The Veseyan Summer 2025

THE VESEYAN SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

DEAR READER, This July, I sat in the magnificent Wills Building at Bristol University celebrating my daughter’s graduation. A beautiful proud family moment of course, with parallels with, and echoes to, those other defining classic milestones of ‘growing up’ such as leaving Year 6 and joining secondary school, finishing GCSEs or ‘A’ levels.

The words of the Pro-Vice Chancellor resonated, offering powerful wisdom for life: 1.Ask for help 2.Use your initiative 3.“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” - Maya Angelou As we come to the end of this school year, there is much to celebrate.

The progress in building the LRC has been astonishing - well done to Mr Swindells who has championed this project. I can’t wait for the school to move in at the end of the Autumn term. A huge thank you also to Wendy Brown and Claire Whitlock who have managed the transition of the library temporarily to Old Big School from September. It’s so poignant to have a new library on the horizon for 2025, 100 years on from the reorganisation of our library in 1925.

With gratitude to pupils, staff, parents, alumni, governors, members, trustees, donors and the wider community for making this a brilliant year.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer,

Mr Robson

Headteacher

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CONTENTS SCHOOL LIFE SCHOOL CAPTAIN TEAM 2025-26 SCHOOL OFFICER TEAM

4 5 6

SCHOLARSHIP INSPIRING EXCELLENCE: A CURRICULUM FOR GROWTH AT BVGS TOP OF THE BENCH COMPETITION SHADOW BOX PROJECT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS COLLECTION CENTRE LOWER SIXTH PHYSICISTS VISIT THE DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE ITALY TRIP THE RSC CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD PHYSICS BIG QUIZ MANDARIN SPEAKING COMPETITION FINAL MEP CHINATOWN TRIP MEP WOODBLOCK ARTS WORKSHOP UKROC YEAR 8 HEALTH QUIZ GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK COMPUTING COMPETITION JUNIOR SPORTS AWARDS STEM CRICKET REPORT RUGBY REPORT HOCKEY SEASON REVIEW

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 27 30 32 33 37

CHARACTER DEVELOPING STUDENTS OF OUTSTANDING CHARACTER HOUSE SPIRIT SWIMMING GALA BVGS X KES HANDSWORTH GIRLS MEDICAL MINDS TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE PSHE INITIATIVES MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE YEAR 11 LAMDA SUCCESS SENIOR SOLOISTS CONCERT TABLE TENNIS NEWMAN UNIVERSITY VESEY DRAGONS MEET THEIR MATCH MUSIC TOUR TO BELGIUM DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD TRIP TO CHINA CAREERS CHALLENGE LONDON WORK EXPERIENCE

43 44 46 48 49 50 52 53 59 59 60 62 62 63 64 66 67 69 70

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COMMUNITY GIVING DAY LRC THANK YOU EVENT CLASS OF 2025 COMMUNITY IFTAR VAISAKHI LANGAR HOLI FESTIVAL CHINESE NEW YEAR WEEK CULTURE DAY SUTTON FUN RUN SUTTON SCHOOLS AREA SPORTS DIVERSITY WEEK VESEY SUMMER FESTIVAL SUSTAINABILITY IN SCHOOL SENIOR RUGBY TOUR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

71 72 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 82 83 84 88

OUR STAFF VESEY VALETES

89 90

OLD VESEYAN NEWS MESSAGE FROM CHAIR OF OVA DATES FOR YOUR DIARY BVGS GOLF DAY IN MEMORIAM FROM THE ARCHIVES

94 95 96 97 99 101

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SCHOOL life

"School is a building with four walls with tomorrow inside."

Lon Watters

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SCHOOL CAPTAIN TEAM We are delighted to introduce to you our School Captain Team for 2025-26.

My name is Elliot. I play hockey for Vesey’s 1st team and Sutton, and I’m also a passionate cricket player and fan. Academically, I currently study Psychology, Economics, and Mathematics, and I’ve completed an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) on the polarization of UK politics - an area I’m deeply interested in and one I hope to explore further by studying Politics and International Relations at university. Outside of school, I enjoy attending church and spending time with my family, especially on walks through the beautiful Peak District. During my six years at Bishop Vesey’s, coaching hockey across multiple year groups has shown me how sport builds confidence and pride in our school. I’m passionate about celebrating these athletes through greater recognition and more varsity-style opportunities, while also working to increase inclusion, especially by improving provision and visibility for girls’ sports.

Hi everyone! I'm Sheoli, and I have the privilege to be your new School Captain for 2025/26. I'm currently studying Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, with the goal of studying medicine. Outside of the classroom, I'm a Grade 8 pianist, a passionate performer in singing, acting, and dancing, and I've even had the amazing opportunity to perform in the West End with my performing arts group. I'm a Young Leader at my local Scouts group, where I love supporting younger members and developing my leadership skills. I applied for the role of School Captain because I'm genuinely passionate about our school and its students. I want to help every single one of you at Vesey feel comfortable, supported, and able to thrive. One of my main goals is to increase participation across extracurricular activities and give every subject the spotlight it deserves.

Whether you're into sports, music, performing, or academics, I want to help you step out of your comfort zone and try something new. I hope you all have a relaxing and fun summer, and I can't wait to see you in September!

Hi all, I’m James, and I’m one of your Deputy School Captains this year. A couple of things about me: I’m from Spain and Sri Lanka (and Erdington), and like to travel. Academically, I take Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Chemistry, aiming to do Aeronautical Engineering at Cambridge. Throughout my time at Vesey, I’ve seen one thing: it’s a place where you can realise your potential. Grades, sports and music, yes, but also where you can develop those skills crucial to success: initiative, drive, confidence, communication and more.

You can find and pursue your own opportunities, and make your goals happen. I’ve done so myself. My aim now as Deputy, is to enable you to do the same, providing and raising awareness about opportunities, regardless of field, and helping you make the most of Vesey. I look forward to seeing you next year, and am always happy to help.

I’m Maahi, one of this year’s Deputy School Captains! I take Biology, Chemistry and Music A-levels, and am hoping to study medicine at either Imperial College London or UCL. Aside from academics, my hobbies include: playing the violin, swimming and travelling with my family. In my short time at Vesey, I’ve grown into a more confident, and well- rounded individual alongside academics, thanks to all of the wonderful opportunities presented to me here; I hope to encourage everyone at school to take these opportunities as I did. I am also excited to see the team and I’s own ideas for school come to life, to further improve day to day life at Vesey!

See you all next year!

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SCHOOL OFFICER TEAM Meet our Officer Team for 2025-26:

Umar B Vice President of School Council

Kaka L Vice President of School Council

Nyla B Charity Captain

Jonas E Charity Captain

Seth C.S Deputy Charity Captain

Emily P Deputy Charity Captain

Niamh C Charity Officer

Madeleine F Charity Officer

Eloise M Equality Officer

Jaden H Equality Officer

Nana O Mental Health Officer

Seb H.K Mental Health Officer

Tim S Music Officer

Jess H.K Sustainability Officer

Luke T Sustainability Officer

Arjuna R Sports Captain Cricket Focus

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Joshua R Sports Officer Hockey Focus

Jacob F Sports Officer Rugby Focus

Bethan G Sports Officer Girls Focus

Matty P House Events & Sports Leadership

Alfie C House Co-ordinator

James A House Co-ordinator

Nidhi K House Co-ordinator

Ryan A Blue House Officer

Tia N Blue House Officer

Jacob N Emerald House Officer

Tanvi G Emerald House Officer

Michael C Gold House Officer

Unaisa E Gold House Officer

Sanjay S Purple House Officer

Tobi S Purple House Officer

Vicky H Red House Officer

Elliot D Red House Officer

Jack H White House Officer

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Lily H White House Officer

SCHOLARSHIP

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela

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INSPIRING EXCELLENCE: A CURRICULUM FOR GROWTH AT BVGS At BVGS, we take great pride in offering a dynamic and inclusive curriculum that supports every learner’s academic journey and personal growth. Our teaching is rooted in ambition and excellence, ensuring that each student is both challenged and inspired across a broad range of subjects.

In the classroom, pupils have engaged with thoughtfully sequenced curriculums. They have practised their mathematical reasoning, explored literature and history, engaged in scientific inquiry and creative expression, and developed their language and digital literacy skills. Our curriculum nurtures curiosity and intellectual confidence.

Beyond the classroom, students have been immersed in a wealth of enriching experiences that have extended and deepened learning. These have included educational trips to China, Normandy and Italy, Bosworth Battlefield and the Space Museum. They have also taken part in interdisciplinary projects, had guest speaker s, and had a range of opportunities to represent the school. Our co-curricular provision is equally vibrant, with clubs, performing arts groups, debating societies, and sports teams offering countless avenues for exploration and leadership.

This diversity ensures that all students can discover their passions, develop essential skills, and prepare for their next steps with purpose and pride.

Miss Hearn, Deputy Headteacher

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Top of the Bench Competition Four of our BVGS students: Izaan 9P, George 9B, Jun Xiang 10G, and Eashwar 11G, competed in the regional finals of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Top of the Bench Competition.

The competition is an exciting annual event that challenges secondary school students to showcase their chemistry knowledge and practical skills in a fun, competitive environment. Organized by the Royal Society of Chemistry, it inspires young scientists and celebrates teamwork and innovation in the field of chemistry.

The BVGS team were up against 10 of the highest achieving schools from the preliminary round from across the West Midlands all competing for a place in the national finals.

The day started with a written assessment, followed by a practical assessment. The students were given a challenging titration experiment to work through with little guidance, using unfamiliar apparatus and techniques in state of the art University labs.

After lunch the students were given a lecture on ‘Mechanochemistry’ by a Professor at the University of Birmingham, who gave a valuable insight into the challenges and rewards of academic research.

After a long day the prizes were presented and the BVGS team came an outstanding second place, losing out only by 1 mark overall and scoring the top marks in the practical assessment, an incredible achievement.

Dr Ahmed

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Shadow Box Project The Shadow Box Project is a memorial to Geoff Bolton, OV’s late brother, Peter Bolton who was also a Vesey student back in the 1970’s. Peter had gone on to be a successful local artist.

For this project, pupils develop Shadow boxes as their art work based on the themes Animals, Tools or Fun fair/ Entertainment. Their boxes include a detailed drawing, ceramic work, and recycled objects.

Geoff decides the winners and sponsors the prizes of certificates and £10 Amazon vouchers.

This year’s winners are: 8R- J. Masey, H. Shah 8B- B. Atalor, S. Rathnapala 8E- J. Nibin, H. Singh, G. McWilliam 8P-A. Lally, D. Soo, V. Prasad 8G- A. Nallavelli, D. Karem. O. Green 8W- J. White, V. Madhok Huge thank you to Geoff Bolton for coming in and always supporting the BVGS Art Department!

Mrs Heer

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Birmingham Museums’ Collection Centre On Friday 7th February there was a visit to the Birmingham Museums' Collection Centre by a group of students from Year 9 who had won a History competition to design a virtual museum about Handsworth in the 1980s.

The Museums' Collection Centre contains almost 1 million artefacts that are not currently on display in Birmingham's museums. While at the collection centre, we saw and handled many items and photographs from the 1980s in Handsworth. This was very interesting and provided a snapshot view into the lives of ordinary people living in Birmingham at that time.

We also saw many other items in the collection centre; like Maori spears, a massive crab and machines from Birmingham's industrial past. There were also items from Birmingham's more recent history, such as the mask worn by Ozzy the Bull at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

The trip made us realise what an important job it is to look after these items so we can all learn about our local history.

George A & Thomas A

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Lower Sixth Physicists Visit the Diamond Light Source Students visited the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire. They learned how a type of particle accelerator, called a synchrotron, is used to generate high energy X-rays that are 10 billion times brighter than the sun. These X-rays turn the machine into a powerful microscope that has supported a wide range of scientific research, including: adapting bacterial enzymes that can be used to digest plastic, developing treatments for HIV and Covid, and more recently imaging previously-unreadable ancient burnt scrolls.

Mr Bradley

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Italy Trip This week, some of our Year 9 students have been away on an unforgettable trip to Italy, where they have immersed themselves in culture, history, and, of course, delicious food.

Their adventure began in the beautiful city of Pisa. Although a delay meant they couldn't climb the iconic Leaning Tower, spirits remained high. The group explored the stunning cathedral and enjoyed traditional Italian cuisine, with pasta and pizza being firm favourites. Cameras were constantly clicking as students captured the charm of the city.

The next highlight was a visit to Florence, where the students were captivated by the historic Ponte Vecchio. They also explored the Leonardo Da Vinci Interactive Museum, which brought Renaissance ingenuity to life. A standout moment was breaking the museum’s record for the tallest bridge ever built by students - a proud achievement for the group!

Later in the day, they visited the Pitti Palace and strolled through the beautiful Boboli Gardens. The experience ended on a high note with a breathtaking panoramic view of Florence.

Today, students had great fun participating in a Maths-themed walking tour around the city, spotting geometry, symmetry, and mathematical patterns in Florence’s historic architecture. After lunch at the vibrant local markets, they visited the Galileo Museum for a fascinating guided tour. There, they saw the only surviving telescopes made by Galileo himself and experienced firsthand how mathematics and science shaped the Renaissance. It was a brilliant way to see maths in action beyond the classroom.

Throughout the trip, our students have been exceptional ambassadors for the school. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and teamwork have made this journey a truly memorable one.

Mr Berwick

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The RSC Chemistry Olympiad The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Olympiad is not just an exciting competition; it serves as a gateway for students to explore their passion for chemistry, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are crucial in today’s rapidly advancing scientific landscape.

It is a competition that challenges students, pushing them to apply their knowledge of chemistry through a series of rigorous theoretical and practical examinations. This year over 3,000 students from schools across the UK participated, marking a significant growth in interest in the subject.

Students who participate gain invaluable experience that can enhance their university applications and careers in science. This year, 29 students participated and the following received an award: E. Payne - Bronze J. Nutter - Bronze J. Heirbaut-Kitteridge - Bronze M. Mittal - Bronze M. Rehan - Bronze R. Zhang - Bronze T. Hobbs - Bronze A. Bilkhu - Bronze

E. Ozsoy - Bronze E. Hodson - Bronze F. Cattell - Bronze H. Lawal - Bronze H. Rana - Bronze L. Walklate - Silver C. Fordham - Silver A. Jagannathan - Silver

Well done!

Dr Carroll

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PHYSICS BIG QUIZ On Wednesday 30th April, ten Year 9 students travelled to the University of Birmingham to take part in its annual Physics Big Quiz.

Three teams from BVGS battled it out against other schools, across many rounds of challenging physics questions. They were quizzed on all branches of physics, from influential figures to materials and kinematics.

During the day, they also had the privilege of listening to a very complex physics lecture on quantum computing. After the final round - a specialist round focused on quantum physics - our team starring T. Lee, M. Lee, C. Guest and D. Bedlin were announced as 2nd place out of over 30 teams!

All the boys put in an admirable performance and were exemplary ambassadors for the school. Very well done!

Mr Gordon

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Mandarin Speaking Competition Final On 2nd May, eleven of our pupils proudly represented BVGS in the Mandarin Speaking Competition Final at UCL London, competing across a range of categories including Beginner Plus Individual, Intermediate Plus Individual, Beginner Group, and Intermediate Group.

We are thrilled to share that our talented Year 8 team - Kaan, Isaac, Hamza, and Shewan - achieved 1st place in the Beginner Group category, while Harsha earned a well-deserved 2nd place in Beginner Plus Individual. All pupils performed with confidence and enthusiasm, and the experience greatly enhanced their fluency and self-assurance in speaking Mandarin Chinese.

Just a few days later, on 8th May, 19 pupils from Years 7, 8, and 10 attended the 2025 International Chinese Language Day celebration at Royal Mint Court in London.

Throughout the day, pupils participated in eight immersive workshops, including Chinese Calligraphy, the Charm of Chinese Martial Arts, Movable-Type Printing of Tang Poetry, Time and Space Travel through VR, Chinese Opera Facial Mask Painting, Oracle Bone Calisthenics, and Chinese Cultural Storytelling.

It was an inspiring and enriching experience for everyone involved. Some of our pupils even had the exciting opportunity to be interviewed by CCTV (China Central Television).

Mrs. Wang

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MEP Chinatown Trip On 7th June, our Year 7 Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) students embarked on an exciting cultural adventure in Birmingham’s Chinatown for their final Intensive Learning Day of the year.

The day began at Birmingham Central Library, where the BVGS boys showed outstanding initiative and confidence as they interviewed native Chinese speakers in Mandarin for their language questionnaires.

Next, the group walked to Victoria Square, where they captivated the public by singing Chinese songs and reciting classic Chinese poetry - a vibrant display of both linguistic skill and cultural appreciation.

Lunchtime offered a delicious dive into Chinese cuisine. Students enjoyed traditional dishes such as noodles, dumplings, spring rolls, and fried rice. Mrs Wang was particularly impressed with how confidently everyone used chopsticks – a skill in itself!

In the afternoon, students took part in a lively Treasure Hunt through Chinatown and local Chinese supermarkets, applying their Mandarin in real-life scenarios.

Despite a few light showers, the enthusiasm and energy of our students never faded. Their passion for learning Mandarin shone through, and members of the public were genuinely impressed by their fluency, confidence, and cultural engagement.

Well done, Year 7 MEP – you were fantastic ambassadors for BVGS! Mrs Wang

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MEP Woodblock Arts Workshop On the 18th March, MEP students in Year 7 and 8 took part in an inspiring woodblock arts workshop with Yicrafts, where they explored the rich traditions of Chinese printmaking. Woodblock printing is an ancient technique in China, historically used to produce intricate designs, religious texts and festive New Year prints. To celebrate the Year of the Snake, students created striking prints featuring snakes, a symbol of wisdom and transformation in Chinese culture. They also recreated Door Gods, protective figures traditionally placed on doors to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to households. Through this process, students gained a deeper appreciation of these meaningful artistic traditions.

Alongside printmaking, students also practiced Chinese calligraphy, a revered art form that requires patience and precision. Using traditional brushes and ink, they created decorative scrolls with auspicious phrases to welcome the Lunar New Year. The workshop was a fantastic opportunity to connect with Chinese heritage through hands on creativity and students thoroughly enjoyed engaging with these cultural practices!

Harsha 8G I really enjoyed both parts of the workshop(calligraphy and printmaking), both parts of the experience were fascinating and the end-results were very pretty and I got to learn 2

creative, new skills along the way. I also enjoyed learning about the process of holding the calligraphy brush vertically rather than how you would hold a typical paintbrush, the steps to print beautiful artwork on rice paper were amazing! Overall, I would say it was an extremely fun and interesting workshop, !

很有意思和有趣

Varun 8G In the mandarin workshop, I really liked the calligraphy part because it was more challenging than the woodblock printing. I learnt how to woodblock print and how to hold a calligraphy brush.

Nicholas 7E It was very fun and I learnt a lot about how to woodblock print. I learnt that carving a wood block carving takes 3 to 4 hours but the larger ones take 1 to 3 days to create. Overall, it was an interesting experience that I would recommend!

Michael 7P Today in Mandarin, we had the wood block workshop and printed paint onto the rice paper to create ornate pictures. We also got to practice calligraphy too. In the end, we had a lot of fun and I will remember this!

PonePone 7W I had a great experience with both Chinese Wood printing and Chinese calligraphy. It has been by far the most interesting and fun workshop I have

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ever had, both in primary and secondary school, as Chinese traditions are always unique. The way you had to hold the brushes is not how you normally write, it is held vertically, but it expresses elegance which really interest me. Additionally, we use Printers to print patterns, whereas the Chinese people for patterns might use wood block printing. This is when people carve patterns into wood blocks which can take a few hours or even one or two days. Then the paint is spread on the wood block and finally rice paper is placed on the painted wood block and peeled off to present a beautiful pattern onto the paper.

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UKROC Participating in the UKRoc (UK Youth Rocketry) competition has been a highly rewarding experience. Having only formed a team on the registration date and never having participated in the competition before, we faced many challenges designing, manufacturing, and testing our rocket, all of which we successfully overcame to achieve the best score in the regional competition.

Building on this success, we refined our rocket design (e.g. by incorporating features such as airfoil fins to reduce drag and adding a parachute spill-hole to ensure a stable descent). We also continued working on our logbook, documenting key design changes and the results of our tests to support our presentation at the National Finals.

On the day of the finals, we assembled the rocket for launch, but due to unexpected winds and sudden gusts, our rocket veered off the path we expected from our test runs.

Due to the competition format, unfortunately there was no opportunity for a relaunch to improve our score. Despite this setback, we concentrated our efforts on delivering a strong presentation, which went exceptionally well.

At the end of the competition, we were proud to be awarded the Best Dressed Rocket — a title we value highly given the number of impressive entries from other teams.

Finally, I'd like to say thanks to Bastiaan (L6 VII), Hariz (L6 II), Khaled (L6 VIII), Soham (L6 VI) for their contributions towards the team and James (L6 IV) who discovered this opportunity, and organised our team.

T. Solofuwe

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Year 8 Health Quiz On Tuesday 10th June, 17 Year 8 students travelled to the University of Birmingham to take part in their Big Health Quiz. Designed to promote awareness of healthcare professions, students took part in 6 rounds to develop their understanding of Pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing, biomedical science, anatomy and medicine and Dentistry.

Students received a lecture discussing problems with the digestive system from Dr Bunmi Ibrahim. Students learned how a spiral shaped bacterial pathogen, Helicobacter pylori has adapted to survive in the stomach by producing an alkali, Urease. The pathogen damages stomach linings and is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. Diagnosis of ‘Heli in your Belly’ as Dr Ibrahim called it was also discussed. Most interestingly by administering a breath test.

A lunchtime tour around campus, students ate lunch next to the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower - known as 'Old Joe' - Not only is it the tallest freestanding clock tower in the world, but it may also hold a special place in fiction. The stunning clock is rumoured to have inspired J.R.R Tolkien's Orthanc tower in Lord of the Rings as well as the clock tower featured in Pixar's Monsters University.

Well done to BVGS Team 3 - Humayl A, Noah Q and Albert T who finished joint top at the end of the Quiz. Unfortunately, a tie break question meant a 2nd place medal for BVGS. All teams received chocolate prizes on the day for their interesting and many questions to the student ambassadors.

Mr Graham

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Geography Fieldwork Y12 A-Level Geography students have partaken in two fieldwork trips, in connection with the topic “Changing Places”. Briefly, the topic involves a study of the economic characteristics, environmental quality and historical change in a “near” and “distant” place. Wednesday 4th was the date of the “near” place trip. What exotic and exciting place did the geography teachers pick?

Erdington. A minorly eventful afternoon featured some land use surveys (mostly shops), environmental quality surveys (mostly adequate), and interviews.

Now on to the more interesting of the two – the “distant” place: Brick Lane in East London, whither we headed on Monday. Our tasks were fairly similar to those of Erdington: we conducted land use surveys, environmental surveys and interviewed some locals, however Brick Lane had far more going on. One could really see evidence of its past, for example the terraced houses with the funny windows at the top, in which the French Huguenots did their weaving and sewing. After the Huguenots came Jews, and after them came Bangladeshis to create Banglatown. This evolution of migration can be seen on Fournier Street, where there is a mosque which used to be a synagogue, and before that a Christian church. It was a long day with an 8am start but worth it!

Brick Lane is also famed for its shops and restaurants. A Jewish bagel shop “Beigel Bake” has been open 24 hours a day for over 50 years, and there are so many Bangladeshi restaurants that Brick Lane’s alter ego is “Banglatown”.

More recently, vintage shops have opened, including one in the now altered Truman Brewery, which was once the largest in the country.

After paying visits to all these places, we headed back to Birmingham. All in all, an excellent trip.

C. Marsh

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Computing Competitions Students from Years 7-12 have taken part in a variety of problem solving and coding national competitions in Computing over the 2024-25 academic year with national success and recognition achieved by several skilled Computing students in all Key Stages showing the depth of student's problem solving, logical thinking and coding skills.

rewarded with a Distinction grade in the final round and a final position of 44th against schools from the UK and around the world (including India, Hong Kong and Singapore).

The BEBRAS Coding Challenge (a successor to the Oxford University Coding Challenge).

A high-quality field of students took part against students nationally in this British Informatics Olympiad online Python coding competition.

3 brave students entered the British Students could choose their level of Informatics Olympiad sitting a 3-hour competition based on their experience programming exam which tested a and skills in coding and this was an range of advanced coding and excellent way for students to succeed problem-solving skills. J. Ashwood, S. against their peers nationally at the Kasam and B. Vorster attempted the same level of skill in coding and exam and despite not qualifying for the problem-solving. The top BVGS final round (only the top 15 entrants performers were: nationally qualify) they found it an engaging test of the skills they have Navigator developed from GCSE and A-Level - O. Nashipudi – 1st nationally (jointly) Computer Science. out of 13036 entrants with 48 out of 50 points The Perse Coding Team Challenge - H. Devati – top 10% in the UK scoring This took place in the spring term with 46 points an impressive number of Key Stage 3 - M. Lee – achieving a Distinction award students taking part alongside their with 33 points more experienced peers in Key Stage 4.

After sitting Round 1 individually Pathfinders completing a number of Python - A. Hosen – top 10% in the UK (out of coding tasks within a strict 40-minute 5835 entrants) scoring 42 out of 50 time limit, I. Hoggarth in Year 11 points teamed up with A. Hosen and O. - A. Prasanna – achieving a Distinction Nashipudi in Year 9 to work together in certificate with 21 points the final round. They worked effectively on the set challenges, allocating Trailblazers different challenges to each other and - J. Ashwood – 140th nationally (out of supporting each other with problems 12871 entrants) scoring 49/50 to improve their answers. Their - S. Dubey – 153rd nationally scoring commitment and efforts were 48/50

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- 10 other L6 students also took part, achieving a mixture of Distinction, Merit and Participation awards.

The upcoming 2025-26 academic year will continue to run a variety of competitions for coders and problem solvers alike. As well as national competitions, the department will also continue the VEX IQ Robot building and coding club as part of the cocurricular session. The department is also planning to offer a Lego Mindstorms co-curricular option for students to challenge their design and creativity when building original robots.

- Mr Kirk

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Junior Sports Awards On the 28th June the Sports Department celebrated the annual Prize Giving Evening with over 220 pupils and parents in attendance. It was a very enjoyable evening in which we could celebrate the individual and team uccesses of the pupils in Years 7-10.

Below you can find a list of the winners of the 2025 Junior Sports Awards: Hockey U’12 B Team Most Improved: H. Smith Player of the Season: B. Pierart Hockey U’12 A team Most Improved: N. Aitken Player of the Season: A. Bottinelli-Sachdeva Hockey U’13 B Team Most Improved: R. Mann Player of the Season: D. Feasey Hockey U’13 A Team Most Improved: D. Barry Player of the Season: M. Nadeem Hockey U’14 B Team Most Improved: T. Lee Player of the Season: A. Dessai Hockey U’14 A Team Most Improved: C. Hunjan Player of the Season: D. Chen Hockey U’15 B Team Most Improved: A. Das Player of the Season: C. Ly Hockey U’15 A Team Most Improved: C. Gorton Player of the Season: L. Collins

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Rugby U’12 B Team Most Improved: M. Robertson Player of the Season: R. Preece

Cricket U’14 B team Most Improved: I. Ahmed Player of the Season: O. Nashipudi

Rugby U’12 A Team Most Improved: O. Mgbemena Player of the Season: H. Mukattash

Cricket U’14 A Team Most Improved: I. Wright Player of the Season: Q. Arif

Rugby U’13 B Team Most Improved: J. Drysdale Player of the Season: N. Qureshi

Cricket U’15 B team Most Improved: S. Sivaraj Player of the Season: N. Jaglan

Rugby U’13 A Team Most Improved: J. Griffiths-Jeavons Player of the Season: S. Laird

Cricket U’15 A Team Most Improved: Abhinav V Player of the Season: Pranav R

Rugby U’14 B Team Most Improved: C. Das Player of the Season: B. Roseblade

Most Improved Athlete of the Year T. Ross

Rugby U’14 A Team Most Improved: I. Wright Player of the Season: C. Hazeldine-Potts Rugby U’15 B Team Most Improved: I. Ali Player of the Season: D. Carr Rugby U’15 A Team Most Improved: A. Murray Player of the Season: O. Woodiwiss Cricket U’12 B Team Most Improved: S. Hill Player of the Season: A. Sekhsaria Cricket U’12 A Team Most Improved: J. Sohota Player of the Season: A. Chudasama Cricket U’13 B Team Most Improved: T. Bashir Player of the Season: S. Laird

Young Athlete of the Year S. Howell Year 7 Table Tennis Player of the Year S. Mok Year 8 Table Tennis Player of the Year T. F. Lim Simon Latimer Achievement Award A. Sekhsaria The Simon Latimer Cycling Endeavour Award A. Mahale Young Leadership Award R. Foxall Sportsperson of the year G. McWilliam Team of the Year Year 10 A Team - Hockey

Cricket U’13 A Team Most Improved: G. McWilliam Player of the Season: H. Loonat

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STEM We have had an amazing year this year exploring the world of STEM here at BVGS. We had the STEM club as a co-curricular option and it proved to be really popular!

From looking at the world of forever chemicals, to creating water filter systems, building the highest towers to catapults, we used STEM to be creative whilst solving problems!

Some of those students inspired by using STEM subjects to help problem solve and create inventions participated in the “Vesey Innovation Award”. Students who took part dedicated time after school to working within a team to come up with a new design to solve a range of problems. Students came up with some excellent solutions to issues ranging from climate change to tackling obesity!

Within their teams, they had to design and present their ideas and we submitted the entries into the national Big Bang STEM competition.

A fabulous year of STEM was celebrated with some students who won tickets to the STEM showcase at Millennium Point. The students had an amazing experience and it definitely further ignited their enthusiasm and passion for STEM based subjects!

- Mrs Sanders

This Millennium Point trip was one of the most interesting trips I have ever attended, as it was all about Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Engineering, Mechanics and loads more. Especially in the University of Birmingham (BCU), there were many robots, computers and gadgets that all centred around engineering. There were also many projects that students there were working on that included incredible skill and intelligence. An example is the Formula Student racing car, which is currently being built in a garage. We could see many components interconnecting with each other, such as the chassis, engine, suspension, and the cockpit, as well as aerodynamics and part of the bodywork. We ourselves also did activities too, which include: building a catapult in teams to shoot a bean bag into a box, flying fully functional Tiny Whoops (blue, lightweight drones), visiting stands and much more. It was a very good experience, and it would definitely suit most people who are interested in the STEM sector.

- PP. Htet

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The Millennium Point trip was truly and amazing experience for me. There were many impressive displays, which astounded me and I was inspired by some of the creators, as they probably took a lot of time, effort and skill to help make it. In the future, I now probably will take up a career related to science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM). Me personally, my favourite one was the virtual robot dog and also the VR activities. Even though I didn't do the VR, it was very fun seeing my friend's reactions. We also got to create a swing, which tested our creativity and listening skills. I definitely will visit the Millennium point more.

– P. Shende

The trip to the BCU and Millennium Point had to be one of the best trips this year. My favourite part was how we got to go on a trip solely focused on STEM. It was very well planned as we all liked STEM and design and henceforth going to a university of STEM appealed to us all after entering the Vesey Innovation Award. The interactive part was my favourite, where we had to engineer a catapult with only bolts, screws, framework, rope and elastic bands and a few side on images of an already made one. This gave us a small insight on STEM in the army. The tour also opened up many different job opportunities in a career in STEM, demonstrating jobs we would never have known about such as ethical hackers, who test software systems by trying to hack into them- this is a real legal job. Overall, the Millennium Point trip was a really good experience, and I think everyone enjoyed the opportunity.

- J. Chohan

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Cricket Report Stats across all year groups: Team

Played

Won

Lost

Year 7 A

11

8

3

Year 7 B

8

6

2

Year 8 A

10

4

6

Year 8 B

5

2

3

Year 9 A

11

3

8

Year 9 B

6

3

3

Year 10 A

7

4

3

Year 7A A very successful year for the Year 7 A, winning the majority of there games and some notable performance against big cricketing schools. Most notable an away trip to Repton where the boys performed close to perfect. A great game both with bat and ball saw the team come away victorious. An exciting time for cricket in that year group and close competition for team spots throughout the entire cricket group. Notable mentions go to Ariyan C for his batting prowess and leadership skills. Harry S for his consistently strong performances opening the batting. Alex B and Rudy P showed their skills with the ball supported by electric fielding from Sam H and James B. Year 8A A good year for the Year 8 A Team seeing massive improvement across the whole team. Coming off the back of the previous year where the team achieve 1 win from all their fixtures, the boys faced familiar opposition once again but this time with more success. Improving their tally to 4 wins makes evident the improvement the boys have made this year. Led by Mr.Roach, the boys showed fantastic commitment to training session with hard work, proving evident in the games they took part in. Numerous boys in year 8 stepped up through teams this year. Most notably Gunnar M and Sean L who cemented their positions in the schools A Team having started the year in the B’s. Runs were hard to come by but the team led by Jibril A and Hari D supported by Mustafa N, battled through the tough games and embraced the joys of winning. Well done to those the represented BVGS this year!

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Year 8B Another group of incredibly committed students at Vesey was evident in the Year 8 B’s. Always at training and consistently asking questions on how to get better the boys have made great progress this year. With a tough fixture card, the boys took on some valuable experiences whilst they still develop on their cricket journey. Numerous players made the transition from B team to A team becoming influential for both groups of students. Notable performances came from Tayyub B who captained the side for most of the year with Harman S and Hridey J being consistent with the bat.

1st team Had an excellent season playing 10 fixtures and winning 7 of them. Special mention to Krish Chauhan and Kian Eratne who as year 13 students have given a huge amount to Vesey cricket.

Elliot D has made some useful contributions with the bat and it has been great for several younger players to develop and shine with Nirek J, Ed M (Year 10) and Qasim A (Year 9) all playing significant roles with bat and ball in some of the successes. Arjuna Rao has been the standout bowler along with Dan W who has been extremely consistent with the new ball.

5 wicket successes role of honour: Alyaan Raja v Kings Worcester 5-0-21-5 Joban Sohota v Repton – 3-1-3-5 Omar Mulla v Solihull – 3-1-2-5 Haaris Bheepathee-Race v Warwick– 3-1-6-5

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Rugby Report As Head of Rugby, I have been extremely proud of the commitment and passion the students have shown during this season. It has been fantastic to watch pupils dedicate themselves to becoming better in not only playing ability, but their leadership ability and their resilience.

Throughout the year, we have held many events that have proven to be very popular amongst our students and wider community here at Bishop Vesey.

The stand out event of the year is our John Young Varsity against Queen Mary’s, where we managed to draw a crowd of over 400 people. The guest speaker on the night being, Bob Lowndes. This was a fantastic way of tying Veseyans of today to the history of the school. On the night, Bishop Vesey 1st and 2nd team were both successful! Throughout the year, our students played the following Saturday fixtures:

We have seen other excellent student successes, coming in the form of our annual Charity Match, organised by our 6th formers where our current 1st Team play an Old Veseyans Select Team. This was a fantastic event, one which will continue to thrive here at Bishop Vesey. More recently, and what would be considered our largest event of the year is our annual U12 7’s Festival. This was a wonderful morning where we saw 16 schools compete. Our U12 students reached the final of the Shield, however came up short against Northampton School for Boys.

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Cup Winners

Shield Winners

Plate Winners

Bowl Winners

Bromsgrove

Northampton SB

RGS Worcester

Loughborough GS

As Head of Rugby, I firmly believe the strength of a successful rugby program is developing links and relationships with new and developing schools. During this academic year we have had new fixtures against Tettenhall College – focusing on assisting their rugby program development.

We have also continued our strong links with local school Bishop Walsh, with a continued focus of increasing their rugby provision. We also reintroduced strong links with Newcastle Under Lyme and Bromsgrove at our younger years.

An aspect of our rugby here at Bishop Vesey is our accommodation and community atmosphere we aim to have at our Pavilion. This year we have welcomed two touring sides from Westonbirt School and The Wirral Grammar School. Both events allowed our students to develop new friendships and experience some very high quality opposition!

There were some stand out fixtures this season which produce some spectacular results. In December the 1st Team produced one of their best performances of the season to over come a strong Newcastle Under Lyme School at home. The dominance of the forwards shone through on the day, unlocking the backs potential to execute some well worked tries. Following on from this, the 1st Team then also put in a convincing display against Bablake under the lights at Sutton Coldfield RFC! In one of the most competitive matches of the year we saw our U16 team go toe to toe with a very competent Lutterworth High School outfit. This game was used to allow our excelling U15 players to demonstrate their capabilities at a higher level, and they did not disappoint! A game that had it all, big tackles, tries, long runs, high skill and work rate that lasted the whole game!

One our stand out teams for this year coached by Mr White has been our U14A team. They have a fantastic record to demonstrate the progress they have made so far! There is a big step up from U13 to U14 rugby, and they have embraced this step with both hands! With strong leaders such as the Wright Brothers, Connor HP, Ollie G, they have put on a show almost every week! Well

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done to every squad member, including students in the B team who have trained alongside them and allowed both teams to succeed!

- Mr Cairns

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Hockey Season Review

Year 7 Hockey Our new Year 7’s at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar school have shown great commitment and enthusiasm all year during hockey fixtures and training sessions. Taking part in many games against other schools, County and Regional tournaments as well as a hockey tour to Manchester, all students have had a great experience and had many opportunities to represent the school.

Notable results/achievements: Unbeaten vs Queen Mary’s Two rounds of fixtures vs Queen Mary’s this year brought some great results and lots of goals. All teams from A to D played against QM and all came away victorious.

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A Team Qualification for Regionals After a great display of skill and work rate in the county tournament, the Year 7 A Team finish 3rd meaning they qualified for the Regional tournament at the Nottingham Hockey Centre. A great achievement and a great opportunity to compete against the best schools in the Midlands.

Manchester Hockey Tour In March the boys from the A and B Teams joined up with Year 8 for a hockey tour to Manchester. Playing fixture, taking part in training sessions and exploring the city of Manchester, the boys had a great time and again took part in some amazing opportunities. Fixtures against some of the best school in the country brought some fantastic results. Most notably the Year 7 A and B Teams winning vs Altrincham Grammar.

Learning new skills The boys in Year 7 have worked incredibly hard this year and have an ever growing passion for hockey. Lots of the year group took hockey up as a completely new sports and have shown that with hard work you can do anything! Impressing not only the members of staff at Vesey but staff from other schools, the boys have competed with some of the best teams in the country showing they can do it amongst the best. Mr.Lacey cannot fault the effort and enthusiasm from Year 7 and wants to thank all of them for their commitment this year. This group have an exciting future and one the school looks forward to being part of.

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Year 8 Hockey Another successful year for the Year 8 Hockey students will lots of fixture, a junior tour and a long run in the cup competition as well as qualifying for Regionals. Everyone has proven their skills this year and continued to progress as a year group from the hockey they played in Year 7.

Notable results/achievements: Start as we mean to go on The year 8 A Team began their cup competition early on in the year vs Loughborough Grammar. A fantastic display of skill and team work made for lots of goals. A 6-0 win to start the cup run was exactly what the boys wanted and set themselves up for the rest of the year in the right way. Special mentions to Mustafa N and Jake P for incredible performances.

Goals, Goals, Goals vs Solihull School A round of fixtures vs Solihull saw all teams in action from A to D. Always a tough competition, Solihull provided some excellent opposition for the boys with a tough challenge to overcome. Showing the hard work they had put in at training and displaying the skills they had learnt on the pitch. The C and D teams stole the show with 2 wins and lots of goals.

Regional Qualification In January the Year 8 A team and Year 8 B Team took part in their County Cups.

A strong showing from both team made for an exciting day of hockey against some of the best schools in our area. Clashes against Warwick School, Solihull School and KES Birmingham made for some thrilling competition. The B’s played some really nice hockey against some strong schools including some A teams but narrowly missed out on a spot at regionals. The A Team battled hard to earn 3rd place meaning they were off to regional finals.

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Year 9 Hockey After such a successful year in Year 8, the Year 9 students were ready to go again with another action packed year of hockey. The chance to learn and develop a new way of playing as they moved to 11-a-side was relished by all, engaging in training sessions and taking on board valuable information from the coaches at Vesey’s.

Notable results/achievements: B Team County Cup The B Team led by Mr.Lee took part in a county competition at Warwick school.

With A Team from other schools entered into the competition and the Vesey team experiencing a few injuries, it was going to be a tough day. The boys were more than up to the task, putting in a top effort and displaying some quality skills as a team.

A Team Cup Run The A Team continued where they left off from Year 8, going on another incredible cup run this year. Taking to 11-a-side very quickly, they boys soon built up a run of games in the cup. Lots of travelling to Stockport Grammar, Bromsgrove School and Kingston Grammar was made worth it by the boys continued success. Reaching the last 8 was an amazing achievement for the team.

Year 10 Hockey What a year it has been for the boys in Year 10. Not only a big year for them with start GCSE’s but also on the hockey pitch. Lots of fixtures for the boys to take part in as well as a National Cup run that turned out to be one to remember. They boys have worked together as a year group incredibly well, moving from strength to strength.

Off with a bang The boys started the year incredibly strong with 3 games vs KES Birmingham producing 3 convincing wins. Still learning the 11-a-side game, leaders in the group have started to emerge. Special mentions to Luke C and Harry A who have taken to the leadership role well, helping their team on and off the pitch.

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Tour de Amsterdam In October, the student from the A Team took part in a joint hockey tour with Year 11 to Amsterdam. A very excited group of students were ready for fixtures against some incredible Dutch teams and experience some of the culture over in Holland. Great result, good team bonding and lots of laughs created a great atmosphere as well as an amazing opportunity to learn and develop.

National Finalists!

A year to remember for the schools U15 team with not only an incredible cup run with some excellent yet nail-biting performances but also a chance to travel around the country and compete at National Finals day. They have cemented themselves as one of the top teams in the country with the schools first ever win over Millfield School and a spot at finals days in the same pool as Repton, Whitgift and KES Southampton. The boys should be incredibly proud of themselves for what they have achievement and can now label themselves 3rd best in the country!

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Senior Hockey A new look senior section this year with the introduction of lots of new Y11’s replacing the Y13’s of last year. With lots of students taking part meant lots of fixtures could take place from local friendlies to stretching further for long journey Cup games. The students in the senior hockey set up have worked incredibly hard with strong commitment to fixtures to putting in the work off the pitch to better themselves.

Notable results/achievements: First games of the new school year The senior hockey section started hockey off for the whole school this year with all teams playing against Newcastle-Under-Lyme School. A string opening day saw 3 wins and lots of goals being scored as the squads started their journey for the year. Special mention to the senior 3rd Team who produced a 12-0 thriller in their first game.

On their travels The senior 1st team had a great run the cup competitions this year taking part in the England Hockey U18 and ISHC U19 competitions. Some notable fixtures too place including a thrilling penalty shuffle contest vs Trent college, a dominant display vs Warwick school and travelling far afield to Millfield School in Somerset and Rossall School in Blackpool. Performance of the year has to be the Rossall away trip. Travelling 3 hours to Blackpool the team displayed some incredible skills and team work, producing an 8-1 win on the road.

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CHARACTER

“Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education” Martin Luther King Jr.

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DEVELOPING STUDENTS OF OUTSTANDING CHARACTER – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR A CHILD IN THE 21 ST CENTURY? At the time of writing, I am concluding my first year as Deputy Headteacher at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School. With a remit of overseeing ‘character education’ this promised to be an exciting challenge.

to others: our pupils, our staff, our school and our community.

Commitment is about bettering oneself.

It is the relentless drive to reach excellence in all we do. Whether it be mastery of quadratic equations, the violin or the square cut in cricket. It requires constant practice, deliberate response to feedback and a determination to get better and better. This is how we develop, refine, nurture and grow our talents, that will ultimately, not only better ourselves, but can be used to bring joy to ourselves and others.

Back in 1527, when the Bishop Vesey charter was laid down by John Vesey, he wrote in his mission that he would have pupils ‘make the world a better place’ so that ‘we might more happily live.’

For the 21st Century child, that must navigate a world of fake news, social media and artificial intelligence, these ideals still hold true. Essentially, character education distils down to two things: i) bettering oneself and ii) doing right by others.

Contribution to our school and community is an expectation we have of all pupils. To achieve a place at Bishop Vesey’s is a moment of great pride. But to have a place here is a privilege that carries a responsibility. We need all pupils to contribute to this great school, and we want pupils to want to contribute to their school. Supporting with open days, concerts, sports fixtures, assemblies, house events and extra-curricular clubs are all ways in which students can contribute to their school.

This academic year a broad range of pupils, parents, staff, governors and friends of the school have helped me understand and better define our expectations for character education at Bishop Vesey’s. Our pupils are very familiar with our behaviour expectations, that is, to be courteous, considerate and cooperative. Our pupils and staff know and understand this well. It often it is referred to as the ‘3Cs.’

Care should thread through all we do.

Who would want to employ someone who doesn’t care? How can someone make a difference in this world if they don’t care about what they do? Pupils can demonstrate their care in many ways. Many volunteer their time as buddies or mentors. Some run clubs or help coach younger year groups. Some

We have now come up with a new ‘3Cs’ – this time for character education: we commit, we contribute, and we care. The ‘we’ is important. As staff ‘we’ aim to instil values in young people and in doing so, ‘we’ exemplify this in our care and service

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give their time outside of school at local charity shops, foodbanks, care homes or scouting groups. Pupils have organised charity events to raise funds or awareness. Others have shown great courage in standing up for a friend that might be having a hard time or calling out others that may have done or said something they knew was not kind.

These are all ways to show care.

Pupils have now been recording all the activities they complete that contributes to their character development. Towards the end of the academic year, pupils submitted a form to nominate themselves for a new award to recognise character development: the Vesey 500 Award. This year, I am proud to report, an impressive 124 pupils were awarded the Vesey 500 Award. Any student can put themselves forward and we hope to grow this next academic year, with increased numbers reaching the threshold required.

The 21st century presents us with many challenges: the crises in Gaza, the Middle East and Ukraine, a strained welfare system and stretched public services, inequality in society and a global climate crisis to contend with. Ultimately, we will rely on the younger generation, including the pupils of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School to tackle these issues and make the world a better place. So important then, that we equip our students with the moral fibre, courage, kindness, resilience and all the other traits of good character that will see them not only doing their job well but doing their job right.

Mr Brocklebank, Deputy Headteacher

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HOUSE SPIRIT This House believes in House Spirit!

House spirit is alive and kicking! The 202425 House competition is over, and the overall winners were Blue House, followed very closely by White House in second and Gold House in third.

TOTALs 1st Blue: 4180 2nd White: 4109 3rd Gold: 4016 4th Purple: 3811 5th Emerald: 3703 6th Red: 3487 As you can see, the points were very tight at the top and we were very proud of the commitment shown by all that participated in a variety of competitions.

This academic year, we have not only offered the traditional House events such as Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and Netball, there have been other sports (such as basketball, dodgeball and football) and other academic options: drama, chess, spelling bee, quiz and musical soloist competitions.

We also added four new competitions this year: Halloween Horry Story competition (Year 7, 8 and 9), where students had to write and present a short horror story (a winner was judged by a panel and informed by a highly scientific ‘clapometer.’

House debating (Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) – an event that started in Form Time, with winning debaters progressing to later rounds that took place in front of whole year groups in assembly. This was a very successful event orchestrated by the school captain team that saw students from Year 7 through to Year 11 competing together.

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House Art competition – for Year 7, 8 and 9 – pupils were given a challenge to come up with a piece of Art that exemplified good character. We had great pieces on resilience, leadership and service.

Page’s Pages – a Year 10 event. Year 10 students had to present a speech on a piece of wider reading they completed.

Winners were judged by a panel of staff.

The new House Coordinators and House officer team have been working on the 2025-26 competition. Already we have hosted a renewed Junior House Sports Day – well done to Purple House (overall winner). We had several records broken in an epic overall competition.

Congratulations to A. Loskor, 7B and S. Oni, 7W who both ran 12.99 secs for the 100m, S. Howell, 7W who broke the Year 7, 1500m record (4 mins 44.66 secs), Y. Sidhu, 8W who broke the Year 8, 800m record (2 mins 15.4 secs), M. Randhawa, 9P who broke the Year 9, 800m record, (2 min 12.75 secs) and O. Gunther, 9W who broke the Year 9, 1500m record (4 min 32.45 secs). M. Randhawa and O. Gunther have also run times that qualified them to compete for the West Midlands at the English Schools National Event. Well done to them!

House football took place in hotly contested competitions that were highly enjoyable to watch (shout out to Red House Seniors and Year 7 Blue house).

House cricket and House drama also took place in the summer term. I wonder who will emerge in triumph victorious in the 2025-26 campaign!

For the 2025-26 House competition, the new Sixth Form Coordinators and Officers have added a new dimension – House Spirit – the key component in any good House competition. This is something

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judged by staff at key events and what were we looking for? Great sportsmanship, support, participation and encouragement of others. Well done to White House at Junior Sports Day who won the first House Spirit competition. The banners and face paint were a great touch. Their reward – an early lunch pass / skip the queue ticket.

But they didn’t do it for that, they did it for the love of their House!

The House believes House Spirit is alive and kicking….1427 pupils for the motion!

- R Brocklebank

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SWIMMING GALA On Wednesday 11th December, the annual BVGS swimming gala was held. With students of all year groups heading to Wyndley to compete, the scene was set for an enthralling competition. Hand in hand with the competitive desire to win associated with such house events came moments of true sportsmanship, highlighted by Mr Crawford encouraging students to cheer on their peers to finish their races, no matter where they finished in the race.

With the scores having been totalled, I can announce that the winner of the 2024 BVGS Swimming Gala is Gold House, who finished on 251 points. They were followed

by Purple in 2nd with 239 points and then White in 3rd with 213 points. 4th came Emerald with 173 points, closely followed

by Blue House in 5th, who earned 172 points. To use a cliche, last but not least came Red with 150 points, to the dismay of Mr Doughty.

Well done to all students who took part, competing for their house. The aptitude of this year’s competitors was highlighted by the surpassing of 4 Vesey records – well done to Jason (8G) for breaking the Year 8 Individual Medley and Butterfly records, with times of 66.5 seconds and 13.37 seconds respectively, to Hugh(11G) for setting a new Year 11 Individual Medley record with a time of 59.94 seconds and to Ruby (6th Form), for overcoming the previous Senior Girls breast-stroke record with a time of 16.78 seconds.

I would like to thank, on behalf of all the competitors this year, Mr Doughty and the PE department, without whom the gala would not be possible, as well as all the staff who helped with the smooth-running of the event. I would also like to thank Mr Barker, for his work with the scoring of the event, as well as Mr Hutchieson, who came to help out at the gala, despite his retirement at the end of the last academic year. Additionally, I would like to give a shout-out to Mr Crawford for stellar commentary of the races during the Senior section of the gala.

Congratulations to Gold House for winning the 2024 BVGS Swimming Gala. Who will come out on top next year?

S. Bedi 10B

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BVGS X KES HANDSWORTH GIRLS ideas, and deliver assemblies at each other's schools on mental health and well-being. We currently have 14 students actively involved in the program, with many more interested.

A group of students from Years 9, 10, and 13 visited King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls to discuss mental health and well-being.

The day was filled with collaboration on various well-being topics. It began with icebreaker activities, allowing students to get to know each other. It was wonderful to see everyone socialising and interacting confidently.

Please see below some student quotes from the visit: “The trip was an enriching educational experience, allowing us to collaborate with other students and build skills such as communication and teamwork. It was a valuable experience that helped us to understand the value of wellbeing in an educational setting and how we can contribute to making that a reality at Bishop Vesey’s” Z. Nawaz 10G

Following the icebreakers, students worked together to prepare an assembly on mental health and wellbeing, which they then delivered to each other, receiving feedback from teachers.

“An amazing and insightful venture into another school - giving us another perspective and allowing us to broaden our horizons. We also gained an invaluable insight into mental health and how to perhaps effectively approach a way to tackle it in our school.” K. Irvathraya 10G

Next, our students explored common challenges young people face when starting school, such as: · Friendship issues · Organisational problems · Adapting to a new environment · General transition worries

Miss Orlandini

Our students then discussed ways to support younger students with these issues. This marks the first step in our students becoming peer mentors for younger students at BVGS. All participants in the program will be trained to mentor younger peers. We are currently collaborating with The Anna Freud Trust to upskill our students as peer mentors. A massive thank you to King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls for guiding us through this process.

We will continue to work together over the next term to collaborate, share

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MEDICAL MINDS they have shown unbelievable commitment and passion all year. We wish them lots of luck over the summer as many sit their UCAT exams and make their final decision of where to apply!

This year at Medical Minds we saw the introduction of presidents for both Medicine and Dentistry.

Our Medical President was Mukunth B and our Dentistry President was Sanjay S. Both brought lots of well thought out ideas and perspectives to provide our attendees with informative sessions about their potential chosen career.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thanks all our amazing guest speakers, many of whom have children at the school or were students here themselves, you really have helped inspire our students and give them an excellent insight into the professions that you spoke so passionately about.

This year we had an excellent regular turnout of students, all dedicated to following their desire to enter the healthcare profession. We had weekly meetings that had lots of guest speakers from hospital pharmacists, GPs, clinical psychologists to cardiologists and max fax surgeon.

“At the beginning of my Year 12 journey, I knew I wanted to become Medical Minds President—not just because of my passion for dentistry but because I saw the opportunity to create something meaningful for our cohort and those to come. I wanted to build a community where students felt supported, informed, and inspired in their path towards healthcare careers.

We successfully were able to give 20 students work experience at the local Vesey Hospital so that they had the opportunity to experience a day in a healthcare setting. They were able to reflect on this and use it within their medical application.

Being Medical Minds President meant more than organising events or sharing resources. It was about mentoring others, creating clarity in a somewhat overwhelming process, and helping students realise that a career in healthcare isn’t just for the "perfect student"—it’s for the driven, the compassionate and those willing to put in the work.

As the year had gone on we have moved towards thinking carefully about application to Medical and Dental schools, looking more closely at the application process. We have looked at entry requirements, work experience and personal statements. In the final part of the year we have started to look at the UCAT medical exams that students will be taking, they have the had the opportunity to do training session in the format of these exams with Dr Ahmed within co-curricular, culminating in a mock UCAT exam.

To all of you stepping into Year 12: I wanted to personally invite you to be part of Medical Minds—a space designed to support you on your journey into medicine, dentistry, physio, or any health-related field.

It has been an excellent year for all the budding doctors and dentists in YR12,

Whether you’ve dreamed of becoming

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with student-led presentations on their chosen areas of interest demonstrating interest and engagement in this course. The outcome of this program was the development of key skills in leadership, collaboration, adaptability, planning, and public speaking, while also deepening our understanding of the medical application journey. It was a valuable opportunity to grow as a wellcoordinated and supportive team—skills that will continue to benefit us in both academic and medical settings.

- Mukunth. B, Medical Minds President

a doctor since you were five, just discovered an interest in dentistry, or are still figuring out your path—Medical Minds is here for everyone. We’ll be running sessions on UCAT, interviews, pathways, application advice and more.

Plus, you’ll get to hear from students and guest speakers who’ve been exactly where you are now.

Even if you’re not 100% sure what you want to do yet, that’s okay. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one event, or one opportunity to spark something. Don’t be afraid to show up, ask questions, and connect with others who share your interests.

Come along. Get involved. You might just surprise yourself.”

- Sanjay. S, Medical Minds President This year as president of BVGS's medical society has been an incredibly fulfilling journey. Our goal was to support aspiring medics at our school by fostering a collaborative, goal-oriented environment—and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.

I had the privilege of working with a dedicated leadership team to deliver weekly sessions supporting aspiring medical students through the application process. We presented on topics surrounding university research, extracurricular and super-curricular activities, work experience, volunteering, and personal statement writing. We were also fortunate to welcome back alumni who are now studying at prestigious universities including imperial college London, Warwick and University of Birmingham to provide insightful talks on applying to medicine and exploring wider healthcare opportunities.

The year ended on a promising note

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Technology Commitee Maintaining and keeping an eye on the school’s digital strategy has a become a key focus especially in the ever-changing and advancing world of technology, and it has become all the more important to educate students on leveraging the technological tools they have to hand. This could not have been made clearer with Technology Committee’s focus on digital literacy and commitment in delivering the following presentations this past year to: Year 7 on using Microsoft 365 in September 2024 Year 9 on delivering presentations (for Next Generation Awards) in October 2024 Year 7 on Cybersecurity in November 2024 Year 7 on Outlook and the etiquettes of online communications in Years 7 to 10 on Artificial Intelligence & its use in education in July 2025 On top of all this, Technology Committee has worked with IT to try and resolve everyday issues with technology and also to introduce 2 factor authentication to the wider school. A massive well done & thank you to W. Mogg (10P), A. Hosen (9B), C. Mogg (L6 I), W. Bowen (L6 II), R. Dehal (L6 II), C. Cooper (L6 IV), R. Zhang (L6 VI), K. Dhandwar (L6 VI), J. Gosal (L6 I) and T. Hobbs (L6 VIII) for all your help this year and making Technology Committee successful.

Additionally, also a special thank you to Mr D Williams who has helped to chair and manage Technology Committee this academic year! It couldn’t have been as successful without all your contributions! Have a great summer and we look forward to continuing pushing BVGS’s digital strategy with the new Technology Community in September.

-Umar Bashir, L6 V

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PSHE Initiatives PSHE develops the character of our students so that they become well-rounded, knowledgeable, empathetic and understanding citizens, who become inspired, to actively support society and their local communities. PSHE aims to develop the student’s skills and attributes, allowing them to manage their lives effectively now and in the future. Our programme also helps pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life and work in modern Britain. This term, we have had an array of PSHE workshops and external speakers to help prepare our pupils for the wider world.

YEAR 8 GUESS MY JOB EVENT Year 8 participated in a careers event titled "Guess My Job", organised in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions. Each student had the opportunity to interview a professional from various fields, ranging from florists to accountants, with the objective of identifying their occupation. The students prepared questions in advance and were required to think on their feet, thereby demonstrating cognitive flexibility. Through this experience, each student enhanced their interpersonal and soft skills, thereby improving their employability prospects.

SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD Year 8 students had the opportunity to enter the competition titled 'Show The Red Card to Racism'. This is a project all students have been progressively working on during their PSHE lessons since September. STRCTR is one of the leading anti-racism educational charities in the UK, and seeks to increase young people’s understanding surrounding racism in society. Also, the charity aims to challenge misconceptions, attitudes and negative stereotypes in society. Year 8 produced many entries all up to an exceptional standard. Miss Orlandini was incredibly proud of the work students completed. It is clear a lot of time and effort has been put into the different pieces of work. The overall winners were Shivaum K and Tern Fei L from 8 Emerald. The runners up including the overall winners are pictured below receiving their certificates in assembly.

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THE NATIONAL CAREERS CHALLENGE - MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING On Wednesday, 26th February, a select group of Year 9 and 10 students participated in The National Careers Challenge, sponsored by The Oli Leigh Trust. This event provided an opportunity for students to collaborate in teams with peers from King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls. Together, they designed resources, activities, or spaces aimed at supporting young people struggling with their well-being and mental health at school.

Throughout the day, students deepened their understanding of mental health, learning about its significance and ways to improve it. They discussed the importance of removing barriers to positive well-being and explored how to support others who may be feeling low or anxious.

The winning team, which designed the best resource to support young people's mental health, included students from King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls and BVGS students N. Craske, N. Chapman, and O. Brain. This team will present their business idea at The National Finals in London in July. Congratulations to all participants!

THE DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS (DWP) MOCK INTERVIEWS The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) orchestrated mock job interviews for Year 10 students. Prior to the interviews, all Year 10 students were assigned the task of creating comprehensive CVs, meticulously highlighting their individual achievements.

Alongside this, they received guidance to prepare for their mock job interviews by formulating thoughtful responses to a set of questions.

On Tuesday, each student was allocated a specific interview time slot. During these sessions, they were interviewed by either a member of the Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School (BVGS) staff or an employer from the local community. The outcome of these interviews was exceptionally positive, and we trust that the students involved took valuable insights away from the process. Notably, the maturity and professionalism exhibited by Year 10 throughout the interview process were commendable.

Feedback from both staff members and community representatives has been overwhelmingly positive. One visitor said, “The students here are inspiring, demonstrating outstanding behaviour.” Moreover, the interviewers were notably impressed by our students’ knowledge of crucial Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) topics, including healthy workplace relationships, consent, and the significance of human resources procedures.

Miss Orlandini, in her capacity as the Careers co-ordinator, sought input from all interviewers regarding their top-performing “interviewee.” The task of selecting a single standout candidate proved challenging because the challenge was so hard,

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YEAR 10 CAREERS CHALLENGE Our Year 10 students have embarked on an exciting journey as part of the Inspirational Learning Group’s National Careers Challenge, tackling the Wickes Wellbeing Challenge with creativity and enthusiasm.

This nationwide competition, the largest of its kind in the UK, encourages students to develop key skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and public speaking while engaging with real-world business challenges. This year, students have been tasked with identifying an unused or neglected space within their school or local community and reimagining it using Wickes products to promote inclusivity and physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing.

In addition to revitalising spaces, students will also develop an innovative new product or service that could be offered by Wickes to inspire more customers to take on DIY projects and shop in-store. The winning team from our school was selected this week who will represent us at the National Careers Challenge Grand Finals in July, competing for the prestigious title of National Champions!

A huge well done to Z. Khan’s (10E) team for progressing through to Nationals!

NEXT GENERATION AWARDS The triumphant Next Generation Awards team from BVGS has been tirelessly campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on Tamworth Road to ensure safer travel for pupils and the wider Sutton Coldfield community. Before the Easter break, the team had a productive meeting with Councillor David Pears and School Liaison Officer PC Emma Gibson to discuss their next steps. Councillor Pears, showing his support, has initiated his own petition to raise awareness about the critical need for a pedestrian crossing on Tamworth Road. Meanwhile, R. Ram and his dedicated team are preparing to launch their own petition, aiming to rally even more support for this essential safety measure. They are also planning to collaborate with nearby schools and institutions to maximise community backing for the cause. It’s truly inspiring to see BVGS students taking proactive steps to drive positive change and make a meaningful impact on their local community.

Especially, 6 Year 9 students who had the privilege of meeting councillor David Pears and police liason officer Laura Gibson. We had passed through class and school rounds to be the team representing BVGS at the Next Generation Awards, a competition which started from our PSHE classes. Our Tamworth Road Crossing Project was an idea that appealed to many people in Sutton Coldfield especially those in higher positions. So, we met to consider plans, ideas and what their recommendations were moving forward. It was an incredible opportunity that gave us the insight into real-world logistics and realistic plans. Thus armed with that information, we hope to be the team bringing the Next Generation Awards of 2025 to BVGS. Abel T 9P, Ali M 9P, Jomi K.A 9E, Rishi R 9B, Isaam A 9B.

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Mr. Pujara highlighted the significance of teamwork over being a ‘lone wolf.’ He emphasised the importance of collaborating with others who excel at their jobs and understanding the value of cooperation. Mr. Pujara also provided extensive recommendations for wider reading, aimed at improving individuals' daily habits. All the relevant information, including suggested reading materials, is detailed below.

NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK MONDAY Year 13 Assembly Year 13 students participated in an assembly led by OV Harry Clark, a degree apprentice at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

During his presentation, Harry provided an overview of JLR as an organisation, addressing the following key areas: Early Careers at JLR Apprentice Programmes Undergraduate Programmes Graduate ProgrammesAdditionally, Harry discussed the virtual work experience opportunities available to students and highlighted the benefits of engaging in these experiences at a young age.You can view Harry’s presentation slides below.

WEDNESDAY Year 12 Assembly Year 12 had the opportunity to listen to student engagement officers from the University of Exeter, accompanied by OV Will Sedgewick. This assembly focused on understanding what university life is like and how to maximize your time at university. Will Sedgewick spoke about the Vesey Experience and how it prepares students for life after school.

Year 12 Stepnell CV Workshop A select group of Year 12 students participated in a CV workshop hosted by the construction company Stepnells.

Currently involved in the construction of our Learning Resource Centre, Stepnells generously offered their expertise to support our students' career development. All Year 12 students will be participating in mock interviews on 12th March, for which they require a professional CV. Stepnells provided valuable advice on crafting standout CVs, emphasising the importance of distinguishing oneself among hundreds of prospective candidates. Their guidance on what employers seek in a CV was immensely beneficial.

Year 10 Assembly Year 10 had the pleasure of hearing from Keri Dobson, a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a registered valuer specializing in land, residential, and commercial real estate brokerage and consultancy. Keri established Dobson-Grey in 2007 after gaining extensive experience with international consultancy firms and national housebuilders. She provided valuable advice and support on RICS Red Book valuations, land, planning, investment, project, and development management.Keri supports clients with land identification, contract and lease negotiations, planning support, investment review, funding, design optimization, and cost management for healthcare, education, and residential sectors. She also coordinates and recommends other professional advisors to ensure the effective delivery of investments. Keri shared a wealth of information with Year 10 about the property industry.

TUESDAY Year 10 Assembly ‘From Classroom to CEO’ Year 10 students recently had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Birju Pujara, CEO of the Arkad Group. He shared valuable insights on mindset and work ethic, helping students understand how to maximize their strengths and develop their weaker skills. Additionally,

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NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK THURSDAY Year 7 Assembly On Thursday, 6th March, Year 7 participated in a presentation by Ben Alford (OV), a degree apprentice with the BBC. Ben examined the pros and cons of being an apprentice and challenged students' expectations about post-16 routes.

Year 9 Assembly Year 9 listened to Matthew Merrill (OV), a degree apprentice with the Dyson Institute. Matthew spoke at length about his journey with Dyson, working alongside different engineering teams, and the excitement of new projects. He discussed the pros and cons of degree apprenticeships and shared how his time at Vesey influenced his decision to become an apprentice.

FRIDAY Year 8 Assembly Richard Carty Visited BVGS to speak with year 8 about the world of IT and business.

Richard spoke about how to become a successful business owner and emphasised the importance of ‘real communication’ and building relationships. It was fantastic to see year 8 ask so many insightful questions!

Wednesday 12th March – year 12 mock interviews led by Ms Fordham.

Year 12 students were assigned the task of creating comprehensive CVs, meticulously highlighting their individual achievements.

Alongside this, they received guidance to prepare for their mock job interviews by formulating thoughtful responses to a set of questions.

On Wednesday, each student was allocated a specific interview time slot.

During these sessions, they were interviewed by either a member of the Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School (BVGS) staff or an employer from the local community. The outcome of these interviews was exceptionally positive, and we trust that the students involved took valuable insights away from the process.

University and Apprenticeship Search Fair – led by Ms Fordham Fifty Y12 students attended the UK University and Apprenticeship Search Fair in Edgbaston, which gave them direct access to a wide variety of universities and apprenticeship programmes in one place. Students were able to compare options, gather Notably, the maturity and professionalism information on courses, entry exhibited by Year 12 throughout the requirements and scholarships, and interview process were commendable. engage with university representatives to Feedback from both staff members and get personalised advice. The fair also community representatives has been provided an opportunity gain valuable overwhelmingly positive. insights into student life, including finance, helping students make wellMany thanks to Ms Fordham for leading informed decisions about their future this event and providing an invaluable academic and professional goals. With experience for our year 12 students. apprenticeship providers also attending the fair, they were able to meet directly Miss Orlandini with employers, ask questions about available positions, and learn about the skills and qualifications needed for different apprenticeships.. It was a great chance to network, gain practical knowledge, and make informed decisions about their future.

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MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE 15 Lower Sixth pupils enjoyed debating online with pupils from across the globe in a Model United Nations event organised by King’s School, Macclesfield, on the themes of the UN Climate Change conference, COP 29.

BVGS represented South Korea at the conference. Pupils had to read specific COP 29 motions and briefing papers carefully in relation to Carbon mitigation, Financing of Adaptations in response to Climate Change, Compensation for Loss and Damage, Plastics, Food Waste and Sustainable Fashion and specifically reflect, following research on South Korea, through the lens of how South Korea might think.

There are no ‘winners’ in this conference but our pupils were singled out by the organisers and all strongly commended for their excellent speaking skills and knowledge. They were a credit to the school. Special mention must go to Luke A, who did a very fine professional job of proposing the motion on Food Waste and who was excellent at recruiting, motivating and galvanising this team of pupils. Excellent leadership in action.

YEAR 11 LAMDA SUCCESS In April 2025, Year 11 Speech students took part in LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) examinations at Bishop Vesey's Grammar School. Centrestage is delighted to announce that 100% of students passed their exam, with 94.74% achieving a Pass with Distinction! Distinction is the highest mark available. We are absolutely thrilled with these outstanding results, and we are so proud of everyone who took part. The students showcased huge amounts of determination, resilience and talent, whilst demonstrating fantastic Speech and Public Speaking skills including excellent expression, modulation, clarity and projection. These are skills which will undoubtedly help our students excel as they move into adult life. A huge well done to the Year 11 students involved!

Centrestage Team

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SENIOR SOLOIST CONCERT On Wednesday, we saw our Senior students come together for our annual Senior Soloists Concert. Each student performed excellently for their audience of families, Old Veseyans and staff. It was phenomenal to see the level of talent across the board and we are so proud of each musician.

This was our line up: B. Mountford - Saxophone - Misty, composed by Erroll Garner, Arr. Daeyoun Kim I. Hoggarth - Recorder - Variations on Non Piu Mesta, composed by Chopin D. Vanes - Singing - My Way, Frank Sinatra J. Sarker - Drums - Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell M. Mittal - Violin - Violin Concerto in D major Op.35 mvmt II Canzonetta, composed by Tchaikovsky I. Dutton - Saxophone - Alto Saxophone Sonata No.2 'Slowly', composed by Phil Woods J. Briah - French Horn - En Irlande, composed by Eugene Bozza O. Northmore - Guitar - Orginal piece, composed by O. Northmore A. Rao - Viola - Elegie, composed by Glazunov S. Johnston - Drums - Breathing Underwater, composed by Hiatus Kaiyote L. Karoglou - Violin - Gavotte En Rondeau, composed by J.S. Bach T. Pass - Saxophone - All Because Of You, composed by Karen Street R. Ho - Piano - October: Autumn Song, composed by Tchaikovsky J. Miller - Guitar - Original Song, composed by J. Miller S. Rathnapala - Piano - Impromptu in A-flat major, composed by Schubert E. Miller - Violin - Concerto No1., composed by J.S Bach Polarised Dreams playing their own song What Once Was, Hers, Grace A special thank you to Mr Lenthall and Mrs McAusland for organising and leading such a wonderful event.

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TABLE TENNIS Our U’13 and U’16 table tennis teams competed at the Regional Finals, trying to reach the National Finals for the first time.

The standard of play was very high throughout the weekend and our boys gave a fantastic account of themselves in both age groups.

With numerous nationally ranked players performing, it was a great test and challenge for our pupils, many in the U’13’s who are new to the sport. After winning their group, the U’13’s qualified to the final 4 and drew two of the three matches played. If one of these draws could have been converted to a win they would have finished 2nd overall. A great day was had by all and the boys will come back stronger next year. The team consisted of D. Albert-Nagy, W. Liu, D. Soo, T. Fei Lim. The U’16’s got even closer finishing 2nd in the Midlands, losing just one match all day to the eventual winners, who had 4 extremely strong players. Z. Hussain, J. Ting, A. Elsom, A. Hau were all excellent and played a fantastic level throughout.

The interest in the sport has increased significantly over the last 2 years and we will be a school to be reckoned with in future years. Many thanks to Mr Albert-Nagy for his hard work and support.

NEWMAN UNIVERSITY On Friday 4th July, myself, Rishi, Abel, Ali, and Isaam went to Newman University to represent BVGS at the Next Generation Awards semi-final, a civic initiative run by Birmingham Civic Society to empower young people to make a difference in their communities. As part of our PSHE curriculum, we’ve been working on a campaign to improve road safety in our local area—specifically, a petition to get a pelican crossing installed on Tamworth Road in Sutton Coldfield. We presented our project to a panel of judges, explaining why we deserved to go through to the finals, and received encouraging feedback and thoughtful questions. After the presentation, we were interviewed by one of the judges, and Miss Orlandini was also interviewed to share her perspective. Following a quick break, we were given a tour of the university. We visited the library, explored the individual study pods on each floor, and saw the lecture rooms, nurse training facilities, and impressive cinema-style seminar rooms. We also toured the sports and fitness centre, which included gyms, a sports hall, and a hightech, state-of-the-art sports performance lab. We wrapped up our amazing day with lunch on some comfy sofas before heading back to school.

-Jomi A

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VESEY DRAGONS MEET THEIR MATCH The Business and Charity Interns concluded their year’s valuable learning experiences about the world of work by presenting their proposals to a panel of Vesey Dragons.

Vesey Dragons provided constructive critical challenge and insights into the real situations they will encounter as soon as they leave school. Our Dragons for the day were Karl Ward, ORS UK; Andy Casey, Apex Machining Services Limited; Vanessa Harrison, Floral Jazz Online and Graham Swindells, BVGS Finance and Operations Director.

In the Dragons’ Den, students learn to present their business or charity ideas, justify their proposals and then have to think on their feet in answering unexpected probing questions.

Karl Ward said: “The quality of all the presentations were 'top drawer' and the effort put into them was there for all to see and the students should be very proud of their contributions. BVGS continues to produce fantastic students but more importantly well - rounded individuals”.

Andy Casey said: “I was so impressed with the level of engagement and application shown by all of the interns. I’m sure that they will have all learned and benefited a lot from being involved through the year.”

Exposing the students to real-life business people is a continual commitment of the Interns Programme. Our Corporate Partners, individually and collaboratively, provide insights to respective business sectors as well as workshops which highlight a range of professional skills essential for future careers and which are not taught through academic studies.

Within a year, the students will be venturing forth and building their own futures following on from their Intern experiences and we are sure we will be hearing about quite a few of them again in near future!

Thanks to Moor Hall Hotel Spa, one of the BVGS Corporate Partners, who provided the Dragons Den Board Room for the day!

Mrs Bolton

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MUSIC TOUR TO BELGIUM Our annual music tour took us to the beautiful town of Maldegem, Belgium, from 30 June to 4 July — an unforgettable trip filled with moving performances, historical insights, and a real sense of belonging and community.

On Tuesday, we visited the Flanders Field Museum in Ypres, immersing ourselves in the history and sacrifice of World War I. That same afternoon, we gave a stirring openair concert outside the museum, followed by a deeply moving experience at the Menin Gate. During the Last Post ceremony, two of our cadets, Shewan and Alex, laid wreaths with pride and respect.

Despite the rain, spirits remained high during our visit to Talbot House, where we adapted quickly and performed an impromptu indoor concert. In a touching twist of fate, one audience member shared that she had once been an au pair for a Vesey student in Sutton Coldfield — over 40 years ago. A beautiful reminder of how music and memories can transcend time and distance.

We also braved sweltering 36°C heat for a visit to a local theme park. Despite the heat, laughter and fun were in no short supply as students enjoyed time together outside of rehearsals.

One of the most poignant moments of the tour came during our concert at a care home in Ostend. As we played “Auld Lang Syne,” one elderly resident stood, visibly moved, as he paid tribute to fallen comrades. It was a reminder of music’s profound ability to evoke memory, emotion, and connection.

Our journey concluded with a tranquil river cruise through Bruges — a perfect way to reflect on our experiences. The beauty of the city provided a picturesque backdrop for photos and shared stories.

The final evening brought everyone together for a joyous open mic night and BBQ. We witnessed incredible musical performances and even some unexpected dance moves — including from our staff! It was a night filled with laughter, talent, and heartfelt celebration.

From moving ceremonies to spontaneous concerts, intense heat to cool river breezes, this tour had it all. Most importantly, it reminded us of the power of music. A huge thank you to our amazing staff: Mr Lenthall, Mrs McCausland, Mrs Heer, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Dille and a returning Mr Hazell.

We return home with strong friendships, great memories and a strong sense of how amazing our Vesey music family is.

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DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to thrive at Vesey, offering life-changing opportunities for our students. Under the exceptional leadership of Miss Groves, the programme has seen remarkable growth, with record numbers taking part across all levels.

Bronze – Year 9 This year, 150 Year 9 students completed their practice and qualifying expeditions for the Bronze Award in the Derbyshire countryside. Operating across two sites, our 20 teams showed resilience, teamwork, and determination as they navigated challenging terrain and camped overnight — many for the first time.

Silver – Years 10 & 11 At Silver level, 120 students from Years 10 and 11 participated in expeditions across three different sites, forming 18 teams. The step up in challenge was embraced wholeheartedly, with students developing advanced navigation skills, leadership, and greater independence.

Gold – Walking & Canoeing Adventures Our Gold Award provision has never been stronger. In June, 12 students completed their walking expedition in the stunning Yorkshire Dales, tackling longer routes and wilder conditions with great spirit.

And the adventure doesn’t stop there — this summer, an additional 40 students are undertaking their Gold expedition by canoeing through Loch Ness and along the Caledonian Canal. These two expeditions, led by Miss Groves and Mr Timmis in July and August respectively, promise to be unforgettable experiences of endurance, teamwork, and natural beauty.

Looking Ahead The success and scale of our DofE programme is a testament to Miss Groves’ outstanding commitment and leadership. However, we are confident that Mr Timmis will build on her excellent work! With so many students progressing through the levels, we are excited at the prospect of seeing many Veseyans attending Buckingham Palace in the years ahead to receive their Gold Award — a fitting recognition of their hard work and achievement.

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TRIP TO CHINA Our 10-day visit to China is off to a fantastic start, packed with rich cultural experiences, engaging lessons, and warm hospitality from our hosts in Kunming.

We began the trip with an excellent breakfast (a definite highlight!) and a warm welcome from the Dean of the university. Sam and Nathaniel represented our group superbly with confident and heartfelt speeches. Our first language lesson was both engaging and encouraging.

The afternoon was full of hands-on cultural activities: we learned traditional Chinese dance and practiced Chinese archery — with some impressively accurate shots! We ended the day with a traditional game of Touhu (pitch pot), followed by a well-earned treat of ice cream and bubble tea before dinner.

A bright and sunny day in Kunming began with a highly interactive language lesson focused on hobbies and talents — many of which were proudly demonstrated, from magic tricks to press-ups! We also had a refreshing break sampling fresh lychees, with a lovely piano performance from Yudi.

The afternoon brought cultural immersion as we learned the powerful and symbolic Wǔ Lóng and Wǔ Shī (Dragon and Lion) dances. Rishi kept everyone perfectly in time on the drum. Later, we enjoyed a fun sports session featuring badminton, basketball, jianzi (Chinese hacky sack), and skipping — with Arun and Jacob taking the win as current champions.

A peaceful walk back through campus offered beautiful views of a peacock family, a music amphitheatre, and stunning green spaces. The day ended with group singing and another delicious meal.

Using Mr. Chadwick’s word of the week, we “peregrinated” through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest (Shilin) — a surreal and breathtaking landscape of towering limestone formations spanning over 350 square kilometres. A filming location for classics such as Monkey Magic (1986), the site provided unforgettable views and photo opportunities.

En route, we learned about Yunnan’s rich heritage, including its world-famous Puer tea (from trees that grow up to 30 metres tall!) and the region’s connection to South of the Clouds coffee beans — a key supplier to a very familiar UK coffee brand.

Today we visited a local middle school and received a fantastic welcome — complete with dancing, music, and traditional games. Will was a star during the Tuo Lou game, and everyone joined in the vibrant Na Xi Gu Yue regional dance.

During lessons, Mr. W’s group explored the diverse cultural makeup of Yunnan province, learning about its regional music, dance, and distinctive traditional clothing.

We were treated to a bonfire dance of the Yi people and a beautiful folk song from Shangri-La.

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Our morning lessons saw students creating and presenting posters and maps about our own school and uniform — using newly learned vocabulary and structures with great confidence and creativity.

In the afternoon, we explored traditional Chinese medicine. Students crafted their own herb pouches, choosing blends for relaxation, energy, or immune support (though no one seemed in need of more energy!). It was a fascinating insight into a key aspect of Chinese wellness culture.

With five more days ahead, the group is soaking up every opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. We look forward to more unforgettable experiences in this truly remarkable country.

A huge thank you to the amazing pupils on this trip led by the incredibly energetic, organised and optimistic Mrs Xia and supported by Mrs Parize, Mr Chadwick and Mr Wright. Global citizenship in action!

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CAREERS CHALLENGE LONDON I had the immense pleasure of accompanying our students to the Inspirational Learning Group Careers Day at the Barbican Centre in London. It was a truly uplifting experience, and I couldn’t be prouder of how our students represented themselves and our school.

They took part in a range of exciting and meaningful challenges, including the Wickes Challenge, where they were tasked with reimagining a neglected community space using DIY solutions or designing a new product to encourage more people to engage in home improvement. Their ideas were thoughtful, creative, and rooted in a genuine desire to make a difference in their communities.

Equally powerful was their involvement in the Oli Leigh Trust Challenge, which focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Our students engaged with sensitivity and maturity, participating in workshops that helped them understand how to recognise signs of poor mental health and how to support themselves and others. It was a deeply moving part of the day that I know will stay with them.

The event was not only a celebration of innovation and enterprise but also a reminder of the importance of empathy, resilience, and community. I’m incredibly proud of how our students embraced every opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute.

-Miss Orlandini

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Work Experience This term, our Year 12 and Year 10 students have embarked on diverse work experience placements.

Here are a few highlights of what our pupils have been up to: Luke spent his week shadowing an NHS consultant, due to his interest in medicine. He spent the week in different departments such as cardiological and PICU paediatric intensive care. A typical day started at 8am with him doing rounds pre/post surgery around different wards. For him, the highlight of his week was standing in on a surgery, and talking to patients. He found that working with children was really hard, but simultaneously very rewarding, and has ultimately affirmed his decision to do medicine in the future. Something he wish he knew? Don’t worry! He praised the people he worked with for making him feel like part of the team, because it helped him to feel more at ease.

Khalid spent his week doing aerospace engineering! Only six spaces were available for this experience, and amazingly three were filled by our own BVGS students; Khalid applied by emailing the head of HR, and was accepted. His week consisted of 9am starts, and career talks. Interestingly, a lot of people working at the firm did not do a degree in engineering! He found that the flight simulator was the most enjoyable because it was a hands-on experience but found that as a whole aerospace engineering is very challenging. As a result, he is not interested in working in aerospace engineering in the future and is leaning towards a career in finance despite his interest in aerospace. However, despite not wanting to work in this field, he would still do the placement again. It is amazing to see such open-mindedness, and the week was useful in helping him to narrow down what he is interested in for the future!

Theo spent his week in the Civil Courts in Birmingham, as he is exploring a career in Law. He spent his week handling issues, typing up and preparing cases, and liked the process of logging dates and information. He acted as a court clerk, which involved looking after the judge, recording all conversations held in court, and ensuring everyone was there that needed to be. Overall, he had the opportunity to watch two trials. He enjoyed this part the most: he liked seeing how lawyers work, and reflected that he could see himself working in a court environment. It’ struck him that some parts of law are quite mundane, such as court preparation; not everything is as we see it on TV! Going forward, he wants to research different types of law as he is not sure which particular sector interests him the most. What he did learn as a result of this week is that he wants to be working on interesting cases, hopefully in court!

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COMMUNITY

“Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.”

Brian Solis

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GIVING DAY This year, we held our very first Giving Day - a vibrant two-day celebration bursting with energy, creativity, and community spirit, all dedicated to raising funds for our new Learning Resource Centre (LRC).

The fundraising efforts began even before Giving Day itself, with each form taking on a unique Form Challenge and rallying support from friends and family through sponsorship. A special congratulations goes to the pupils of 8R, who climbed Snowdon and raised an incredible £1,462 - a remarkable achievement! However, it was 7P who secured the highest number of donors, earning them the naming rights to one of the rooms in the new LRC. The main event kicked off with a whole-school conga, with every student and staff member proudly sporting a party hat. Pupils in Years 7–10 and Year 12 then took part in a range of exciting activities. One of the most memorable lunchtime events was the student-organised “Gunge the Teacher,” where pupils paid to cover brave staff members - including Mr Robson - with gunge, water, or shaving cream.

On Thursday evening, we hosted a Form Challenge Showcase, where each form presented their fundraising challenge and shared their results. Day Two continued the momentum, filled with fun activities - highlighted by another pupil-led event, Staff Sumo Wrestling, which saw teachers battling it out in inflatable sumo suits!

The festivities concluded with Vesey’s Got Talent, a dazzling evening of performances where both the live audience and viewers at home could vote for their favourites. The winners, VK Dhol Blasters, also earned naming rights to a room in the LRC. We couldn’t be prouder of our students - not just for their efforts in the Form Challenges, but also for their initiative and creativity in organising additional fundraising events. Their leadership, teamwork, and genuine commitment to improving their school environment were truly inspiring.

A huge thank you must go to Mr Brocklebank and Mrs Uppal, whose meticulous planning and seamless coordination ensured two incredibly successful and unforgettable days.

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LRC THANK YOU EVENT On Wednesday 21st May, we were delighted to welcome donors and supporters to a special Thank You Event held in honour of your contributions. The evening was hosted by Mr Douglas Wright MBE DL, former High Sheriff of the West Midlands, who shared a moving reflection on his own journey through education and what inspired his fundraising work.

We were also proud to hear from several student speakers, who spoke powerfully about the positive and lasting impact that being part of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School has had on their lives. Dominic Robson, Headteacher closed the speeches by thanking all those who have donated and supported the Learning Resource Centre project.

As a highlight of the evening, guests, including the Lord Mayor Elect of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal and Mayor of Sutton Coldfield, Cindy Yip, were taken on a guided site tour by our contractors, offering a first-hand look at the progress and layout of the new building. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and support for the project. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was able to attend.

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CLASS OF 2025 This week, we said a fond farewell to our wonderful Year 13, Class of 2025. Here are a few words from their Head of Year, Mr Freer, as they prepare to take their next steps: "Today is a happy day - a celebration of your time at Vesey’s and all you have achieved and contributed to school life.

However, today is also a reminder that your journey hasn’t always been easy. A cherished member of our school community, who will forever remain in our hearts, is sadly missed.

It has been my privilege to get to know many of you over the past two years. Some I had already met in the economics department. I have got to know some of you better than others, but I hope you have all felt looked after and supported, even if only from afar.

On this day of reflection and celebration, we, as a year group, must also pause to thank a very special group of people - your form teachers - for all the work they have put into you, the care they have given you, and the occasional nudge about UCAS. Mrs. Fordham has put an incredible amount of work into your UCAS applications, alongside Miss Jones and Dr. Rackham. Ms. Jowhire and Mrs. Ayto, who have the unenviable task of implementing the rules in the HIVE, have kept you focused and motivated - I know your success is their success. Mrs. Hans ensures the sixth form runs efficiently, helping to organise and support us as a team. And, of course, Dr. Rackham, whose immense dedication and great sacrifice have got you to this point.

In a journey such as yours, there will always be ups and downs, but as I stand before you today, I can honestly say that I have huge admiration for you as a cohort - your academic excellence, resilience, sporting and extracurricular achievements, and contribution to the school community.

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You are a fantastic year group - in my opinion, the best collection of kind-hearted students who do the right thing, show grit, and carry a strength of character that will take you far in life. Now, as you begin the next chapter of your journey, I want you to know that your school community will miss you and be sad to see you go.

I want to pay particular thanks to the officer team, led by Gbemi and Freddie, who have always served both you and the school selflessly, representing us in so many ways - sometimes at the last minute! Your generosity of time and spirit is a credit to you. Thank you all.

Now, it is your time to leave us - to take all the traits and skills you have developed in school and over the course of your life to bring about positive change in the lives of others. The world can benefit from your intelligence, but more importantly, from your care, empathy, kindness, and compassion. These qualities truly set you apart.

Our job with you is almost at an end, and a new era in your lives is beginning. But before you go, here are a few tips that I hope you take with you: 1. Look after yourself - mentally and physically. Nurture both your body and mind daily. It is like putting money in the bank.

2. Admit to your mistakes. We hold ourselves to high standards, but we must also recognise that we don’t always get things right.

3. Take and grasp opportunities. It is okay to be afraid - trust yourself.

4. View life from a glass-half-full perspective. Life presents challenges, but a positive mindset helps us overcome them.

5. Cherish the friendships you have made in school - they will be some of the best you will ever make.

6. Remember, money may come and go, but the relationships you build and the way you treat others will define you as a person.

My biggest wish for you is that you look back with fondness at your time here, cherish the lessons you have learned, and take them forward to make the world a better place. Goodbye, Year 13. I wish you success in your A-levels and beyond. I hope to see you when we celebrate the end of your exams."

Mr Freer

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COMMUNITY IFTAR It was a privilege to host Bishop Vesey's Grammar School’s second ever Community Iftar.

Over 200 were in attendance and was a wonderful showcase of student organisation and leadership. A huge number of volunteers were mobilised to support with all aspects of the smooth running of the event. Students led us in prayer and recitation, all with great confidence and dignity. Followed by an opportunity to break fast together.

Well done and thank you to all involved. We hope to see you again next year!

Thank you to all the amazing pupils of the Islamic Society, especially Yusuf A, Mustafa H and Umar B who showed incredible leadership of this event!

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VAISAKHI LANGAR On 9th April, we were proud to host our first ever Langar at BVGS in celebration of Vaisakhi, a significant Sikh festival that marks the Sikh New Year, commemorates the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, and celebrates the start of the harvest season in Panjab.

Langar, the tradition of serving a free vegetarian meal in Sikh Gurdwaras (places of worship), is rooted in the principles of equality, humility, and community.

Regardless of background, religion, or social status, everyone is welcome to sit together and share a meal, symbolising the Sikh belief in universal equality and oneness.

Our Year 7 pupils were invited to take part in this meaningful experience. In keeping with Sikh customs, they respectfully removed their shoes, covered their heads, and sat together on the floor to enjoy a meal of samosas, dhal, roti, and more.

It was wonderful to see members of our BVGS Sikh Society engaged in seva, the Sikh practice of selfless service, by preparing and serving the meal with care and generosity. A heartfelt thank you to Anand (L6II), Dr Gill, and Mrs Heer for their support in bringing this event to life with the support of the British Organisation of Sikh Students.

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HOLI FESTIVAL A group of students from BVGS, including myself, participated in the celebration of Holi, a festival held last Saturday and organized by the Sutton Hindu Association (SHA).

The SHA is a local organization that supports the Hindu community by hosting various festivals and celebrations throughout the year, bringing together families in the area.

Holi, known as the Festival of Colours, is a vibrant Hindu celebration that involves throwing coloured powders and water. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, and encourages unity, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

We thought this was a good opportunity to raise money for the Learning Resource Centre (LRC). On the day, me, and Vivaan from 9G sold crisps and chocolates to everyone, and we managed to raise £151!

In addition to this, I had the chance to speak with the mayor of Sutton Coldfield at the time, John Perks.

V. Dahi (9W)

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CHINESE NEW YEAR WEEK This week, we joyfully celebrated Chinese New Year with festivities across the school! The corridors have been beautifully decorated with red lanterns and traditional ornaments, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. Our GCSE and A-Level students delivered insightful assemblies, sharing the significance of Chinese New Year, its rich traditions, and cultural elements. Meanwhile, our fantastic Mandarin department organised a variety of engaging activities throughout the week, including: Y7 Chinese Lantern Craft Making Y8 Chinese New Year Greeting Card Making Competition Y9 Mandarin Teaching Competition - students taught other students how to speak Chinese Y7-9 Treasure Hunt Y7-12 Traditional Chinese Games Challenge Y10-Y12 Chinese Food Tasting Fortune Cookie Sale Staff Chinese Food Tasting A huge thank you to Mrs. Xia, Mrs. Wang, and everyone who contributed to making these celebrations so special! Your enthusiasm and efforts truly brought the spirit of Chinese New Year to life.

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

CULTURE DAY On 2nd April, we celebrated Culture Day, a vibrant occasion where pupils were invited to come to school dressed in traditional attire, proudly showcasing their heritage.

The day was filled with colour, energy, and community spirit. From delicious food available to purchase to a fantastic line-up of cultural performances, this year’s event truly came to life.

Pupils from across the year groups took to the stage, sharing everything from dynamic Bollywood dance routines to the soulful sounds of traditional Indian flute playing.

It was a beautiful and heartwarming celebration of the rich diversity within our BVGS community, highlighting the many cultures that make our school so unique.

Thank you to Yusuf and team for organising such a wonderful celebration.

SUTTON FUN RUN In June, over 150 runners represented Bishop Vesey's Grammar School at the Sutton Fun Run, making us the largest school team to ever take part in the event! A huge well done to the students, staff, parents, and alumni who all took part, and thank you to all the Vesey supporters who showed up in force on the day. The Vesey community never fails to amaze with their support, shown through not just this but all our charity events throughout the year. Special thanks to Y. Ahmed, A. Faulkner, J. Dyson and Claire Bolton for their help in organising the team, a brilliant way to round off our charity initiatives for the year We’re also deeply grateful to Karl Ward and ORS UK for sponsoring our Team Vesey t-shirts, a lovely keepsake for all those who took part. Together, we've raised almost £5,000 for Birmingham Mind , supporting vital mental health services across the region, from drop-in hubs to community-led activities that support well-being. Thank you again to everyone who made this possible!

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SUTTON SCHOOLS AREA SPORTS Wednesday the 11th saw the return of the Sutton Schools Area Sports event at Wyndley which involved 21 of the local primary schools. 60 Vesey students dedicated their day to supporting the event and ensuring that it ran smoothly and that equally as important all the primary school students taking part had an enjoyable day. The weather was fantastic and with over 1500 people in attendance the day was a massive success. Events ranged from 800m, 80m sprint, relay, long jump to name just a few. Vesey students made the school proud as they helped with score keeping, organising students and selling programmes which profits can support new equipment for future events. Special thanks from Mr Lee and Mr Howell to all the students who supported from year 7 up to year 12 which enabled the success and created memories for the students taking part they will remember for many years.

Mr Lee

DIVERSITY WEEK This week, we marked Pride Month with a series of thoughtful and inclusive assemblies exploring the meaning of Pride and the importance of acceptance and equality. On Wednesday, pupils brightened up the school by wearing their most colourful outfits for Rainbow Day - a joyful celebration of individuality and the beauty of our differences. In Food Tech, Mrs Kittler and her Year 8 group were baking and decorating biscuits to celebrate Schools' Diversity Week!

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VESEY SUMMER FESTIVAL Thank you to everyone who joined us for Saturday’s fantastic Summer Festival! It was a truly special day, bringing together all ages from across the Vesey community to enjoy sunshine, great food, and a wide range of activities in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

The event was such a success that we’re already looking forward to the next one details will be shared in September’s newsletter, so stay tuned!

A special thank you goes to the brilliant organising team: Mr Robson, Mr Swindells, Mrs Gardner, Mr Howell, Mr Lee, Mrs Clarke, and the OVA. We’re also incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the event on the day: Mr Brocklebank, Miss Steadman, Mr White, Mr Lacey, Dr Rackham, Mr Williams, Ms Parize, Mrs Rowlands, Mr Belcher, and our amazing students.

Finally, thank you to Salmon's Catering and the PTFA for their generous support.

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

SUSTAINABILITY IN SCHOOL Miss Stackhouse, our incredible sustainability lead has been extremely busy and proactive in organising a number of sustainability opportunities for BVGS:

My name is T. Rouf (8P) and I am an Active Travel Ambassador. I have been working with peers to advertise a form of commuting called ‘Park & Stride’. We had organised a poster competition aiming to create content that informs others and encourages this form of transport. In case you didn’t know, Park & Stride is when you normally get to your place of work but park/stop just a bit further away to take a walk for the rest of the journey. Not only does Park & Stride promote physical health, it also lessens the initial carbon impact of the journey and reduces air pollution. Additionally, traffic build-up around your place of work decreases. It is a win-win for you and our planet!

The results of this competition are as follows: Y8: 1st place is Ali 8B 2nd place is V. Madhok 8W Y7: 1st place is S. Deore 7W 2nd place is P. Htet 7W It was wonderful seeing the wide participation from Years 7 & 8 and I was delighted to see the high-quality posters being inputted for display around school. All contestants in our competition will receive extra merits for the work they have put in.

On Sunday 1st June, our Active Travel Ambassadors (ATAs) held their active travel campaign at the Sutton Fun Run. This year they are promoting sustainable active travel through a Park and Stride scheme in and around Sutton Coldfield. They had a really successful time talking to the public about the benefits of Park and Stride to the environment and our well-being. They gave away badges and leaflets and hope to carry on the success of their campaign back at school.

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Our Vesey Garden will be a thriving hub for sustainable growth of our community. With the world becoming a place where we spend our days inside and online, Vesey wants to look forwards working towards a sustainable future with us – the students - being responsible global citizens. Whilst our Vesey Garden may be a small step towards this, we hope it to be a tranquil space for the inhabitants who will live here and the visitors who go there to reclaim some peace in their lives.

We’d hope for the garden to be encompassed throughout our time spent here at Vesey – in our lessons and in our free time. Our Vesey Garden will demonstrate our commitment to a green future, and we hope to see your support – through donating any gardening supplies: treated timber, planters, wildflower or herb seeds or gardening equipment.

We will develop our outdoor space to be an enriching area for all years and more importantly the environment. This is necessary because 41% of UK species have declined since the 1970s. As a community, we aspire to hear and see the wildlife of our diverse nation. When future generations think about the Vesey Garden, they will be able to see a flourishing habitat for our wildlife and diversity.

For this project, we aim to develop new habitats for the variety of local birds and animals, building multi-purpose landscapes ranging from raised beds for herbs and plants (including as many of the UK’s 3500+ species of plants as possible) to bird feeders.

E.Dowen L6V and S. W. Sharpe 11R

On Friday 16 May, our school held their inaugural BVGS Earth day. It was a huge success.

Practically everyone I saw on Friday were wearing green (to represent the Earth) or any other non-uniform, and out of the 32 people in my class, 29 of them managed to bring in a pound for our Vesey Garden (a new project the Eco-committee have embarked on to help offset carbon emissions in our local area).

We also had a few games at Lunch; one such example is when we had 10 country flags and had to guess in order from most to least how much renewable energy each country used. To end the day, we had a ‘power down hour’ where for the last period on Friday, every class couldn’t use a projector, computer or the lights for an hour. This would help the school save energy/power. As year 7 had games, this was very easy to accomplish for us.

I hope you enjoyed Earth Day as much as the eco-committee did.

P. Shende, 7W We proudly raised £500.09 for our Vesey Garden, which means we can now purchase all the timber and compost to build the planters. The Vesey Garden will be built just behind the astro turf.

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Food is food isn't it? It's probably just made, ready for us to eat. Wrong!

I mean, it is just made in the UK. Wrong again!

Oh come on, you get milk from a cow, eggs from a chicken, pork from a pig - Wrong once again!

The workshop on Tuesday 13th May with Elli Clark, OV from Another Way explained all about the carbon dioxide emitted from different food products but also the produce of different proteins and the food miles of certain ingredients in a dish. To give a taste of what we learned, a beef burger, has the same carbon emissions from producing the food as driving for 48 miles in a normal car.

But how? Well, let us start with farming. Farms keep cows in conditions where there is a lot of machinery that produces carbon dioxide. And cows, quite frankly, are the biggest methane-producers in the whole world! Methane is a greenhouse gas, which means is trapped in our atmosphere. This warms the atmosphere, causing climate change. See it now? Ah. Another reason to talk about food affecting global warming is food miles. To provide a simple dish, ingredients come from all around the world. For example, for a chicken curry, ingredients come from India, China, Thailand as well as the minority made in the UK. That means the food isn't fresh- In total, the food miles (distance from where it is produced to the UK) is 33300km! Think about the boats that travel, producing CO2 as they go.

To reduce all of this happening, just try and reduce ingredients that come from a long way and be conscious of carbon footprint of the foods that you eat.

B. Rosu 7R

This term, members of the Eco-Committee and the Active Travel Ambassadors got the opportunity to take part in some filming for a short sustainability film promoting Bishop Vesey’s work with Let’s Go Zero and our work around waste management and active travel. Students had a brilliant time acting and showcasing the work that they do. The film will be promoted on the Birmingham City Council’s website and shared on social media channels including the BBC. Here are some behind the scenes pictures of the day.

Miss Stackhouse

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On Monday, 17th March, a group of Lower Sixth students delivered a thought-provoking presentation, facilitated by SOS-UK alongside the Green School’s Revolution, to subject teachers on the importance of integrating climate change awareness into their lessons.

The presentation highlighted the significant impact of climate change on the environment, society, and future generations, encouraging teachers to consider how they could integrate these issues into their curriculums.

A discussion took place on practical ways to incorporate climate-related topics into different subjects. A key focus was on shifting the pessimistic narrative towards a more solution-based approach, highlighting positive actions and progress rather than solely the challenges. By instilling inspiration rather than fear, the aim is to provide students with the knowledge and motivation to become environmentally conscious individuals who can contribute to a more sustainable future.

E. Dowen and E. Winterbottom began the presentation by introducing the basics of climate change, outlining key concepts, along with discussing key environmental issues.

J. Heirbaut-Kitteridge and L. Tyler then followed up by presenting the concept of climate justice, how the effects of climate change disproportionately affect the more vulnerable communities, with an emphasis on the importance of equality and fairness when addressing environmental issues. L. Johns and S. Hartley-Kite finished the presentation by getting the teachers to think of precise ways they could integrate climate education into their subjects, finally providing them with valuable resources that will support them as they begin to start applying their ideas.

This initiative reflects the school's ongoing commitment to sustainability and climate education, motivating both staff and students to engage with one of the most detrimental issues of our time.

Seb H-K L6 VIII and Lucy J. L6 II

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BISHOP VESEY’S SENIOR RUGBY TOUR SPONSORSHIP The Senior Rugby squad are searching for a main sponsor for the upcoming Tour to Belgium and France in February 2026. As part of that tour, new playing shirts will be distributed to the squad. We would very much welcome any individuals or companies who would like to become our main sponsor for the tour. The cost of the sponsorship would be £2000.

In return, your company logo would be printed as shown below. We would also use your company in all tour social media posting and Vesey publications leading up to the tour.

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VESEY staff

“The strength of of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

Phil Jackson

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

VALETES As we conclude this academic year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional members of our staff who have dedicated decades of service to Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, both collectively and individually. As they embark on new journeys beyond Vesey, we bid them farewell with warm wishes for success and happiness. Their presence will be deeply missed, and their legacy will continue to inspire us.

Sylvia Carroll, Teacher of Chemistry Silvia joined us in 2014 as a fresh faced and enthusiastic NQT and has had seen quite a lot of change within the department. While goodbyes are never easy, it’s always nice to see someone take a step forward in their career and embrace new opportunities and a new challenge as Silvia leaves us to go to lead the Chemistry team at The University of Aston Maths School.

During her time here, she’s brought a sense of optimism and a calm approach, even when things got incredibly busy. Her care for the students and willingness to keep going, even when the days were tough, has always been appreciated. She has shown real growth during her time with us, her commitment to learning and improving never went unnoticed. She’s made connections with staff and students alike, and those relationships are what truly matter in this profession.

So, from all of us, we thank Dr Carroll - for the time, the effort, and the energy she has given.

We wish her all the best in her new role and this exciting new chapter.

- J Sanders

Waqar Yousaf, Teacher of Biology Waqar joined us four years ago and quickly became an integral part of the department, impressing colleagues with his excellent subject knowledge and infectious enthusiasm. His commitment extended far beyond the classroom - he led the Crest Award with energy and purpose, chaired the Islamic Society where he nurtured student leadership with great care, and took the reins on co-curricular activities like the Biology Challenge and Olympiad for our Year 9, 10 and 12 students.

Whether he was lending a steady hand on the Twycross Zoo trip with Year 8 or sharing his beloved Pepe’s with the Year 12s on the ecology trip to Preston Montford, Waqar brought warmth and wit to every experience. His unforgettable “Plant Murder Mystery – Who killed Barry the Bush?” captivated Year 8 and solidified his place as a creative force in the classroom.

We’re so grateful for his hard work, dedication, and the genuine impact he’s had on students and staff alike. While we’re sad to see him go, we’re thrilled to see him stepping up as Head of Department - an opportunity he’s more than ready for. He leaves behind fond memories and big shoes to fill.

Good luck, Mr Yousaf!

- L Graham

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Jack Grant, Head of Year & French We bid farewell to a fantastic member of staff; big in stature and big in personality. Mr Jack Grant himself was a Year 7 starter in 2001 and was taught by staff still currently teaching at BVGS in 2025. He was a registrar to Miss Hearn in his time in the 6th form, Mr Goodwin was his Head of Year and Mr Robson was Head of 6th Form- some good mentors along the way clearly J. Jack is an inspirational role model and has helped guide numerous Veseyans during their time in school and beyond. He re-joined the Vesey family in 2018 as Teacher of French and immediately his passion for pastoral work became evident. In 2020, following a year stint as deputy Head of Year, he was appointed as Head of French and Head of Year.

Jack’s engagement in school life and his experiences as a former pupil has really helped cement his position in school. Students and staff respect him and find him very approachable.

Setting standards high underpinned by hard work coupled with a witty and quick sense of humour he has helped to develop a culture that inspires students to maximise their potential with a smile on their face. He has also supported in PE for numerous years coaching and tacking Hockey teams and helping students embrace opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

There will be a considerable void to fill in September 2025. We wish Jack well for the future. He moves on to pastures new as Assistant Headteacher at Erasmus Darwin Academy.

We will miss him.

- K Doughty and R Hearn

Martin Bradley, Teacher of Physics Martin Bradley joined the Physics department at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in January 2020 and quickly established himself as a friendly and dependable member of the team. After an incredible 35-year teaching career, Martin is retiring.

Over the decades, thousands of students have benefitted from his knowledge, care, and guidance. He brought Physics to life in the classroom — whether through practical experiments, entertaining anecdotes, or his unmistakable energy (and, it must be said, impressive volume!). Students will fondly remember his catchphrase request: “I need a man of character” to assist in lessons. Martin embodied that very character himself: resilient, thoughtful, hard-working, and always armed with his dry sense of humour. He struck a fine balance between energy and calm, commitment and good humour. He has been a pleasure to work with — nothing is ever too much hassle, he always places others best interests at heart and simply gets on with it.

Martin will be deeply missed by the Physics department; we all wish him a long, happy, and well-earned retirement, filled with cycling, travelling and plenty of time for stargazing.

- D Bradley

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Joe Berwick, Second in Maths Joe joined the Maths department in September 2018 fresh from his teacher training. His enthusiasm for both Mathematics and the enjoyment that he got from teaching were clear from the start. It was no surprise that he quickly became an inspirational teacher much loved by all of the students that he taught. Joe has also always been keen to further develop himself through teaching a variety of maths qualifications, taking on extra responsibility within the department and by becoming an A level marker for Edexcel. Outside of the classroom Joe loved to go on school trips. He went on many music tours and year 7 residentials as well as ski trips and language trips. When he became Assistant Head of Maths i/c of KS3 he then started to organise and lead his own residential trips, starting with a year 12 trip for further mathematicians to London and then a year 9 maths trip to Italy. Whilst in charge of KS3 Maths Joe has also organised and run the Maths Challenge competitions, setting up some problem – solving clubs to try to improve results. These clubs are now part of the co-curricular offering and our results have improved immensely. Joe is now off to fresh pastures, to become Head of Mathematics at King Edward’s Aston. We wish him well and will miss him.

- V Green

Laura Groves, Teacher of Maths Laura has been an exceptional member of the maths team and a valued part of school life over the past three years. Her contributions extended far beyond the classroom—whether leading Duke of Edinburgh cohorts, reviving the ski trip, coaching hockey, or supporting school residentials, Laura approached every role with dedication and energy. A former Veseyan herself, she leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, warmth, and rapport with students and staff alike. As she relocates to Norfolk to take on a head of department role, we wish her every success and hope she knows she’ll always have a home here at BVGS. Her new school is incredibly lucky to have her.

- A Cragg

Sarah Tinley, Teacher of Maths On behalf of both the Maths department and the year 7 team we would like to say goodbye and good luck to Sarah Tinley. From co-curricular swimming to year 7 residential and trips to Bletchley Park you got involved in Vesey life beyond the confines of your classroom; thank you for this and everything you have done to support your Maths classes and your form. Best of luck in all your future endeavours.

- M Sheargold

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Tom Smith, Teacher of Economics It has been a genuine privilege to work alongside Tom over the past year. As a dedicated and inspiring teacher of Economics, Tom brought not only a deep well of knowledge but also a calm, kind, and wise presence that enriched our team. His thoughtful insights and unwavering support have made a lasting impact on both staff and students. With lessons rooted in real-live relevance he has helped students in economics develop a true understanding and deeper appreciation of the subject.

Tom’s helpfulness and willingness to get involved have been greatly appreciated —whether assisting with school trips, supporting the javelin event at Sports Day, or stepping in wherever needed, he never hesitated to say yes. In just one year, Tom has become a well-known member of our staff, always ready to offer a helping hand and a warm smile. As he steps into retirement, we celebrate his contributions and the positive spirit he brought to our school.

Tom, you will be deeply missed, and we wish you all the very best in this next chapter.

- C Brocklebank

Sabrina Uppal, Executive Assistant & Comms Lead We were delighted to welcome Sabrina to BVGS in Autumn 2023. As a former grammar school girl, an ex-teacher of MFL and a businesswoman, Sabrina arrived with an outstanding unique combination of skills for the role as Executive Assistant to the Headteacher in our school. Her commitment to BVGS has been superb. She has an excellent set of values, committed to the flourishing of everyone in our school community, and she always puts our amazing Vesey pupils first.

Sabrina’s work in communications at BVGS has been absolutely exceptional. The weekly newsletters, the Veseyans and our excellent range of photographs and social media posts have all benefited from the magic of her creativity and profound attention to detail.

A real highlight was the fantastic work Sabrina did in delivering our first ever Giving Day. Her role behind the scenes in the months running up to April 2025, and in creating fun and engaging social media content, which communicated the vibrancy of ‘Giving Day’, were absolutely critical to the school raising an amazing £75,000 for our new Learning Resource Centre. We are eternally grateful to her for that contribution.

We will, of course, miss Sabrina. We wish her the very best with her next set of exciting adventures!

- D Robson

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OLD VESEYAN news

“Sometimes you will never know the value of the moment until it becomes a memory.”

Dr Seuss

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

DEAR READER, Thank you all, for your continued support and engagement in Old Veseyan life.

Many choose to stay up to date through the magazine and others also attend the many OV events throughout the year.

We recently had the fantastic Vesey Summer Festival which brought together around 600 attendees and many OVs of all ages to enjoy live music, and a host of different sports.

This year's OV dinner will be held at the school on the 8th November which is already proving popular so please do book early via the link here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bvgs We are keen to organise a Shaggy Dogs Tea Party again in September this year and we will confirm the details shortly via email. If you are interested in this over 65s event but do not receive our emails then please get in touch using my phone number 07806669312.

The quarterly catch ups continue to bring old friends together and for OVs and enable to make new connections. We are changing the location going forward to the Three Tuns Pub with the next get together being on the 4th September and the Christmas one being the 4th December.

Through these events I have personally made many new friends and reconnected with several from my own time at BVGS. This has also given me the pleasure of witnessing other OV's sharing the same opportunity.

For more information about any of the above then please get in touch via email here ova.chairman@gmail.com

Ed Pitt

Chair, OVA

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY As we strive to expand our alumni network and offer increased opportunities for networking, mentoring, and social engagement, our event calendar continues to flourish. Below, you'll find dates for all upcoming confirmed events. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox for additional events highlighted in our monthly OV Newsletter.

THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER Informal Catch Up The Three Tuns Pub SEPTEMBER (TBC) Shaggy Dogs Tea Party TBC SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER Annual OV Dinner 6:30PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER Informal Catch Up Station Pub SATURDAY 20TH JUNE Summer Festival Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School If you would like to come along to any of these events, please contact Chair of the OVA, Ed Pitt, at ebwpitt@hotmail.co.uk. Tickets for the OV Dinner are available to purchase here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bvgs

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23

BVGS GOLF DAY 2025 Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School hosted its 9th Annual Golf Day on Friday 13th June inviting guests to enjoy a great day of friendly competition, fun and networking. This event has been sponsored by X2 Workspaces since its inception and the school is proud and appreciative of its business and sponsorship association with X2 Workspaces. This is a highly valued partnership enabling this important and enjoyable annual event for the benefit of the school and specifically school sports.

The event was held at Walmley Golf Club. The course was in outstanding condition and was an enjoyable challenge to all the golfers in what was exceptional weather.

Both golfers and guests were appreciative of the excellent facilities and generous hospitality provided by the club. Over 80 Golfers arrived in the morning to be greeted with brunch sandwiches prior to their round of golf. There was a shotgun start and great game of golf enjoyed by all followed by relaxing on the balcony and in the clubhouse before enjoying an exceptional dinner which preceded thank you speeches and the all-important prize giving. Congratulations to this year’s winners the “Walmley Ladies Team” who just edged the victory following a tremendous stableford score to win gift vouchers and the all-important “Vesey” Claret Jug. There were many events and side competitions during the day including Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and also Challenge the Student. There were also 3 separate Hole in One competitions, however no one was able to get that very elusive Hole in One during the day.

The event provides valuable financial support for Vesey Sport. Graham Swindells, Finance and Operations Director explained, “The Annual Golf Day is a very important event in the school calendar the event gives the opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders to participate in an enjoyable and relaxing day whilst giving the opportunity to socialise, network and develop new friendships. The excellent course and welcoming facilities of Walmley Golf Club are the perfect setting for this event. Special thanks to Claire Bolton our Development Director for arranging another outstanding event for all our golfers and guests. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that has supported and attended this event especially those partners of the school that have been able to offer sponsorships and donations to make this event a special and successful day and we look forward to hosting our 10th Annual Golf Day in June 2026, which we are confident will be another very special and enjoyable day."

Thank you also to Mr Swindells, Mrs Bagshaw, Miss Gardner, the PE department and Site Team and our Business and Charity Interns for preparing for and hosting such a wonderful event.

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IN MEMORIAM John Whittaker 1936 - 2025 John was born in Sutton Coldfield in 1936 and died of heart failure on 20th January 2025. He attended Boldmere Infant/Junior schools and Bishop Vesey grammar school, where he was a keen rugby player and went on to play for the old boys. He was very proud of his old school and was the organiser of a regular lunch for Old Vesyans and the annual Shaggy Dogs Tea Party.

When he left school he studied metallurgy at Aston University while working for ICI, subsequently IMI, which was where he met Janet. He enjoyed his job, eventually working as a sales manager and travelling the UK and the world selling copper and brass strip and sheet. He and Janet were together for 59 years.

He had many varied interests – rugby, squash, sailing, fly fishing, bird watching, stamp collecting. He tied his own salmon flies and for a while took a night school class teaching this. His father bought him a Trix train set when he was young and he revived his interest in this more recently when it was retrieved from the loft and brought back to life.

For many years he was involved with Talking Newspapers and took responsibility for the recordings. He enjoyed the technical side of this and found it not only enjoyable but also very rewarding. Also a keen member of a local Probus club.

One continuing interest throughout his life was his love of classical music and his hi fi stereo equipment. While he was being cared for at home and had difficulty concentrating on television programmes he enjoyed listening to music, particularly the pianist Horowitz, and also Jacques Loussier a special favourite and whose music was played at his funeral.

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Thomas Madden MD 1921 - 2025 Thomas Arthur Madden MD was born on Easter Sunday in 1921, in Wednesbury, Staffordshire—he called it ‘the Black Country’ because of all the potteries and their air pollution. As children his two brothers became housebound for a time due to poor health, so their first years of education were at what the brothers called Mother’s Home School.

Tom entered BVGS at age 10, feeling well prepared. He won prizes in German, French, and English literature—beautifully bound books which are still in our library.

Many of the masters at that time were veterans of the First World War, some with visible injuries. He remained fond of the school all his life, recalling his participation in sport, music and theatricals. He returned for visits to the school with his brother John as late as 2005.

After Bishop Vesey’s, Tom matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, reading Modern Languages until changing to Medicine and Surgery. As a medical student at Guy’s Hospital in London during the blitz he delivered babies there and in outlying areas where mothers had been sent for safety. After WWII He worked for international student cooperation in health, sports, and education, receiving the Médaille d’Or de l’Education Physique et du Sport, République Francaise.

After the founding of the National Health Service Tom decided on primary care and community medicine as his life’s work. He chose his first medical practice in London’s East End, followed by an NHS teaching practice in Peckham, South London. At that time much of a primary care doctor’s time was spent In home and school visiting. He published the results of research on suicides following bereavement, mental health care in the community, causes of deaths in a local Victorian workhouse, and the use of social workers as members of the primary practice team.

1975 the British Medical Association [BMA] Board of Science and Education’s Sir Charles Hastings Prize for research in primary care, and the BMA’s Charles Oliver Hawthorne Essay Prize.

Moving to the US in 1978 to marry, he joined one of the early health maintenance organizations, affiliated with Rush University in Chicago, where he was on the medical school faculty. Throughout 18 years of patient care, teaching, and clinical research, he published and lectured on health care policy, community medicine, and public health. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, and in 1994 retired as Emeritus Professor of Preventive Medicine at Rush University.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES Exploring the archives from 1925, we discovered that students of that year also embarked on a trip to Belgium. Interestingly, they were also involved in organising the library - a fitting parallel to today, as our own library is currently being prepared for relocation to the new Learning Resource Centre.

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SUMMER 2025 | EDITION 23 EDITOR - SABRINA UPPAL