INSIDE THIS EXCITING ISSUE: - The TES

Issue No. 2 – September 2012
The magazine of Lordswood Boys’
School and Sixth Form Centre
INSIDE THIS
EXCITING ISSUE:
- Combined Cadet Forces News
All the info and features you need
- Visits and Trips
Catch up with Students and Staff as they travel to places
near and far, and see who paid us visits too!
- Sport
Read about our latest achievements on the sports field
- Local News and Views
Features on the local area and its people
- And much, much more...
together - serving the local community and businesses

WELCOME TO
2
3, 7, 13–14
4
5–6
8
9–12
15–22
23–28
29–30
Welcome to the buzz
News & Events
Class of 2012
Visits & Trips – Berlin
Creative Studies faculty
Lordswood Sport
Combined Cadet Force News
Awards
Assessments
19
5
16
I am delighted to have the opportunity
to introduce myself as the new Head of
Lordswood Boys’ School. For the past 4
years, I have been Head of Lordswood
Girls’ School and in the academic year
2012-3, I shall be Executive Headteacher
of the two schools.
Lordswood Boys’ School is entering an exciting new phase in the
school’s history; it has applied to the Secretary of State for Education
to become one of the new converter academies and will be joining
the Academy Trust established by Lordswood Girls’ School when it
became one of the first converter academies in April 2011. The last
4 years have seen a steady improvement in GCSE performance at
Lordswood Boys’ School and this year’s results were the best ever
with 54% of students achieving 5 GCSEs at A*-C. This is the third
consecutive year of improved academic performance and the school
is now clearly focused on its journey towards outstanding. When the
school converts to an academy on 1st October, we know that this
will not only give the School greater control over its own destiny it
will also enable the School to improve facilities and opportunities for
students and staff.
The last 4 years have seen a
steady improvement in GCSE
performance at Lordswood
Boys’ School and this year’s
results were the best ever with
54% of students achieving 5
GCSEs at A*-C.
Both Lordswood Boys’ and Lordswood Girls’ Schools will continue
as two separate schools, maintaining their own unique identities.
Nevertheless, one of the key challenges facing school leaders in a time
of funding cuts and economic uncertainty is the need to reduce costs
whilst maintaining and developing the curriculum offer and staffing
levels. Closer working between the two schools will enable more cost
effective procurement and the opportunity to work collaboratively
to establish a centre of educational excellence on the Lordswood
site. Currently the two schools have their own separate sixth forms;
one of the planned developments will be to merge these in order
to offer a wider range of courses and opportunities post-16. Such a
development would allow the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools to capitalise on
the expertise and experience that exists in the two schools, as well
as the wide range of educational experiences and local, national and
international links available to develop a sixth form centre which
offers educational pathways which lead to successful outcomes and
meaningful training, study or employment for all students post-18
and is underpinned by high expectations and quality teaching and
support.
Both Lordswood Boys’ School and Lordswood Girls’ School see
themselves as very much part of the local community. The shared
sports field of c. 5 acres facilitates a range of different sports and
members of the local community are already able to take advantage
of the tennis club which operates from the site. Further planned
sporting developments will extend this offer.
Similarly, the School offers an extensive range of enrichment activities,
international visits and trips. This is in addition to a large number of
joint drama productions and summer school events. Lordswood Boys’
School is an exciting place to be and there is no better time than now
to become part of this School as it continues its journey towards
outstanding!
Jane Götschel
The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 2

Refurb or Rebuild Live!
Yesterday I took four pupils down to the Business Design Centre in London
for the final of a competition called Refurb or Rebuild Live! This was held as
part of the Building Future Education exhibition/conference. Over 400 schools
had entered and only four secondary schools made the final. We spent the
day working on our plans for a new facility for the cadets, school, and wider
community with three architects. At 3.00pm the boys then had to present our
ideas. Raad Asmael and Theo Belnavis presented and did a great job given
the time constraints we were under. In the end there were only four points
between the schools but we won!
The school will now get a state of the art modular classroom worth £100k fully
fitted with Smart Board, furniture etc.
The boys involved were:
Raad, Theo, Tyler Kennedy and Sohail Bashir
They all made it into school for 6.00am!
The Big Bang Fair 2012
I was extremely excited on hearing the news that a science trip had been
organised. The trip was completely free of charge. This educational adventure
would be to the Big Bang Fair.
When we arrived there was a five minute walk until we were greeted by
hundreds of stalls and exhibitions of exciting educational experiences. We
were all so ecstatic!
But before we could look around and take part in the activities we were rushed
into a theatre hall where we were seated and watched a show called ‘Brainiac’.
There were many exciting experiments and loud demonstrations that were
shown. The actors were tremendous and there was a lot of interaction with
the audience.
We were then given the opportunity to explore all the exhibitions and stalls.
The theme for the convention was mainly engineering and careers, I was
mostly attracted to the area dedicated to Autodesk. There was a company who
make 3D animation software and another company who were showing how a
four stroke engine works.
‘Class of 2012’
Celebrate in Style!
Today we witnessed the passing of an era as the year 11 students celebrated
their time with us and looked forward to a new chapter in their lives. We sat
down to a buffet and listened to the speeches delivered by the Heads of Pupil
Progress and senior leaders of the school. It was delightful to see the reaction
to the teachers and so much affection from everyone.
Mr Wells demonstrated that he does have a sense of humour and Mr
Humphries appeared to bear the brunt of it!
Ricardo presented a drama piece with Charlie and Ms Field seemed to take
a little ‘stick’ from Ricardo but it was funny! The Lordswood Beat presented a
number of tunes with R’Mar taking centre stage, we had to stop him in the end
because his melody went on and on but in all fairness he was really good. Mr
Carty was introduced to the students with a rendition of Lionel Richie’s ‘Hello’
and he received rapturous applause with a standing ovation, he hadn’t even
said anything yet! The atmosphere was truly electric.
Scott presented Mr Humphries with a lifetime service award and said a few
fond words and the whole year group showed their appreciation – it was a
memorable moment for all of us.
The event concluded with the Corps of Drums leading the students onto the
south yard to release balloons, perhaps as a symbol of freedom. I’d like to think
it symbolises moving on and a new chapter in their lives.
It was a morning that we will not forget in a hurry and we will have the photos
to prove it. Thanks must go to the numerous people who put the whole of
their hearts into making sure that this morning was really special for everyone.
They know who they are and their work will always be appreciated!!
An onlooker.
In the afternoon we were taken to watch a show ‘Bang goes the Theory.’ I
especially enjoyed this show as they showed us how to build rockets using fire
extinguishers and some really exciting experiments.
In conclusion, the trip was phenomenal and very fun whilst at the same time
being educational. If I had the chance I would give anything to go again!
Let’s Get Cooking!
The Let’s Get Cooking club has successfully been running at Lordswood Girls’
School for 3 years. The club is part of a national cooking club funded by the
Big Lottery. Over the last three years the membership base has included
students from the age range of year 7 through to year 12 and members of
staff. They have attended cooking sessions and taken part in community
events. Members learn and develop their practical skills and making informed
healthier choices in a relaxed environment.
The club was originally funded by the Big Lottery and focused on healthy
eating for students, families and the wider community. The current funding
is now from the Health Lottery and the new programme is aimed at men
between the ages of 20 – 40 years of age. It is not exclusively for this age range
but I would like to encourage male parents and carers to join and cook with
their sons and daughters.
If you are interested or would like any further information please contact
me by email at d.clarke@lordswoodgirls.co.uk
Thank you – Miss Clarke
3 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012
The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 4

Berlin 2011
Comenius-Project “Bringing
Young Europeans Together
Through The London
Olympics”.
This Comenius project is about bringing students from three different
countries together to examine and promote the Olympic and Paralympic
ideals and values. Involved are four schools: Two from Germany (Lily-Braun-
Oberschule Berlin and Sportschule Potsdam), one from the French Caribbean
St. Martin and Lordswood Boys’ School from the UK.
On Monday morning we had to wake up at 2:00am and we had to be at school
for 3:30am. Not a good start. I couldn’t even get up. The trip was so long
The trip to
Germany!!
Berlin
28/11-02/12/2011
because we had a connection via Amsterdam and 8 hours until the next flight.
But times flies when you’re having fun so we played football with a tennis ball,
played cards, got to know everyone in the group, Mr Arshad, Miss Jones, Ms
Stait, ten boys from year 8 and five from year 11. Once we landed in Berlin we
were so excited! It had been quite a long journey but now we were there.
On Tuesday we got to know the German students. We all worked together on
a logo for the Comenius project and spent the morning in an art workshop
called Zitadelle Spandau. We had lunch in their school (Lily-Braun-Oberschule)
and in the afternoon we had an IT workshop on how to stay in contact via
e-Twinning. Then, we went off to explore Berlin. We saw the Brandenburg Gate
and climbed around in the Holocaust Memorial.
On Wednesday we took the city train to Potsdam to visit our second partner
school Sportschule Potsdam. This school is big!! We had a look at the indoor
athletics hall, the swimming pools, some handball training and in the afternoon
we joined in with the girls’ team football training. Luckily, we got away without
having to play against them....Once school was over the German Students
joined us on a tour around Potsdam Christmas Market. In the evening we had
Döner Kebabs – did you know they were invented in Berlin?
On Thursday the German students came over to our rowing club – and we
didn’t have to walk the 20 minutes to the train station for once! We worked
in groups on the future of the project. How can we stay in contact? How does
the steering group organise itself? What do we want? When do we meet up
again? What trips and meetings are planned? In the afternoon we went on a
tour around the Berlin Olympic Stadium. It was massive! It’s the place where
Jessie Owens won four Olympic gold medals in 1936 and where the Football
World Cup final in 2006 took place. Then we went to Potsdamer Platz and saw
the Checkpoint Charlie on Berlin Friedrichstraße.
On the last day we had to get up in the middle of the night again to catch our
flights back home, this time via Paris. To round the whole trip off we missed our
connection and once again had to wait for 7 hours for the next flight. Luckily,
there were many PS3s that we could play on.
The journeys apart – we all really enjoyed this trip, we have seen lots, we met
many nice new people and we want to go back!
PS The Berliners are coming over in September, on a direct flight...
By Paavan Chohan
Ryan Chahal
Leo Van Zeller
in cooperation with
Frau Stait
Itinerary: Comenius-Project-Trip to Berlin 28/11/-2/12/2011
Monday 28/11 Tuesday 29/11 Wednesday 30/11 Thursday 1/12 Friday 2/12
am JOURNEY Arts project at Visit of Workshop on the JOURNEY
Zitadelle Spandau Sportschule Potsdam future of Comenius
pm JOURNEY Computer session on Potsdam Olympic Stadium JOURNEY
Arrival in Berlin on e-Twinning Christmas Market tour Berlin Arrival back home
Brandenburg Gate
and Holocaust Memorial
Potsdamer Platz and
Checkpoint Charlie
THE TEAM:
Mr Arshad
Miss Jones
Frau Stait
Abu Abuhuzaifah Abdullah
Danyal Ahmed
Amaan Alvi
Faisal Ashraf
Ahmed Aziz
Rafael Barros
Ryan Chahal
Pavaan Chohan
Kamlyn Clarke
Troi Johnson-Fox
Thomas Quadri
Sandeep Sandel
Jason Sweet
Bradley Websdell
Leo Van Zeller
5
The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012
The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 6

Creative studies
Handsworth Student
Ranjeet Marwa Aims To Be
Cinema King
A GRUESOME story from the pen of master horror
writer Stephen King is being brought to life by a
young Birmingham film-maker.
Ranjeet Singh Marwa has signed a contract with the world-renowned author
to write the screenplay and then direct his version of the 1977 short story The
Man Who Loved Flowers. The 23-year-old, who is studying film and animation
at Birmingham City University, plans to raise around £1,000 to fund the project
himself after being given the go-ahead by Mr King’s publicist.
The story follows an apparently love-struck young man as he buys a bunch
of flowers and rushes up to a woman in an alleyway. He then reaches for a
hammer in his pocket before a typically Stephen King outcome.
Ranjeet, of Boulton Road, Handsworth, said: “I’ve already done the screenplay
and hope to start filming around Edgbaston later this month.”
“I think it’ll take around four days to do as the film won’t be any longer than 20
minutes. I’ll have to send it to Stephen King for approval once it’s done, but I’m
a big fan of his so this is a dream come true for me.”
If all goes to plan, he’s hoping the film can be shown in Birmingham.
It is the latest in a line of screen successes for former Lordswood Boys’ School
pupil Ranjeet, with four-minute Saw-inspired horror The Beginning – filmed
near Millennium Point in October – up for a possible screening at the Atlanta
Horror Film Festival in September.
And it’s among the competitors for an award in the horror category at the
London Independent Film Festival next week. Ranjeet’s also planning a fulllength
adaptation later this year of one of his own short films, Samurai Diablo
– a homage to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, filmed in Edgbaston in August.
“That’s going to be self-funded too, but it’ll be more expensive than the Stephen
King film at around £7,000 because I’m hoping it’ll be 90 minutes long.”
“But it’s all going great for me at the moment with films. I’d love to hit Hollywood
one day, but we’ll have to see about that.”
Article from Birmingham Mail - May 2012
Fond Farewell to Governor
In April this year, Mr Guest retired as Community Governor after almost 30 years of dedication and
loyalty to Lordswood Boys.
During this time he played an integral part in both the strategic and organisational development
of the school. Mr Guest has sat and chaired many many committees, alongside attending social
events and parental evenings in order to support the boys and their families.
The Governing Body held a celebration reception to commemorate the commitment and
achievement of such a valued and highly respected colleague.
Deutsche Bank
Volunteering
“Do you really think you need to have long,
orange, curly hair to be the ideal volunteer?”
“Yes Miss!”
The boys from Lordswood
Boys’ School created their
ideal volunteer as part of
their visit to Deutsche Bank in
Birmingham. The boys came
up with words such as ‘hard
working’, ‘calm’, ‘kind’, ‘good at
listening’ and ‘all seeing!’; there
was some great imagination
and creativity shown!
The trip was part of the Deutsche Bank Volunteering in Schools programme,
which has so far provided around 15 volunteers to help students with their
studies, including literacy and maths. Deutsche Bank staff are interviewed
and trained by CSV, a UK volunteering and training charity, who then place
the volunteers and provide support to the school and volunteer throughout
the placement. Deutsche Bank staff visit the school once a week to support a
student for around half an hour.
Deutsche Bank staff have been
volunteering at Lordswood Boys’
School since March 2011. The first
volunteers supported the students
with their reading skills, but this
has now developed to helping
students make decisions about
their further education and career
choices, as well as helping with
GCSE maths revision.
On 10th May the students taking part went to visit their volunteers at the
Deutsche Bank offices at Brindley Place. There were team work and feedback
activities (including drawing the ideal volunteer!) and then two of the
volunteers took the students for a tour of the offices, letting the boys learn
more about Deutsche Bank. The volunteers joined everyone for a nice lunch
and the boys all received goodie bags!
We look forward to another year of partnership in 2012/13!
To find out more about CSV, please go to www.csv.org.uk
“
This year there has been lots
of visits through the
Creative Studies faculty.
There have been visits to the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the National
Portrait Gallery and the local Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
where we were lucky enough to be able to see the Leonardo Da Vinci
drawings exhibtion.
Visits are very important for art students as it gives them a much
greater understanding of the process in which the work has
been created and the context in which the work is displayed. This
primary research and the experience of viewing the original work is
inspirational and a great starting point for any project.
It was an outstanding day out seeing some inspiring pieces
of art created by one real masterminded artist, Leonardo
Da Vinci. The gallery created a great art atmoshere for the
younger generation and we learnt so much about the artist.
Da Vinci is an inspirational artist and has helped me develop
lots of my own ideas.”
Mohammed Ibrahim Year 10 BTEC art student.
Mr Guest is wished all the best for the future and it is sincerely hoped that this will not be his final
visit to the school.
Mr Guest receives award from
Mr Paul Brownsword, Chair of
Governors.
7 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012
8

Bringing Young Europeans
Together Through The
London Olympiad
This is the title of our European Union funded Comenius
project involving out two partner schools in Germany
and our French partner school from St Martin in the
Caribbean. The first week of the autumn term was our turn
to host all three schools in Birmingham which amounted
to a total of 56 pupils and seven staff!
The action packed week started on Monday with a welcome
meal at a local Indian restaurant followed on Tuesday by
a welcome in the Council House by the Lord Mayor who
gave the group a guided tour and personal gifts. That
afternoon the whole party travelled to Straford upon Avon
for sightseeing around Shakespeare’s home town followed
by an evening performance of Much Ado About Nothing. This
adaptation was set in modern day India so the visiting students
had to deal with Elizabethan English with an Indian accent!
On Wednesday students from all the schools worked in the Art
Department all day to produce Olympic and Paralympic murals that
will be put up around school. On Thursday morning all four schools
worked together to write articles for our projects Comenius newsletter
based on the Olympic and Paralympic values before departing for
London where everybody went to the Paralympic Games, staying
overnight at Thameside Youth Hostel.
The whole week was blessed with fantastic weather and we all had an
amazing time with lots of friendships formed between the pupils and
great plans for new projects. The final leg of this Olympic partnership
will be hosted by the French in St Martin in late February 2013 when
we hope to send eight pupils and two staff over to participate.
Year 10 Football
Lordswood Boys’ School
Games
Despite the weather we managed to organise all of the activities
planned for the massive Birmingham School Games finals. This year
the highly profiled London Olympics has been replicated by the
Birmingham School Games and will be held at Alexander Stadium on
Friday 29th June 2012.
Over 21 Primary schools and 8 Secondary schools across the Lordswood
Sports Partnership have battled it out amongst themselves to qualify
for the finals, where only 1 school will be crowned champions in our
partnership. The champions have earned their place to represent
Lordswood Sports Partnership and will compete against the other
Sports Partnership across the City.
The following schools have
made the Finals:
Primary School Sports
Year 3/4
Football
Mini Red
Year 5/6
Tri Golf
Tag Rugby
Cricket (Yr 5)
School Representing
Lordswood Partnership
Woodcock Primary
Woodhouse Primary
Raddlebarn Primary
Princethorpe Primary
Northfield Primary
Primary Schools in action at the Partnership
Finals at Lordswood Boys’ School in
March 2012
It was a very successful year for the U15’s this season. Having shown
signs of promise from previous years they put together a very solid
season, culminating in a Cup Final appearance.
They started the season very strongly with a number of good
performances allowing us to go into the mid-season break unbeaten.
Notable performances from Rico Henry, Malakai Fuller-Spence and
Ricardo Cole contributed to a successful start. Once the season
re-started the boys continued to show their ability to work as a team
progressing well to the quarter finals with the best goals difference in
the competition. This continued into the semi-finals where the boys
won the game by a comfortable eight goal margin, and progressed
deservedly into the final.
Unfortunately, the season did not finish as expected. The team put
in an excellent performance and showed a good work ethic but
came up against a very well organised team from Bartley Green who
eventually won 4-2.
I hope the boys continue to take their success into next season.
Well done Year 10 !
The Primary School finals will be held at the Birmingham University,
Bristol Road on Thursday 28th June. Both finals will start at 9.30am
and will finish approximately at 2.30pm, all support and spectators
are welcomed.
Mr Arshad
Secondary School Sports
Boys
Athletics 7/8
Basketball
Table Tennis U13
Table Tennis U16
Badminton U13
Badminton U16
Girls
Athletics 7/8
Rounders U13
Rounders U16
Netball U13
Netbal U16
Football 7 a side U13
Football 7 a side U16
Lordswood Boys
St Thomas
Lordswood Boys
Lordswood Boys
Shenley Academy
Shenley Academy
Hillcrest Girls
Bournville
Hillcrest Girls
Turves Green
Turves Green
Hillcrest Girls
Shenley Academy
Secondary School Games competition
at Lordswood Boys’ in April 2012
9 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 10

RISING STARS SHINE
IN SOLIHULL
Farewell To The Year 11
Young Apprentice In Sports
Coaching (Class Of 2012)
On Thursday 12th July we will officially say farewell to the Year 11
Young Apprentice pupils. After a successful year, all pupils managed
to obtain over 5 Young Leader Awards this year taking their overall
total to 9. The courses the pupils have been involved in this year have
been used to good effect as they have been helping around school.
This year they have completed awards in the following sports:
Basketball, Table Tennis, Cricket, Football and Rowing. These awards
have now applied the foundations for these pupils to continue with
Higher Education and has helped developed their chances of applying
for vacancies within the sports sector.
There will be a celebration day for these pupils on the Thursday 12th
July 2012 where parents will be invited alongside with special guests
to share their success.
Faisal Ashraf (second from left top row) Mohammed Rahim and
Abuhuzaifah Abdullah (bottom row) used their YA qualification to
help assist in House Sport.
Mr Arshad – Young apprentice Coordinator.
Lordswood
TWICE!
@ The Olympics
Guard Of Honour For The
Opening Ceremony
On 27 th July seven lucky pupils took part in the Opening Ceremony events
at the Olympic Games. We were one of 250 schools asked to form a Guard
of Honour for the athletes as they
made their way into the stadium for
the athletes’ parade. Our Olympic day
started at 2.30pm when we checked in
through security and were allocated
an usher who then gave us a guided
tour of the Olympic Park. By 5.00pm
we were with the other schools in the
‘Copper Box’ handball arena where
we were issued special T-shirts and
souvenir programmes of the opening
ceremony. In advance we had been
selected to support the Libyan team
and had been sent a blank banner
which Mr Turner’s form had decorated.
Then we were given the poles to
support it and two globe shaped
lanterns.
By 8.30pm we were outside lining the route as the excitement mounted.
Behind us walked thousands of cast members for the opening ceremony
on their way to the stadium, country peasants, industrial revolution workers,
doctors and nurses, 1970’s dancers.
Then the athletes began to appear and the boys took the opportunity to get
their programmes signed. It was great to see all the different forms of national
dress and uniforms. The biggest cheer was reserved for Team GB with Tom
Daley and Sir Chris Hoy being particularly friendly to the boys. We could even
see the Queen and 007 jump from the helipcopter!
At The Paralympics
On 6 th and 7 th of September ten boys and two staff went to watch the
‘superhumans’ compete at the Paralympic Games. We got there in time to
attend the evening events in the Olympic Stadium where our seats were five
rows from the track! It was one of the best nights to be there because we
saw Dave Weir win the 800m,
Jason Peacock win the 100m
(beat Oscar Pestorius) and
Hanna Cockroft win her
second Gold Medal of the
Games.
The next day we had Day
Passes to the Olympic Park,
and on a fantastic sunny
day were able to watch
wheelchair rugby, goalball,
tennis and seven aside
football, as well as just
soak up the amazing festival atmosphere. This
visit was part of our ongoing Comenius project written about elsewhere in
the magazine.
Joash Riley and Rico Henry (both in Year 10) have been selected to represent the South Birmingham
District team for Athletics. Both athletes alongside with the rest of the Year 10 Lordswood Boys’
athletics team went to Solihull’s Tudor Grange to compete in the trials for both the North and South
Birmingham teams.
After an impressive start from Rico Henry in the 800m running 400m in just 60 seconds, Rico was crowned champion and was selected for the South Birmingham
Team with a excellent time of 2.13 recording a Personal Best. More success was to follow as Lordswood had two very good athletes competing against each other
in the 100m race. Joash Riley and Malakai Fuller-Spence went toe to toe in what was one of the epic races of the day. Joash Riley who is an all round sportsman was
up against a strong and powerful athlete in Malakai Fuller-Spence. After a great start from both athletes Joash produced a very quick time of 11.4 seconds to clinch
victory and Malakai came 3rd with an equally good time of 11.9 seconds.
Joash Riley and Rico Henry were selected for the South Birmingham team. Unfortunately Joash could not make the competition however Rico was again
demonstrating why he is one of the best sportsmen in the school. He competed at Inter Boys Level (U17) and came 4th setting a personal best of 2.09, a brilliant
display from Rico Henry. Rico has been given the opportunity to run for Birchfield Harriers after his tremendous display in both competitions.
Joash Riley, Rico Henry and Malakai Fuller-Spence
They Think Its All Over, It Is Now!!
The Year 7 Football team bowed out of the Birmingham Cup after losing 4-3 on penalties in the semi finals to Turves Green Boys. After an entertaining 70mins
the scores were tied at 3-3 with Lordswood taking the lead and going ahead each time with an impressive hat trick from ‘star striker’ Gevick Lusamba. After
going behind in extra time it seemed that Lordswood Boys would bow out the competition. However, it was again a magical display from Gevick Lusmaba
(who is playing for West Bromwich Albion FC) to score a screamer to send the game into penalties.
After Turves Green missed their first penalty, Lordswood took the upper hand and scored. The penalties continued to go in for both teams with Gevick
Lusmaba, Ellis Moore and Leo Robinson converting for Lordswood. The ‘Lordswood luck’ finally ran out when Tarique Hunter and Simao Miles both hit the
woodwork meaning that Turves Green would go through to the Birmingham finals.
Mr Arshad – PE Teacher
11 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 12

Public Services Course
Off To The Lake District
Thanks to extremely generous sponsorship from the Challenger Trust,
forty Public Service students from years 10, 12, and 13 will spend a week
in the Ennerdale valley of the Lake District doing a variety of outdoor and
adventurous activities this June.
Amongst other things they will conduct an overnight camping expedition,
rock climbing, gorge walking, canoeing, and conservation tasks.
The pupils will be given a budget to plan and buy their own food which they
then have to cook over the course of the week. As a result of the £7,500
sponsorship pupils have been offered this course for just £30 a person.
Library News
The Library has continued to be very busy this year.
Every Tuesday and Thursday during tutor period we have a group of volunteers
from Deutsche Bank who come along to help students with reading and maths.
Gemma Williams and I have run Lego Club during lunchtime on Tuesdays and
this has proved to be very popular with a number of students. It is a time when
the boys just sit and chat with each other while they create all sorts of amazing
structures.
During Wednesday lunchtimes Mr Dowe, one of the science teachers has been
coming to the Library to help with Chess Club. Lots of boys come along every
Wednesday to play chess and they love to challenge Mr Dowe to a game.
On Friday lunchtimes Miss Waheed and I have a reading club for some Year 7
& 8 students. The boys can read fiction or non-fiction and once they have read
their book they write reviews for us.
Here are a few photos taken during different sessions held in the Library.
Lesley Petersen – (Librarian)
Lordswood Boys’ School in
Harborne picked to have a
special Olympic oak tree
A Birmingham School Has
Planted A Special Oak Tree
To Mark The London 2012
Olympics
Staff and pupils at Lordswood Boys’ School and Sixth Form Centre in Harborne
planted the “Coubertin Oak”.
It is one of 40 being put in the ground to form a “ribbon” between Much
Wenlock in Shropshire and the Olympic Park in east London. The trees have
been grown from acorns taken from a tree planted in a field in Much Wenlock
in 1890 in honour of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic
movement.
In 2004, in anticipation of London winning the bid to host the 2012 games, the
acorns were gathered and planted. They were transferred to the Royal Botanic
Gardens in Kew where professionals have overseen their growth and prepared
them for planting. Forty schools and colleges along a route across the country
have been chosen to have one of the trees.
Article from Birmingham Mail - May 2012
Planting Of An Olympic
Courbetin Oak Tree
In recognition of its international work connected to the 2012 London
Olympics the school was chosen as a secondary school site for the planting
of one of the oak trees grown from acorns taken from an oak planted in 1890
during the Wenlock Olympian Games organised for the visit of the future
founder of the modern Olympic movement, Pierre de Coubertin. 40 oaks have
been planted in a ‘ribbon’ between William Brookes School in Much Wenlock
and the Olympic Park.
To honour our planting the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward,
and Sir Adrian Cadbury attended a ceremony on 19 April and filled in the
first soil. Sir Adrian represented Great Britian in rowing at the 1952 Helsinki
Olympic Games.
Farewell To Clive
Clive Humphries, Head of Sixth Form and Olympia House will be leaving
Lordswood Boys at the end of the academic year. He has served the school
as a teacher for over 30 years (it’s hard to find an accurate figure) and also
attended the school as a student, starting his secondary education on the
5th September 1967. He will be greatly missed by all the students and staff
at Lordswood.
“During my first year at Lordswood
Boys’ School Mr Humphries taught
me. I thought he was an amazing
teacher. I also found that he had
a great sense of humour, for the 6
years I have been here he still hasn’t
lost it. He will be missed.”
Aaron Bhurji, Yr 13 Student.
Lordswood GIRLS’ FIRST
FLYING EXPERIENCE
Recently 5 Lordswood Girls’ School students were given the opportunity to try
and air experience flight at R.A.F Cosford. The 15 students ( 5 girls and 10 boys)
were given the opportunity to fly a Grob Tutor 115E .
Before the flight everyone was kitted out with the “stylish” flight suits!
Everyone was shown the health and safety video, where they were shown how
to exit the plane while in flight—in case of an emergency! In the flight a lucky
few were given the chance to try out aerobatics such as a loop, a half cuben
and a barrel roll!
Some were even given the chance to take control of the aircraft while in
flight. To round it all off, a trip to the R.A.F museum followed their amazing
experience !
Phoebe Harris
A Grob Tutor in flight !
On March 21st 2012 five students from Lordswood Girls’ School and ten
students from Lordswood Boys’ School had a brilliant opportunity to fly with
RAF Cosford tutors.
As we arrived at RAF Cosford we were shown a detailed twelve minute tutorial
about health and safety and, in case of emergency an evacuation from the
Grob Tutor 115E. We put our teachings from the video into practice with a
prop Parachute bag.
We were then geared up with the ‘latest’ flying overalls and ballroom white
gloves...We patiently waited as the Grob Tutors were being prepared for our
arrival. To pass the time we visited the exclusive RAF Cosford museum full of
famous planes and their development through time and air.
The Grob Tutors were finally ready. Here we go...
One of the students has explained her experience, ‘It was a great opportunity,
where I got the experience to take control of the plane and perform aerobatics.
I would recommend this exhilarating experience to everyone.’
We all got to learn so many things and we hope to develop our skills and
knowledge in the near future.
Alisha and Sakina
13 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 14

CANADIAN
CADET EXCHANGE
PROFESSOR SIR TIM
BRIGHOUSE VISITS THE CCF
On 28th March Professor Sir Tim Brighouse visited year 10 cadets training
as part of their Public Services course. Parents and other guests were also
invited to share lunch then take part in a variety of activities to showcase their
achievements since September. The other VIPs included Lt Col Andy Layton
(Commanding Officer of Birmingham University Officer Training Corps) and
Martin Ripley.
The activities were all led by the cadets and
included:
• A map reading lesson
• Rifle training
• A First Aid incident
• Camouflage and concealment
• Living in the field
• Expedition camping
Lt Col Mackintosh, the Contingent Commander, has a Fellowship from the 21st
Century Learning Alliance to look at how the cadets can have a whole school
impact. Professor Sir Tim is the chair of the Alliance.
The Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Medal
Four members of staff at Lordswood Boys’ School have
been selected to be recipients of the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Medal.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal has been commissioned by the Royal Mint
and will be awarded to all members of the emergency services, Prison Service,
and Armed Forces personnel (regular and reserves) who have completed five
full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012. It will also be awarded to
living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, and members of the
Royal Household.
The medal has been awarded to Lieutenant Colonel N. Macintosh (Contingent
Commander), Sub Lieutenant J. Day (Royal Navy) Lieutenant A. Jones (Royal
Marines) and Captain L. McIntosh (Army).
Royal Canadian Army
Cadet Exchange – Camp
Argonaut in Gage Town,
New Brunswick
On 7th July 2011 I met up with 11 other cadets from all around the UK at The
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where we got to know each other and got
all the paper work done. We left two days later for seven weeks in Canada. We
were accompanied by two escort officers.
In Canada we met up with our Staff cadet and he knowing the site from last
year showed us around and helped us feel at “home”. The course was for an
expedition qualification which meant we could become expedition instructors.
We had to complete a 3 day expedition followed by a 6 day expedition then
finally an 18 day expedition. We also had an R&R (rest and recuperation) when
we visited Prince Edward Island and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Every Saturday we had a disco and every Sunday was a day off but every day
we woke up early to do 1hour of P.T. before breakfast. The 18 day expedition
consisted of a 250km canoe trip followed by a tough 200km bike journey and
finally finished with a 50km hike carrying a 25-30 kg military Burgan (rucksack).
I must admit the trip is quite tough and is not for the faint hearted, throughout
the trip you felt like giving up and backing down but with your friends and
instructors admiring words you will wish to return every year.
THE CORPS OF DRUMS
It has been an amazing six months for the Corps of Drums since the last edition of the Buzz. Nine scarlet tunics have been purchased along with ceremonial helmets,
blues trousers and associated accoutrements. This works out at an investment of £1000 per drummer!
The drummers have been conscientiously training every week after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and their repertoire has got steadily more advanced.
Training has begun on the flute with Sohail Bashir the first recruit.
The Corps have also performed at some high profile events including:
• Birmingham University Royal Naval Unit’s (HMS Forward) annual dinner night
• Birmingham University Officer Training Corps’ (Edgbaston Cricket Ground) spring ball
• West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association AGM (RAF Cosford)
• Mercian Regiment Officers Dinner Night (Sandhurst)
On each occasion they received a standing ovation and raised money to help fund their trip to Boston USA in June.
Now coming on to the very fun parts;
• We were very lucky to fire the Canadian
C7 assault rifle and the M16 rifle.
• We were able to take part in a LAV
(tank) exercise
• We travelled around Canada visiting
various cities on our R and R
• We have made lifelong friends from the
U.K and from Canada
VISIT BY CANADIAN
COLONEL
In March we hosted a visit by Colonel Luis de Sousa, a former commanding
officer of 4th Battalion (Chât) Royal 22 Régiment. This French Canadian
Regiment is allied to the Mercian Regiment, to which our Army section are
linked. During his visit Colonel de Sousa had lunch with LCpl Raad Asmael and
CSgt Abdul Moqeet Bin Khalid, both of whom had participated in the annual
UK exchange with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
One outcome of the visit will be linking cadets in Canada that belong to the
Royal 22 Régiment with our Army section.
On finishing our 6week course we were given a badge, t-shirt and certificate
to show we have passed and of course those who failed did not. Finally once
we were finished from camp Argonaut we spent a further week in the capital
Quebec, where we rested and were a bit more like tourists rather than soldiers.
I really really really recommend this trip because trust me you will never find a
more worthwhile trip, especially from school, and it was free! If you have any
inquires or would like to apply to join the cadets please feel free to pop up to
me during school or leave a message at the Cadet block.
Raad Asmael
15 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 16

french partner
school
BAE RAF Roadshow
This term Lordswood Boys School hosted a roadshow delivered on behalf of
BAE Systems and the RAF.
The roadshow was devised in response to the Governments acknowledgement
that there is already a shortfall of ‘home grown’ scientists and engineers to
meet the needs of the country. By capturing the interest of young people they
can hopefully increase the pool of talent in years to come.
The roadshow included a performance to the year 8 students that focused on
new technologies. Shayne Adam-Garland even got the opportunity to fly a
plane using an Ipad!
Straight after the performance students worked in teams and programmed
Lego Mindstorm robots to navigate a circuit printed on a mat. The challenge
was to programme the robots to stop at designated points with as few
mistakes as possible.
It really was an exciting Monday morning and it set the students up for a
positive week at Lordswood.
ROYAL NAVAL AND MARINE
CADETS ATTEND THEIR
ANNUAL CAMP AT HMS
RALEIGH
Cadets from Lordswood Boys’ and their partners from Lordswood Girls’ and
Selly Oak attended a weeklong camp at HMS Raleigh in May. This included fire
fighting and damage control training.
CCF NATIONAL BAND CAMP
In the week before the Easter holidays three cadets and I went down to HMS
Raleigh to take part in the first of two National Band Course run by the CCF
Royal Navy. The Combined Cadet Force Royal Navy National Band Course
takes in members of all abilities and standard, in preparation for several
performances at the end of the week also for bigger grand public events.
The band is open to 14/15+ year old cadets who play mostly marching band
instruments. The band is well known, and has played at Buckingham palace
and Cadet 150 Royal Review. The band gets the chance to work hand in hand
with some of the Royal Marine band members, at HMS Raleigh and sometimes
at Britannia Royal Navy College Dartmouth, to help further develop the
members and then whole band. Lordswood always send drummers on the
camps who then return and pass on their expertise to more junior members.
Theo Belnavis
CADETS HONOURED BY THE
DUKE OF EDINBURGH WITH
TICKETS TO THE DIAMOND
JUBILEE CONCERT
In his capacity as Captain General of the Royal Marines, The Duke of Edinburgh
chose to give 20 pairs of tickets for the concert at Buckingham Palace to
the Royal Marine badged cadet units. Within the Combined Cadet Force
Lordswood was one of only two schools to be selected! Prior to the concert
the party will be able to explore the gardens of the Palace and have a picnic
in the grounds. Four staff and four cadets will have this fantastic opportunity!
Read all about it in the next edition of Buzz!
Cadet Start Yachting
Course April 2012
In April 2012 I, LCpl Raad Asmael and LCpl Ahmed Mouflih attended a four day
course that introduced us to yachting. Yachting is loved as leisure and a sport.
Thousands of people own yachts and spend their holidays on them. We stayed
on a sailing yacht with two other cadets from Trinity school and two officers
who taught us and looked after us. We helped in cleaning, cooking and sailing
the yacht. We also had the opportunity to helm (drive) the yacht.
Our trip started off at the train station, we caught 2 trains then a taxi to
HMS EXCELLENT where we stayed alongside HMS RISTOL on board STC
AMARYILLAS. This was amazing because we were surrounded by war ships and
the new British Navy`s type 45 destroyers. All this was in Portsmouth harbour.
First day, we got to meet each other and had lunch together. This helped us in
getting to know each other not just as cadets and officers but as crewmates.
Over the next four days we learnt to navigate and sail the yacht around the
Solent as well as having to cook all our own food.
DRUMMERS PERFORM AT
QUEENS JUBILEE FAMILY
FUN DAY IN HYDE PARK!
VISIT TO ECOLE DES
MOUSSES
In January this year I received a grant from the European Union to pay a
preparatory visit to our partner school in France, Ecole des Mousses. The
school is in Brest and is a Naval boarding school for young men and women
aged 16 – 18. The students study for a year before joining the French Navy or
Marines. The school is housed in the grand buildings of the old naval academy
above the former German U Boat pens.
Whilst I was there I taught in five English lessons as a real ‘Englishman’, had
a trip around the harbour in one of the school’s motor launches, and went
sailing on their brand new yacht. The main outcome of the visit was to apply
for European funding for pupil exchanges and plan future visits.
Lt Col Mackintosh
CADETS OFF TO FRANCE!
Having hosted a very successful visit by five cadets and two staff from our
partner school in Brest Mr Collis and Mr Dowe took a party of four year 11 and
sixth form cadets from the Royal Naval section to visit the French Naval School,
Ecole des Mousers in June this year.
They traveled over as foot passengers on the ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff
and had three full days training with their opposite numbers. This included
firing the FAMAS rifle and pump action shotguns, visiting a warship, sailing
on the schools yacht, and joining in with English lessons. Cadet Arron Brown
was presented with his CCF Royal Navy Certificate of Excellence by the school’s
commanding officer, Commander Bertin.
French cadets visit
portsmouth
We left Brest at 5.45 a.m. in the morning of March 19th. We were excited at the
idea of going to Portsmouth to meet the cadets and visit British warships!!!!!
We visited different museums and ships: Royal Marines museum (I liked it a lot
!! ), an old submarine of the Royal Navy, and also HMS Diamond, a new frigate,
similar to the multi-mission frigate Aquitaine in our navy… etc… We were also
very lucky because the weather was excellent ! No rain !
We met several cadets when we arrived at HMS Bristol, the ship where we
were accomodated. At the beginning, it was hard to establish a contact with
them because of the language barrier. We were really intimidated. But the day
after, we taught the British cadets to march as we do. And the British cadets
made us march as they do. That was really a nice thing to do in order to make
people talk!
We left Portsmouth on Thursday 22nd
March. We got back to Brest at 11.30 a.m
the next day. We were exhausted because
we had not slept a lot on the ferry….
I have a good memory of this trip and
my friends too. That was a too short
stay! I would like to thank : Petty Officer
Derrien, Mr Riou, Martyn Collis and Alex
Jones for their kindness during this trip!
It was a thrilling experience to live !
Mousse Antoine Bernars, platoon 22
Members of the Corps of Drums and their families were invited to take part in
one of the biggest events of the Jubilee year. Through the British Youth Corps
of Drums they were allocated free tickets and exclusive VIP parking under
Hyde Park! The cadets and their families went down
on Saturday 2nd June.
17 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 18

CADETS TRY SCUBA DIVING
On 14th May 17 lucky cadets had the opportunity to try scuba diving.
Instructors from the CCF Royal Navy dive team came to King Edward’s
School, Edgbaston with all the tanks and equipment required to get
cadets from each school diving in the swimming pool. This is the first ‘toe
in the water’ for the new CCF diving programme to be led by Mr Bond.
The intention is to run an annual dive training course for senior cadets
and then run an overseas expedition to the Caribbean or Red Sea.
VISIT BY DELEGATION
FROM TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
On the 29th of May the school was honoured to host a high powered
delegation from Trinidad and Tobago. The 16 strong party included the
Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Defence as well
as the Commandant of the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force. The visitors were
in the UK to look at the impact of cadets on tackling disaffection and raising
attainment in schools.
As well as presenting gifts to the school they also presented Lt Col Mackintosh
with the Commandant’s Appreciation Medal. Having the VIPs in school also
made a suitable occasion to present Cadet Theodore Belnavis with his Lord
Lieutenant’s Cadet Certificate and his Royal Naval Certificate of Excellence.
summer mountain
foundation course
Over Easter Theo Belnavis and I completed the
Summer Mountain Foundation course in the Lake
District.
The course aims at developing navigational skills and team leading skills
in variety of terrain and is run at one of the Cadet Centres for Adventurous
Training (CCAT).
Completing the course will allow us to gain Distinctions in our BTEC Level 3 in
Public Services.
The course is a good basis to start from if you wish to take on other and
more challenging mountain leading courses. There are other challenges that
are also available for leaders who are more experienced and hold higher
determination/endurance.
Completion of the course opens opportunities for the individual and
introduces them to wider mountaineering community.
Abdul Mokeet bin Khalid
CCF CENTRAL CAMP JULY 2012
This year cadets from all four services attended the week long Army camp
run an Penally Training Camp near Tenby in Wales. Thirty three cadets and
four staff spent conducted six days of activities along with 400 other cadets
from different schools. We were lucky enough to have been partnered with
the exchange group from the Royal Canadian Army Cadets and many strong
friendships were formed by the end of the week.
Each day was a different activity:
• Day one – navigation skills
• Day two and three – military exercise
• Day four – kayaking and rock climbing
• Day five – shooting and quad biking
• Day six – leadership training and raft building
Most cadets excelled and achieved things they didn’t think they were capable
of. Everybody fired a classification shoot on the cadet rifle and most were
awarded shooting badges. All cadets also got to fire a shot gun at clay pigeons.
During the kayaking many cadets who refused to go in the water at the start of
the day ended up by jumping off a 20 foot cliff and doing seal entries in kayaks
from the same height – even the non swimmers. On the final parade Kiran
Singer, on her last camp having just finished year 13, surprised us all by being
awarded the best shot on the whole camp!
19 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 20

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSECHUSETTS
ARMY LEAGUE JUNIOR CADET
LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
US CAMP
In June last year I was lucky enough to be one of eight cadets to travel to the USA to join our partner school, East Boston High School, on
their annual camp at Fort Devens. During the six days we spent on camp we undertook leadership tasks, canoeing, abseiling, raft building, drill
competitions, air rifle shooting, and battlefield tours of site important in the Revolutionary War.
The food was brilliant and I made some excellent friends who I still keep in contact with on Facebook. At the end of the visit we spent the weekend
as tourists in Boston where we saw all the famous sites including Quincy Market and the USS Constitution.
Leo Todorovic
trip
On Monday the 19th March 4 Royal Navy and 4 Royal Marine cadets
and two officers, Lt Jones and Sub Lt Collis, left Lordswood Boys’ School
and headed to Portsmouth. Whilst at Portsmouth we stayed at HMS
Excellence, a naval base, and our accommodation was on HMS Bristol, a
Frigate that had served in the Falklands War.
Day 1. A day of travelling.
We left Birmingham by train and headed south changing at Southampton and
onto Portsmouth. It was a slow journey, but it gave us chance to talk, especially
as the staff were allocated seats in another carriage. Upon arrival at the station
in Portsmouth we were picked up by a MOD minibus and taken through
security onto HMS Excellence and ultimately onto HMS Bristol.
We were given time to unpack and then told we had to meet in the Sea Wolf
missile room. The area previously used for launching Sea Wolf anti-aircraft and
anti-missile missiles had been converted into a lecture theatre. We watched
safety programmes about what to do in event of fires and sinking, and then we
listened to a brief on the rules of HMS Excellence. For example we had to march
everywhere and full military uniform had to be worn. At about 7pm we were
joined by our partner school from Brest, France. It must have been an unusual
sight to see French cadets in uniform on board a British ship. After they had
their briefing we all met in the games room with table tennis and table football
challenges. It was an informal evening, as both groups of cadets were tired.
portsmouth
Day 3. A day of conversations.
Another early start, a march up to the mess hall Royal Navy (left, right) style,
collect the packed lunches and then march to the jetty. This time it was French
Navy (un, deux) style. At this time in the morning staff and officers were
entering HMS Excellence and going to their offices. We got a few strange looks
as a French cadet marched us past them. (We were told we had to march at
HMS Excellence, but no-one said it had to be Royal Navy marching). At the
jetty we boarded a small craft and proceeded out into Portsmouth harbour.
Past the aircraft carriers HMS Invincible and Illustrious, past a variety of small
mine hunters, and larger Frigates and then past the new Type 45 destroyers
HMS Diamond (our affiliated ship) and the newer HMS Dragon. By now the
language barrier had been broken and cadets were freely talking (in best
pigeon French and English).
We left the craft at the Submarine Museum and boarded a submarine for a
tour. How people survived on these things was amazing. It is true to say that
the cadets were now very close! We had no choice there was not enough room.
After a look at the other exhibits we were then picked up by boat again and
taken to HMS Victory. We had lunch and a load of group photos outside HMS
Victory and then on board for a tour, unfortunately we were not able to take
photos on board. Again the cramped conditions were an eye opener, so many
people on such a small ship. After the tour we were given some free time and
then onto Battle Stations, rolling wall climbing (the French cadets were brilliant
at this), interactive exhibits, and defending the ship with machine guns video
game. By now all cadets were working together. We were then taken back to
HMS Excellence for our evening meal and then back to HMS Bristol and a film
in the Sea Wolf missile bay.
Cadet Chaudhry, Sgt Belnavis and
Cadet Allaway getting to grips with
paddling
Cadet Todorovic the Guidon bearer
Day 4. HMS Diamond and farewells.
An even earlier start. We had to pack and leave the cabins ship shape.
After breakfast we were taken by minibus back to Portsmouth docks and
aboard HMS Diamond. We were welcomed aboard and given a tour. We were
allowed to sit in the Captain’s chair (don’t tell him) and try out the fire fighting
equipment. Even the Captain himself came out to greet us. The French party
took the opportunity to exchange plaques in an informal ceremony.
Cadet Todorovic demonstrating
leadership on the reaction course
Day 2. A day of museums.
An early start , quick briefing, march up to the mess hall for breakfast Royal
Navy (left, right) style, and after breakfast we were introduced into the French
Navy marching. The arms didn’t go so high and the pace was slightly slower
(un, deux). We collected our packed lunches and went off to HMS Collingwood.
HMS Collingwood was another Naval Base that taught sailors and potential
officers a variety of courses including weaponry. We were shown the 4.5 inch
gun that most destroyers and frigates are fitted with and later (and a personal
favourite) the phalanx machinegun capable of firing 60 large calibre bullets a
second. It is used as a last line of defence against missiles and it will put up a
yard square of lead in front of any missile. I wanted one. After HMS Collingwood
we were taken to the Royal Armouries museum for a tour and we were given
time to look at the different cannons, from the Iraqi Super Gun through the
World Wars and Napoleonic Wars to early cannons of China and India.
We were able to go into the sick bay and control rooms. Everywhere seemed
to be open for us to visit, and what a big ship it was. We had photos on the
helicopter pad and then it was time to depart. We were taken back to HMS
Bristol to collect our bags. We said goodbye to the French cadets as their ferry
back was much later to go into Portsmouth. We waited for our transport to the
station and home. It was a fascinating week. I learnt a lot about the Royal Navy
and the Royal Marines, and I had met some new friends from France.
Thank you to all those involved in making this trip possible
LCpr L. Chater.
Lordswood CCF with our new friends at East Boston High School
We had our packed lunch here and then went off to the D-Day museum where
we watched a short film. Some of us looked around the museum whilst others
went for a walk. After the D-Day museum we were picked up again and then
taken to the Royal Marine Museum. Being in the Royal Marine cadets I found
this fascinating. The displays were interactive and we had great fun, all cadets
crawling through tubes and lifting the weighted packs. Outside there was a
large statue memorial of a Falkland War Royal Marine, so many photos were
taken of us posing in front of it. It was time to return to HMS Bristol and get
ready for dinner. We had had an enjoyable day, but it would be fair to say we
were a little museumed out. In the evening it was back to the games room for
more challenges.
21 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 22

Spring term 2012
Award Assemblies – Spring 2012 YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9 YEAR 10 YEAR 11 YEAR 12 YEAR 13
Art & Design Most Improvement Leo Robinson Shane Kennedy Haris Jawed Tyrone Bailey Bilal Hussain - -
Best Performance Vivek Parekh Dejarn White Soul Miles Giovanni Edwards Arslaan Mahmood - -
Design & Technology Most Improvement Kamal Lanji Jorawar Shokker Cameron McLean Dontae Lawrence Touseef Hussain - -
Best Performance Jeevan Grewal Waseem Hussain Louis Goneta Zachary Martin Haroon Herevy - -
Drama Most Improvement Michael Babajide Eitmad Ali Akyomi Gilbert Cameron Fuller Rajae Forbes - Charlie Fallon
Best Performance Brandon Griffin Hassan Junaid Nathaniel Moore Benjamin Daly Kamlyn Clarke - Ricardo McKain
English Most Improvement Mansoor Ahmed Stephen Powell Akeem St Juste Queeley Nazim Khizar Stefan Sanghera - -
Best Performance Vivek Parekh Bradley Websdell Nahid Hussain Gregory Perkins Salman Shezad - -
Geography Most Improvement Jawid Khan Zadeh Tariq McClarty Qasim Butt Ashwin Ravichandran Adem Sokoli - -
Best Performance Mussab Namiq Ahmed Paracha Jeevan Chana Daniel Sidwell Louis McNaughton - -
German Most Improvement Mansoor Ahmed Ram Krishan Danyal Warsi Ali Haider Shah Troi Johnson-Fox - -
Best Performance Ho Lung Lee Amman Alvi Nahid Hussain Nomaan Ahmadi Harkesh Mahli - -
History Most Improvement Yug Nagda Karol Samuel Nahid Hussain George Allaway Abuhuzaifah Abdullah - -
Best Performance Duy Nguyen Cameron Kooner Yasser Ashraf Raghav Manchanda Gurinder Malhi - -
Maths Most Improvement Shazad Rahaman Isaiah Mtetwa Benjamin Wilson-Walker Mohammed Bilal Liaqat Tesfa Joseph Mohammed Areeb Siraj Khan
Best Performance Duy Nguyen Amman Alvi Adam Ahmed Raghav Manchanda Arslaan Zaheer Saqib Yasin Rohit Peruvelil
Music Most Improvement Jamaal Nugent Kieron Tucker Kwame Toussaint Kison Baker Timur Kondrakov - -
Best Performance Ho Lung Lee Callum Peters Kobie Berry Willibrod Mbatangie Scott Thacker - -
Physical Education Most Improvement Jahrel Hobson Nathan Gregory Deshaune Kirnon Hamza Rehman Kane Romeo Jamarl Mills Ishmael Khan
Best Performance Gevick Lusamba Ishmam-Ul Islam Akeem St Juste Queeley Chavvis Bennett Abuhuziafah Abdullah - -
Religious Education Most Improvement Sharmarke Sharif Reece Wolverson-Madden Tyler Mills Nazim Khizar Bilal Hussain - -
Best Performance Vivek Parekh Nahim Hussain Jeevan Chana Daniel Sidwell Ranvir Dubb - -
Science Most Improvement Leo Robinson Ahmed Aziz Jeevan Chana Mohammed Abaid Akeel Abel Tekie Mohammed Areeb Fiasal Musa
Best Performance Idrees Hussain Amman Alvi Redwanur Rahman Raghav Manchanda Harkesh Mahli Harshneet Madaan Amandeep Rai
Citizenship Most Improvement Michael Babajide Inayat Islam - - - - -
Best Performance Mohammed Adam Callum Peters - - - - -
Library Most Improvement - Myles Banbury Toryien Stewart - - - -
Best Performance - Stephen Powell Nathan Rose - - - -
ICT Most Improvement - - Qasim Butt Muhammed Shakeel Remel Hutchinson Vikesh Gohel Afsan Hussain
Best Performance - - Nahid Hussain Raece Zacman Imran Ali Muzam Nasar Yusef Mirza
Business Studies Most Improvement - - Navjot Doel Arthur Chirwa Bilal Sajid Vikesh Gohel Zeshaan Rafiq
Best Performance - - Adam Ahmed Tamir Hussain Puneet Minhas Azim Hussain Yusef Mirza
Public Services Most Improvement - - - - Jamie Jukes - Daniel Aulakh
Best Performance - - - - Cameron Morris - -
23 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 24

Summer term 2012
Award Assemblies – Summer 2012 YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9 YEAR 10
Art & Design Most Improvement Mustafa Almanameen Ram Krishan Joshua Berrington Tyrone Bailey
Best Performance Gevick Lusamba Ross Thacker Louis Goneta Adam Hands
Design & Technology Most Improvement - Omid Kazemi - Adam Hands
Best Performance Gevick Lusamba Arian Mohajeri - Giovanni Edwards
Drama Most Improvement Andwayne Taylor Tayyib Akram Toryian Stewart Miranda Andrade
Best Performance Panashe Nyazika Rafael Barros Jason Morgan Cameron Fuller
English Most Improvement Lars Sharples Stephen Powell & Kyle Snape Redwanur Rahman Noman Ahmadi & Montell Stephens
Best Performance Vivek Parekh Rafael Barros Nahid Hussain & Jeevan Chana Daniel Sidwell
Geography Most Improvement Subhan Naeem Ross Thacker Adam Ahmed Akeel Hussain
Best Performance Mustafa Almanameen Usman Abdulwahid Jeevan Chana Usman Alvi
German Most Improvement Tyrell Chambers-King Ashley Donald Razwan Iqbal Arthur Chirwa
Best Performance Shazad Rahman Amman Alvi Qasim Butt Arrsal Iqbal
History Most Improvement Yug Nagda Zackary Spector Leo Todorovic Ibraheem Saleh
Best Performance Vivek Parek Rafael Barros Yasser Ashraf George Allaway
Mathematics Most Improvement Tarique Hunter Mohammed Asghar Ismail Nawaz Joseph Derit
Best Performance Ibrahim Mansoor Amman Alvi Qasim Butt Raghav Manchanda
Music Most Improvement Ho Lung Lee Dejarn White Victor Babajide Benjamin Daley
Best Performance Jamaal Nugent Leo Van Zeller Kwame Toussaint Harry Glynn
Physical Education Most Improvement Jawid Khan Zadeh Avinash Chahal Adam Ahmed Zachary Martin
Best Performance Kasum Hussain Jaleel Tahir Daver Arshad Rico Henry
Science Most Improvement Yug Nagda Haseeb Zaman Adil Amhar Akeel Mohammed Abaid
Best Performance Jack Sandland Amman Alvi Qasim Butt George Allaway
Citizenship Most Improvement Ho Lung Lee Muhibb Iqbal - -
Best Performance Michael Babajide Rafael Barros - -
Library Most Improvement Jassiah Gittens Ross Thacker Nathan Rose -
Best Performance Hassan Rashid Waseem Hussain Akyomi Gilbert -
ICT Most Improvement - - Asa White Shakeel Muhammed
Best Performance - - Qasim Butt Manraj Gill
Business Studies Most Improvement - - Qasim Dad Akeel Mansoor
Best Performance - - Tyler Mills Ali Haider Shah
Public Services Most Improvement - - Muhammed Shakeel -
Best Performance - - - -
25 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 26

GOLD ATTENDANCE AWARDS
Spring Term
100% Attendance with no more than 2 late marks during Spring Term 2012
Junaid Abbasi
Abu-Ubaida Abdullah
Abuhuziafah Abdullah
Zain Abdulwahid
Usman Abdulwahid
Mohammed Adam
Liam Agricole
Hamza Ahmed
George Allaway
Michael Allen
Amman Alvi
Hasan Ar-Rahman
Asan Asghar
Ahmed Aziz
Zadane Bader
Jaskaran Bains
Rafael Barros
Kobie Berry
Avanish Bhopal
Piers Boyack
Ryan Chahal
Ravinder Chahal
Jeevan Chana
Paavan Chohan
Joseph Derit
Cameron Fuller
Pavan Gaddu
Manraj Gill
Michal Golonka
La-Marni Graham
Muhammed Hamza
Adam Hands
Mujdin Haxhiu
Haroon Herevy
Tarique Hunter
Tamir Hussain
Hassan Hussain
Idrees Hussain
Nahid Hussain
Mudassar Hussain
Mobeen Iqbal
Mohin Iqbal
Adil Iqbal
Muhibb Iqbal
Zain-Ul Islam
Hasan Jawed
Haris Jawed
Tyrese Joseph
Hassan Junaid
Jawid Khan Zadeh
Kamal Khan Zadeh
Ram Krishan
Rohit Kumar
Ho Lung Lee
Mohammed Bilal Liaqat
Maburu Maburu
Carlton Madzimure
Arslaan Mahmood
Harkesh Malhi
Willibrod Mbatangie
Aqib Nadeem
Subhan Naeem
Arronjit Nahal
Daryan Omar
Jama Omer
Prabhjot Panesar
Vivek Parekh
Jardel Prescod
Jaikuran Randhawa
Hassan Rashid
Hamza Rehman
Kane Romeo
Rajan Saggu
Harvin Samra
Rajanjeet Sangha
Mohammed Saqib
Jarron Sawyers-Williams
Lars Sharples
Mohammed Shauib
Mohammed Shirazi Rad
Pavitar Singh
Dhonte’ Smith
Manish Sohal
Adem Sokoli
Callum Takhar
Adris Tariq
Javier Thomas
Constantine Thomopoulos
Duneil Ubhi
Jordan West
Another 29 pupils collected silver
awards and 42 pupils collected
bronze awards
Summer Term
100% Attendance with no more than 2 late marks during Summer Term 2012
Usman Abdulwahid
Asan Asghar (Ali)
Yasser Ashraf
Ahmed Aziz
Avanish Bhopal
Jeevan Chana
Joseph Crawford
James Cummings
Qasim Dad
Amar Dhillon
Kingsley Duru
Tyari Flood
Mitesh Gohel
Louis Goneta
Adam Hands
Jahrel Hobson
Tarique Hunter
Akeel Hussain
Nahid Hussain
Nahim Hussain
Viqas Hussain
Mohin Iqbal
Trai Jackson
Hasan Jawed
Tyrese Joseph
Jawid Khan Zadeh
Kamal Khan Zadeh
Cameron Kooner
Charlie Kowalik
Ram Krishan
Tarrell Latouche
Hou Lei
Carlton Madzimure
Jasique Maize
Simao Miles
Ahmed Mouflih
Asad Mushtaq
Arronjit Nahal
Ali Noor
Panashe Nyazika
Wilbert Nyikadzino
Goodness Olaniyi
Danyal Rafaq
Jaikuran Randhawa
Zain Rashid
Hamza Rehman
Demari Roberts
Trai Robinson-Richards
Hafez Sam
Jasman Sanghera
Lars Sharples
Dhonte’ Smith
Akeem St Juste Queeley
Callum Takhar
Andwayne Taylor
Javier Thomas
Michael Tran
Another 28 pupils collected silver awards
and 40 pupils collected bronze awards
27 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 28

Assessing your child and the National Ruler
Assessing your child and the
All parents want the best for their child, and in school they want
to know that their child is making good progress, but what does
that really mean? When the government introduced the National
Curriculum in England and Wales in the late 1980s and early
1990s they developed something called (see the chart opposite):
‘The National Ruler for Measuring Children’s Progress at School’
This very simply relates a number of ways of assessing children to
the expectation of progress for the ‘average child’. We all know
National Ruler
that there is no such thing as the average child, but to say what
‘expected progress’ looks like is very helpful because this allows
All parents want the best for their child, and in school us to they judge want if a child to know is ‘keeping that up’ their with child his or is her making education. good
progress, but what does that really mean? When the government introduced the National Curriculum in
Though this looks very complicated it actually isn’t. If we take the
England and Wales in the early 1990s they developed something called (see the chart opposite):
example of a 12 year old child, what can we see from the ruler?
They will just be starting key stage 3 in ‘Year 7’, their first year of
‘The National Ruler for Measuring Children’s Progress at School’
secondary school. What should educational attainment look like?
This very simply relates a number of ways of assessing The children ‘points’ to gives the the expectation average points of progress score, which for the we ‘average can see is
child’. We all know that there is no such thing as the average around 27/28 child, at but the to start say what of secondary ‘expected school. progress’ This is looks taken like from
is very helpful because this allows us to judge if a child the is average ‘keeping of up’ the with KS2 test his or results her education. for English maths and science.
A level 2 is awarded 15 points, level 3 awarded 21 points, level 4
Though this looks very complicated it actually isn’t. If we take the example of a 12 year old child, what can we
awarded 27 points and a level 5 is awarded 33 points. The
see from the ruler? They will just be starting key stage 3 in ‘Year 7’, their first year of secondary school. What
average is calculated by adding these 3 and then dividing by 3.
should educational attainment look like?
Since KS2 levels are assessed in the summer term of Year 6 we
can see that the ‘average child’ should be averaging 27 points,
The ‘points’ gives the average points score, which we can see is around 27/28 at the start of secondary school.
This is taken from the average of the KS2 test results
which
for English
equates
maths
to the middle
and science.
of level
A
4.
level 2 is awarded 15
points, level 3 awarded 21 points, level 4 awarded 27 No points employer and will a level ever 5 ask is awarded about National 33 points. Curriculum The average Levels, is and
calculated by adding these 3 and then dividing by 3. if Since you tried KS2 to levels tell them are assessed they wouldn’t in the know summer what term you are of Year talking
6 we can see that the ‘average child’ should be averaging about. 27 In points, secondary which school equates we are to interested the middle in of GCSE level grades 4. up
to the age of 16. As you can see, on entering secondary school
No employer will ever ask about National Curriculum Levels, and if you tried to tell them they wouldn’t know
our ‘average child’ is achieving the boundary between grades F
what you are talking about. In secondary school we are interested in GCSE grades up to the age of 16. As you
and E. The National Ruler expects that the average child will
can see, on entering secondary school our ‘average child’ is achieving the boundary between grades F and E.
move from the middle of level 4 to the top of level 6, or from the
The National Ruler expects that the average child will move from the middle of level 4 to the top of level 6, or
from the bottom of grade E to the middle of grade C,
bottom
making
of
exactly
grade
two
E to the
and
middle
a half levels
of grade
or
C,
grades
making
of
exactly
progress.
two
(One level is equivalent to one grade).
and a half levels or grades of progress. (One level is equivalent to
one grade)
The government has complicated this issue by talking The about government ‘good progress’ has complicated being three this levels issue by of talking progress about from
the beginning of year 7 to the end of year 11. It then
‘good
says that
progress’
all schools
being
should
three levels
be good,
of progress
so we
from
should
the
expect
beginning
three levels of progress. Three levels then becomes the ‘expected progress’. But this is not how the system was
of year 7 to the end of year 11. It then says that all schools should
set up, so everyone gets confused, which is what happens when politicians mess about with technical matters.
be good, so we should expect three levels of progress. Three
However, the important thing is that all schools want children to progress as much as possible, in all sorts of
levels then becomes the ‘expected progress’. But this is not how
ways, so three levels as a target is fine with us. The reality is that nationally, about two thirds of children will
make three levels of, or good progress.
the system was set up, so everyone gets confused, which is what
happens when politicians mess about with technical matters.
However, the important thing is that all schools want children to
progress as much as possible, in all sorts of ways, so three levels
as a target is fine with us. The reality is that nationally, about two
thirds of children will make three levels of, or good progress.
Academic Progress at
Lordswood Boys’ School
When I started at Lordswood Boys’ School in April 2008 the school was in a
sorry state, for all sorts of reasons. Behaviour of the boys was poor, in and
out of lessons. The school had a very bad reputation in the local community,
some of it unfairly but some of it earned. But most importantly the boys were
not doing well academically. The school had done a lot of work to develop a
very good vocational provision and around two thirds of boys were leaving
with good vocational (mainly BTEC) qualifications. However, without good
achievement in core subjects, particularly English and maths, these are of little
use. In 2005, 6 and 7 the average pass rate in GCSE English was 32% with maths
being somewhat better at 45%. Even so with so few boys passing English the
overall measure of five good GCSEs including English and maths averaged
26% for these three years. In June 2008 the school was placed in the National
Challenge with 637 other schools nationally, where fewer than 30% of pupils
were passing five good GCSEs including English and maths.
Age KS Yr Term Points Level GCSE
Autumn 1
3
Spring 2
Wc
Summer 3
Autumn 4
Wb
4 N Spring 5
Summer 6
Wa
Autumn 7
5 R Spring 8
1c
Summer 9
Autumn 10
1b
6 1 Spring 11
Summer 12
1a
Autumn 13
7 2 Spring 14
2c
Summer 15
Autumn 16
2b
8 3 Spring 17
Summer 18
2a
Autumn 19
9 4 Spring 20
3c
G
Summer 21
Autumn 22
3b
10 5 Spring 23
Summer 24
3a
Autumn 25
11 6 Spring 26
4c
F
Summer 27
Autumn 28
4b
12 7 Spring 29
Summer 30
4a
Autumn 31
13 8 Spring 32
5c
E
Summer 33
Autumn 34
5b
14 9 Spring 35
Summer 36
5a
Autumn 37
15 10 Spring 38
6c
D
Summer 39
Autumn 40
6b
16 11 Spring 41
Summer 42
6a
Autumn 43
17 12 Spring 44
7c
C
Summer 45
Autumn 46
7b
18 13 Spring 47
Summer 48
7a
Autumn 49
19 14 Spring 50
8c
B
Summer 51
Autumn 52
8b
20 15 Spring 53
Summer 54
8a
Autumn 55
21 16 Spring 56
9c
A
Summer 57
9b
Autumn 58 A*
Foundation
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 4
Key Stage 5
Higher Education
In terms of results, the graphs below speak for themselves. GCSE English pass
rates have been in the 50%s for the last two years and are set to rise into the
70%s this year with an estimated 70% of boys making 3 levels of progress.
GCSE maths results have also been in the 50%s for the last two years and again
are still rising with an estimated high 60%s passing and again 70% making 3
levels of progress. When you bear in mind that the boys who sit their GCSEs
this summer started the school in 2007, when teaching was still very poor, it
becomes clear just how hard teachers in these two areas have had to work to
make up for the ground lost early on in the school. Ask the year 11 boys and
they will be more than ready to tell you how hard teachers have worked to
put the extra in to ensure their success. There have been one or two who have
dissented, there always are, for whatever reason. The programme of study has
been intense but has definitely been for the greater good, and many boys life
chances will have improved because of it.
The Curriculum at
Lordswood Boys’ School
Academic Progress at Lordswood Boys’ School
When I started at Lordswood Boys’ School in April 2008 the school was in a sorry state, for all sorts of reasons.
Behaviour of the boys was poor, in and out of lessons. The school had a very bad reputation in the local community,
some of it unfairly but some of it earned.
The Curriculum
But most
at Lordswood
importantly
Boys’
the
School
boys were not doing well academically. The
school had done a lot of work to develop a very good vocational provision and around two thirds of boys were
The main organisational arrangements a school has to ensure that pupils get the right ‘educational diet’ are:
leaving with good vocational (mainly BTEC) qualifications. However, without good achievement in core subjects,
‣ The structure of the school day and week, including the number and length of lessons
particularly English and maths, these are ‣ of The little amount use. of In time 2005, devoted 6 to and each 7 subject the average and options pass offered rate to in pupils GCSE as they English progress was 32%
‣ The arrangements for setting (by ability) and grouping of pupils within subject areas
with maths being somewhat better at 45%. Even so with so few from boys the faculty passing of reasoning English to the that of overall creative measure studies. of five
good GCSEs including English and maths
If these
averaged
are not right
26%
for the
for
pupils
these
this
three
creates
years.
significant
In
difficulties
June 2008
in ensuring
the school
consistent
was
progress.
placed in
the National Challenge with 637 other schools nationally, where fewer than 30% of pupils were passing five good
GCSEs including English and maths.
The main organisational arrangements a school has to ensure that pupils get computerised timetabling system to work out option blocks and the vast
the right ‘educational diet’ are:
majority of boys are able to study their first three choices. They also now study
• The structure of the school day and week, including the number and length a qualification in PE, which with GCSEs in English, maths, science, German and
of lessons
short-course RE offers a broad and balanced curriculum. We continue to make
• The amount of time devoted to each subject and options offered to pupils small changes as the need arises; two subjects will move faculties this year:
as they progress
geography from the faculty of environment to that of social studies and ICT
• The arrangements for setting (by ability) and grouping of pupils within
subject areas
•
The charts below show how we have
All core
changed
subject
the
areas
structure
now
of
have
the school
the freedom
curriculum
to set
over
pupils
the recent
according
past,
to
to better
their
If these are not right for the pupils this creates significant difficulties in ensuring ability in that subject. In the past pupils were banded into bands X and Y on
fit the needs of the boys. We teach subjects for 25 hours per week. This was organised into 25 one hour lessons, but
consistent progress.
entering the school in all subjects, meaning that they were either always in
following extensive consultation in 2010, we changed to 6 fifty minute lessons per day giving 30 per week. |These
lower sets or always in higher sets, and movement between the two was very
The charts This below was my show introduction how we have to changed Headship the structure
are organised
at the of school, the
into
school
three double sessions,
with some difficult. significant This
meaning
was
that
problems clearly
practical
unfair
subjects
to and solve the
such
structure
as art, technology,
in both of overall the timetable
PE, music
has
and
been
curriculum over the recent past, to better fit the needs drama of the can boys. be scheduled We teach in one hundred altered to minute give subjects double sessions. independence It also means from that each the other, time meaning we were able that to pupils
subjects leadership for 25 hours processes per week. This in the was organised school and into allocate in 25 subject one to English hour delivery, lessons, and maths particularly in year are taught 7 and 8 correctly could in English be to split the five but level ways also of instead their maths. ability of four, in meaning every In terms subject, that of they regardless have English of
but following leadership, extensive everyone consultation in the in 2010, current we changed and maths
senior to leadership 6 every fifty day minute of the week.
team worked how The they changes
as fare a elsewhere. have also intentionally offered boys much more freedom of choice:
middle leader in the school before my
lessons per day giving 30 per week. |These are
organised arrival, into and three all double have sessions, been promoted meaning internally. They are doing a great job and I am proud of them. We have rebuilt
that practical teaching subjects teams such in as both art, technology, English and PE, maths and we now have a core team of very capable and hard-working teachers
music and drama can be scheduled in one hundred
minute in double both sessions. areas. It also means that the time
we were able to allocate to English and maths in
year 7 and 8 could be split five ways instead of
four, meaning that they have English and maths
every day of the week. The changes have also
intentionally offered boys much more freedom of
choice:
In terms of results, the graphs below speak for themselves. GCSE English pass rates have been in the 50%s for the
last two years and are set to rise into the 70%s this year with an estimated 70% of boys making 3 levels of progress.
GCSE maths results have also been in the 50%s for the last two years and again are still rising with an estimated high
60%s passing and again 70% making 3 levels of progress. When you bear in mind that the boys who sit their GCSEs
this summer started the school in 2007, when teaching was still very poor, it becomes clear just how hard teachers in
these two areas have had to work to make up for the ground lost early on in the school. Ask the year 11 boys and
they will be more than ready to tell you hard teachers have worked to put the extra in to ensure their success. There
have been one or two who have dissented, there always are, for whatever reason. The program of study has been
intense but has definitely been for the greater good, and many boys life chances will have improved because of it.
As you can see, the options structure that I inherited
meant that the boys had one 4 hour and two 2 hour
options. Most boys studied a BTEC in their 4 hour
options, and though this was generally successful
was of limited value in terms of qualifications. It
also restricted the number of boys studying GCSE
subjects. For the options this year as we moved to
a thirty lesson week, we introduced three options
at 3 fifty minute lessons each. These are ‘open
choice’ and the boys choose reserves. We use the
The overall five good GCSEs including English and maths rose to 44% last year and is already at 46% this year with
some early entries, and an estimated final figure of 57%. For this particular year group, the national figures estimate
that given their ability, if this figure was 50% this would put the school into the top one quarter nationally, so 57%
would be very pleasing indeed. The overall five good GCSEs figure is set to improve similarly. Here is the profile:
As you can see, the options structure that I inherited meant that the boys had one 4 hour and two 2 hour options.
Most boys studied a BTEC in their 4 hour options, and though this was generally successful was of limited value in
terms of qualifications. It also restricted the number of boys studying GCSE subjects. For the options this year as we
moved to a thirty lesson week, we introduced three options at 3 fifty minute lessons each. These are ‘open choice’
and the boys choose reserves. We use the computerised timetabling system to work out option blocks and the vast
majority of boys are able to study their first three choices. They also now study a qualification in PE, which with
GCSEs in English, maths, science, German and short-course RE offers a broad and balanced curriculum. We continue
to make small changes as the need arises; two subjects will move faculties this year: geography from the faculty of
environment to that of social studies and ICT from the faculty of reasoning to that of creative studies.
All core subject areas now have the freedom to set pupils according to their ability in that subject. In the past pupils
were banded into bands X and Y on entering the school in all subjects, meaning that they were either always in
lower sets or always in higher sets, and movement between the two was very difficult. This was clearly unfair and
the structure of the timetable has been altered to give subjects independence from each other, meaning that pupils
are taught correctly to the level of their ability in every subject, regardless of how they fare elsewhere.
This was my introduction to Headship at the school, with some significant
problems to solve in both overall leadership processes in the school and in
subject delivery, particularly in English but also in maths. In terms of leadership,
everyone in the current senior leadership team worked as a middle leader in
the school before my arrival, and all have been promoted internally. They are
doing a great job and I am proud of them. We have rebuilt teaching teams in
both English and maths and we now have a core team of very capable and
hard-working teachers in both areas.
The overall five good GCSEs including English and maths rose to 44% last year
and is already at 46% this year with some early entries, and an estimated final
figure of 57%. For this particular year group, the national figures estimate that
given their ability, if this figure was 50% this would put the school into the top
one quarter nationally, so 57% would be very pleasing indeed. The overall five
good GCSEs figure is set to improve similarly. Here is the profile:
29 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 The Buzz | Issue No. 2 – September 2012 30

Official Partners of
Lordswood Boys’ School & Sixth Form Centre
Would you Like to advertise
in the next issue?
With a circulation covering Harborne, Edgbaston,
Quinton, Bearwood, Smethwick & Oldbury, just
think of all the potential customers (homes,
businesses & schools) you can reach!
For more details please contact D. Dodd on
0121 464 2837 or email d.dodd@lb-sch.co.uk
St Mary’s Road
Adkins Lane
Hagley Road West A456
Hagley Road, Birmingham B17 8BJ.
Tel: 0121 464 2837 | Fax: 0121 464 2746
Email: enquiry@lordswoodboys.bham.sch.uk | Website: www.lordswoodboys.bham.sch.uk
How to find us...
Three Shires Oak Road B4182
To Oldbury
To Quinton
and M5
Bearwood Rd A4030
To Smethwick
B4182
Sandon Road
Lordswood Road A4040
Barnsley Rd
A4040
Hagley Road A456
Lordswood
BOYS’ SCHOOL
& 6TH FORM CENTRE
To Harborne
City Road A4040
Meadow Road
Fountain Road
To
Winson Green
Woodourne Road
Gi lhurst Road
Stanmore Road
To
City Centre
& M6
To
Edgbaston
Designed and produced by Colour Cubed Limited. | T: 0121 550 9995 | E: hi@colourcubed.co.uk
Executive Head Teacher: Jane Götschel | Associate Head Teacher: Michael Carty | Chair of Governors: Paul Brownsword