Welcome to my weekly blog. I hope you all had a fantastic half-term break, filled with rest, relaxation, and perhaps a little too much ice cream! As we dive into the final stretch of this school year, there's an electric buzz of excitement in the air—like the feeling you get when your favourite team scores the winning goal.
We have an action-packed seven weeks ahead, brimming with events and activities that will keep us all on our toes. Whether it’s sports days, end-of-year showcases, or our famous summer fete, there’s something for everyone to look forward to. And parents, we need your enthusiasm and support more than ever. Your involvement makes a world of difference, and we’re counting on you to join us in making these events unforgettable for our students.
A special shoutout to our Year 11 students as they head into the final leg of their GCSE exams. You’ve got this! Your hard work is about to pay off, and we’re all rooting for you. Remember, the best way to predict the future is to create it—so go out there and give it your all.
And let’s not forget our Year 10 students, who are about to tackle their first round of mock exams. This is your time to shine and set the stage for your future success. Here are a few tips to get into a great revision routine:
Set a Schedule: Plan your study time like you plan your social time. Yes, Fortnite and TikTok can wait!
Break It Down: Divide your revision into manageable chunks. Think of it like eating a giant pizza—one slice at a time.
Stay Active: Take short breaks to move around. A quick jog or a dance-off in your room can do wonders.
Ask for Help: Don’t hesitate to reach out to your teachers or classmates if you’re stuck. Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question.
Parents, your encouragement and support during this period are crucial. A few kind words and some extra patience can go a long way in helping our students feel confident and prepared.
On a lighter note, we’re all eagerly anticipating the European Football Championships being held in Germany this summer. The excitement is palpable, and I’m sure many of our football fans are already making their predictions and hoping to see their favourite teams triumph. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some world-class football and perhaps even learn a bit about the rich history and culture of Germany. Let's hope for some thrilling matches and memorable moments!
Additionally, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It’s a poignant time for us to reflect and honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom. In this blog, you’ll find more details from various staff members about how we plan to commemorate this significant milestone. We encourage you to take a moment to read their insights and join us in paying our respects.
Let’s make this final half-term the best one yet. Together, we can ensure that every student finishes the year strong and with a smile on their face.
Fifteen students were chosen to participate in a special program called "A Day in the Life of Birmingham Women's Hospital". These students expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. During the program, the students engaged in a workshop involving infant care, displaying a remarkable level of attentiveness and skill while caring for simulated dolls.
In addition to the workshop, the students were given a tour of the hospital, where they had the chance to explore various wards and units. Throughout the day, the students demonstrated exceptional maturity, compassion, and confidence, serving as outstanding representatives of their school.
I am incredibly proud of the students and the knowledge they gained from this experience. The hospital was so impressed with the students' engagement and has expressed interest in offering us additional opportunities in the future.
All students will gain a certification for participation.
On Thursday, May 23rd, we hosted a College Football event. The students exhibited impeccable behaviour and demonstrated high levels of effort throughout the event. They played with excellent sportsmanship, adhering to the spirit of the game. Please see the video below some highlights, including some very good goals, missed penalties and the results for each year group and the overall winner.
Please ensure you read through the Head of Year update that is relevant to your son and make contact with our colleagues should you have any questions.
The National Online Safety programme publishes a weekly #WakeUpWednesday update for parents/carers. This weeks update relates to 'PALWORLD'.
Releasing in January 2024, Palworld took the gaming scene by storm, selling over five million copies in just three days. A new take on the survival genre – blending mechanics similar to games like Minecraft with the ability to catch and fight alongside creatures reminiscent of Pokémon – it saw plenty of coverage from games journalists and influencers alike.
However, despite its lower age rating and popularity with young gamers, Palworld has been criticised for its reliance on shock humour – touching on topics including animal abuse and sweatshop labour – and as a game featuring online multiplayer, one can expect certain safety concerns to arise. This Wake Up Wednesday guide dives into the risks of Palworld, offering expert tips on how to safeguard children who simply want to enjoy the game.
I hope your find this information useful.
From Mrs McKeon, Director of Learning of Foundations Studies and Extra-curricular learning
Performing Arts
What a great start to the week! Students have been exploring the events of D-Day through Dance and Drama. Students were able to use this a stimulus for their work and created their own interpretation of the journey that the soldiers experienced. Students were able to use their knowledge from History lessons to create insightful devised drama pieces and choreography.
The LBS Talent Show will take place on Friday 12th July during periods 3 and 4 as part of our Personal Development Day. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their best talent and to come together as a school community to celebrate achievement. Students will have the opportunity to vote for the winner alongside our judges; I am intrigued to who is going to be our Simon Cowell! If your son is interested in competing, then they must submit their act to Mrs McKeon by Friday 21st June.
Here is a reminder regarding our Extra-Curricular provision. Please find the timetable below of the clubs that we offer. This timetable has been amended slightly for the remainder of this half-term.
Football Provision
The Year 7 Football team hosted Harborne Academy yesterday in a league fixture. The boys ran out 9-6 winners in what was a thrilling game that consisted of attacking intent. Hamza Boutoutaou scored five and picked up the Man of the Match Award. Omar Taesn also picked up the joint Man of the Match Award with a dominant display in defence and midfield. Simo Stojanovic and Will Donnelly made their debuts and impressed.
County Trialists
The following students have been nominated to attend West Midland County Football Trials
Adeeb Haroon, Omar Ganesi, Idin Ehsani, Yonatan Tesfay, Andy Nguyen. Muizz Khan, Mahdi Khan, Kamiel Mason.
The trials offer an exciting opportunity to the students and has the potential to open up further opportunities in terms of progress. The boys thoroughly deserve their nominations due to their commitment to their Football and the level of technical ability they have shown this year. We wish the boys all the best in their upcoming trials.
Valencia Tour
The final payment deadline has now passed. We still have several outstanding payments that must be met. If no contact is made with Mr Janes with regards to this then your son could potentially lose their place due to the large waiting list that we have - d.janes@lordswoodboys.co.uk
New PE Kit Reminder
As announced in the blog on 15th December, click here, the new LBS PE can now be purchased from Clive Mark using the link below:
http://www.clivemark.co.uk/collections/lordswood-boys-school
From September 2024 it will be compulsory for all students to be wearing the new kit.
If you have any questions relating to the details above, please use the contact details below:
Mr Deeks, Director of Learning - SCP Faculty, j.deeks@lordswoodboys.co.uk
Mr Janes, Director of Sport, d.janes@lordswoodboys.co.uk
I hope you have a half-term break and I look forward to updating you with more news when we return to school. Until then you can always contact me directly at: l.williams@centralacademiestrust.co.uk.
Mr. L. Williams,
CEO, Executive Headteacher
Central Academies Trust
Lordswood Boys' School • Hagley Road • Harborne • Birmingham • B17 8BJ
Tel:0121 464 2837
Email: enquiry@lordswoodboys.co.uk
For paper copies of any of the information on this website please refer to our publication scheme