Fame School Production
📌 Mon 10th Feb – Primary School Matinee
📌 Tue 11th & Wed 12th Feb – Evening Performances

🎻 Year 7 CBSO Trip
📌 Tue 11th Feb – Live orchestral experience at Symphony Hall

🎺 Year 7 Brass Workshops
📌 Half Term 4 – Dates TBC

🎤 MP Preet Gill Visit
📌 Thu 27th March – Celebrating our Restore the Music funding success!

🎼 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Music Gala
📌 Tue 8th April – Featuring a special ensemble performance!

🎤 Singing Workshop with Horizon Voices
📌 Fri 25th April – A fantastic vocal experience!

🎵 Access Creative College Post-16 Music Taster Classes
📌 Next half term – Open to Year 10 & 11 (date TBC)

🎵 Nishkam Meets LBS Music Day – Part 3
📌 Fri 21st March & Fri 11th April – A collaborative celebration!

🎮 Video Game Music Workshop (in partnership with ACM College)
📌 Summer Term – Explore the sounds of gaming!

🌞 Summer Music Concert
📌 July 2025 – A spectacular showcase of our students' musical achievements!

So much to look forward to—get involved and make this a musical year to remember!