King Edward VI Five Ways (KEFW) is a traditional, selective and co-educational state grammar school for ages 11-18 It is located in Birmingham. One of the seven establishments of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI it is a voluntary aided school, with admission by selective examination. The name is retained from its previous location at Five Ways, at the western edge of Birmingham city centre, from where the school moved to Bartley Green in 1958.
Video King Edward VI Five Ways School
Background
It was first in the school league tables in 2007. Currently the school has around 1150 pupils in attendance amongst the lower school (years 7-11) and over 100 staff, some of whom are former pupils. The school is unique amongst the King Edward VI Foundation, being the only fully co-educational one. The school scored "outstanding" in every category with Ofsted report in November 2005. The school is Voluntary Aided. Parents are asked to make a 'voluntary contribution' each year of around £30 per pupil to 'The School Club'. This money is used solely to provide extras and benefits for all school pupils throughout the year. The school uses some unusual terminology matching that of other Foundation schools, such as naming site managers or caretakers "porters" and homework, "private study", though not all teachers employ these terms. The school is much over-subscribed, the ninth in the country, according to The Times, with 10.6 candidates competing for 1 place.
Maps King Edward VI Five Ways School
History
Established as a boys' school in 1883, part of the King Edward VI Foundation, the school's original building was that of the former Edgbaston Proprietary School, on Hagley Road at its junction with Ladywood Road, at Five Ways, approximately 1 mile south-west of Birmingham city centre. The school, designed by J.A. Chatwin was opened on 16 January 1883 by A. J. Mundella with provision for 350 boys the Headmaster being E.H.F. MacCarthy, formerly a master at the main King Edward's School. He remained in the post until retirement in 1916, and now has a building named after him at the Bartley Green site. Originally the school educated only up to age 16, Fifth Form, and to go to Oxbridge a pupil had to transfer to the main King Edward's School, at the time in New Street. However, MacCarthy's successor, Mr Barker, introduced a Sixth Form.
During the Second World War, the Headmaster at the time, Mr Dobinson, decided to evacuate the school to Monmouth, and the boys attended Monmouth School, the two staffs sharing the teaching. This meant that all the staff and pupils were lodged in the town, and could only keep in contact with family via correspondence; Mr Dobinson was able occasionally to visit Birmingham.
After the war the school was becoming overcrowded, but due to development around the school there was no opportunity to expand, so a new site was found. On 23 April 1958 the school opened at its current home in Bartley Green, a suburb on the extreme south-west of Birmingham. The new school was built on the site of the Bartley Farm, which had been purchased by the Foundation, next to Bartley Reservoir. The site was elevated, and in the winter a bleak place.
The relocation was not universally popular. The school Debating Society passed a motion regretting the move. Staff were concerned about the effect the relocation to such a distant suburb would have on the school's intake, which because of the central position had been drawn from the whole city; many boys who had joined the school at Five Ways, easily reached from all parts of the city, suddenly had considerably longer journeys to its new remote location. This undoubtedly affected admissions in later years. Then the school's corridors were considered too narrow, and whilst the playing fields were extensive the school buildings themselves were small and rather basic, with limited common areas.
The time since 1958 has seen the development of much improved facilities, largely due to Arminio, however. Buildings new to the Bartley Green site include the Eyles and Chowen Centres, the former and current home of the school's Sixth Form. A music block and technology block have been added, as well as a Sports Hall and the MacCarthy Block. There has also been the expansion of the Science Wing, and increased seating capacity in the hall with an annex, as well as the current building of the Fitness Suite and extension to the art rooms in the MacCarthy Block.
Five Ways was one of the first schools in the West Midlands to introduce computer technology in 1978. This was achieved with a communications link to use computing facilities at Aston University.
Girls have been admitted to Five Ways since 1988, first in the Sixth Form, then in the main school ten years later. Today Five Ways is the largest co-educational grammar school in the West Midlands, and one of the top five co-ed grammar schools nationally.
Headteachers
The school has had 11 Headmasters and 1 Headmistress in its history.
- Revd Egerton Francis Mead MacCarthy 1883 - 1916
- Arthur Ernest Barker 1916 - 1933
- Charles Henry Dobinson 1933 - 1945
- Harry Robert Roach 1946 - 1951
- Thomas Charles Burgess 1951 - 1963 (Oversaw move to Bartley Green; died in post)
- Roland Mathias 1964 - 1969
- Peter Rodney Watkins 1969 - 1974
- Geoffrey Sanders 1974 - 1991
- Revd John G. Knowles 1991 - 1999
- Peter Limm 1999 - 2002
- David Wheeldon 2002 - 2012
- Yvonne Wilkinson 2012-present
Yvonne Wilkinson was Acting Headmistress from September to December 2002, the first Headmistress in the school's history, although as she served in, an acting capacity, for only one term, it was not properly a Headmistressship. She returned as the first actual headmistress from the start of the 2012-2013 school year, after a headship at Gateways School, Leeds].
Entry
Pupils must pass an 11-plus entrance exam to get into the school. The King Edward Schools are academic powerhouses and therefore fiercely competitive to get admission. The entrance examination is tough and only 1 in 10 are successful.The King Edward VI Foundation holds its exams at the same time, and generally a candidate will sit one exam for multiple schools within the foundation. Formerly 155 were selected from each year, from more than 1,500 candidates; with a few more accepted every year on appeal. From September 2014 the school increased its intake to 180 pupils in Year 7. A pupil has the opportunity to list the Foundation schools that he or she prefers, and depending on the results, may get allocated into one of the schools.
Students can also enter the school at sixth form level, though they do not have to take a test for this. Instead, places are awarded based on GCSE grades, requiring at least an A in any subject you wish to take, A* in Maths to take Further Maths, and a B in English and Maths if they do not already form part of your offer. Again, at this level places are highly competitive with students applying from all over Birmingham and the surrounding areas. There are approximately 50 external candidates in each year.
Academic Stature
Subjects Offered
At GCSE, students are obliged to choose at least one humanities subject (options include History, Geography [and formerly Geology]), at least one foreign language (options include French, German, Latin and Spanish), and other traditional subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Statistics, English Language, English Literature and Religious Studies. Other options include: Music, Art, Drama, Product Design, Food Technology, Systems and Control, PE and AS Information Technology (conditional on an 'A' in IT GCSE). The requirements to stay in the school for A Levels are 4 A grades in the subjects selected for A Level study.
Four subjects are picked at AS Level. Most year 11 students study General Studies AS, although several in each year group are selected to study Film Studies, or Environmental studies (both AS level). Options exclusive to A Level studies are: Economics, Government & Politics, Classical Civilisation, Sport Studies, Psychology and Philosophy as well as courses from down the school. There is also a Further Maths option, which enables a candidate to take two A Levels, one in Mathematics, one in Further Maths, over the two years. From 2013, the school no longer offers IB courses.
The International Baccalaureate took its first cohort of students in 2011. For the first 2-year course a variety of SL and HL subjects have been offered along with TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Subjects World Literature and Mathematics are compulsory but are at SL and HL. One subject from Biology, Chemistry or Physics must be chosen at SL or HL. One subject from History, Geography or Economics must be chosen at SL or HL. One subject from French, Spanish, German (and hopefully in the future Mandarin and Latin) at ab initio [from scratch] level, SL or HL. One more option is fulfilled by a science, humanities or foreign language option or the choice of Visual Arts at SL or HL. In March 2013 prospective students were informed that the International Baccalaureate will no longer be offered due to lack of interest and applications from internal Year 11 students who wished to stay on the next year, and timetable and staffing constraints.
2016 Results
At GCSE, 100% of candidates achieved at least 5 A*-C grades, and 100% of all entries were between A*-C. 74% were in the A*-A range, and 91% were in the A*-B range. The school excelled in English Literature and Religious Studies. In 2007, in English Literature, the top 5 entries nationally (AQA) were all from Five Ways, and in Religious Studies, only 1 candidate failed to score an A or A* in both the short and full courses. 37 students achieved all A*/A grades. At A Level, there was a 100% pass rate, with 5 candidates achieving 5 A grades, and a total of 39 candidates achieving 3 or more A grades.
House system
The system operates by allocating each student to one of four houses upon their entry into the school. Throughout the academic year each student is expected to attain as many house points as possible, so increasing their house's chance of winning the end of year House Championship.
History
The House System was originally introduced by Mr Barker. He appointed four housemasters, who gave their names to the houses (Roses, Rants, Bates, McPherson). In 1973 the system was abolished by Mr Sanders, then headteacher, due to dwindling interest. In 1990 the system was reinstated, but the new houses were named after the first four Headmasters of the school, MacCarthy (yellow), Barker (red), Dobinson (blue) and Roach (green).
Attaining points
Traditionally, the vast majority of house points were attained by being awarded house merit points, for good contributions in class, impressive performances on homework, and other minor achievements. Until recently, the only other way to score house points was on sports day.
The recent revival in the house system has brought a wide variety of both sporting and non-sporting events, throughout the whole year, involving every age group in the school, and including house Cross Country, Sudoku, Dancing and Cookery. House points are awarded to the house with the highest number of merit points in each year, with 2nd, 3rd and 4th place houses getting fewer points. Five house points are also awarded for each Head's Commendation a pupil receives.
Results
Current totals are announced monthly, during Friday morning assemblies.
A table of the winners:
- Barker - 6 times (with Barker winning 'five years in a row', a new record, from 2007-2011)
- Roach - 6 times (a first tie-breaker in 2012 with Dobinson)
- Dobinson - 4 times
- MacCarthy - 3 times
Features
School Council
The Council comprises an elected representative from every form in the school: just short of 50. For the 2006/07 school year, a new constitution was publicly launched, and was unanimously ratified by the Council on its inaugural meeting. The Constitution was designed to improve the speed of decisions, and increase the power of individual school representatives.
The School Council aims to bring about the changes in the school that its pupils wish to see. Some notable achievements include:
- Clocks in each classroom
- Benches on the playground
- Basketball Hoops on the playground
- Water fountains
- Toilet refurbishment, and the appointment of a full-time cleaner
- Football facilities
- Flat Screen TVs everywhere
- Changes to food pricing
- Construction of new changing rooms
The 2006/7 school year saw the Council make a conscious effort to be more known throughout the school, through a variety of methods including sponsoring showings of various films, posters around the school, and running charity events such as the Five Ways interpretation of World AIDS Day.
The Sixth Form Council was a precursor to the School Council and achieved notoriety when in 2003 it reported the school to the Health and Safety Executive over fire safety failings. The HSE sided with the students and mandated the school to improve the alarm system and replace fire doors.
Facilities
The school has extensive grounds and facilities. Situated on a large 30 acre site, there are many outdoor sports pitches for a variety of sports including (amongst others) Rugby, Cricket, Hockey, Rounders, football, Athletics and Netball. Almost all indoor sports are catered for, including Swimming and the Tyn-Y-Waen Climbing Wall - which was opened by climber Ben Moon in June 2005. The school has buildings, known as "blocks" for subject groups, and a separate Sixth Form Centre. There are a number of dedicated computer rooms, a staffed library, a Connexions career room, and all classrooms are equipped with Interactive whiteboards. The school also has a modern fitness suite as well as a new building with changing rooms and a sports Pavilion.
A recent acquisition by the school has been a mobile fieldwork unit for use by the Humanities Departments.
Staff vs. 1st team cricket match
After the exams in July, there is a Staff v 1st Team cricket match. The staff are christened the "Staff Cavaliers". The match is a timed one-day cricket match, with no specific number of overs allotted per team. This allows all three results possible. The staff are bolstered by the presence of an ex-first class player. By arrangement, the Staff always bat first.
Bus Service
The school has a special school bus, The Green Bus. There are 6 current routes, numbered 881- 886 excluding 882, which changed its name to 782. They are used by a large proportion of the school, but since the price increase owing to loss of government subsidies, fewer use this service. The public buses 22, 18, X64 and 002 are also highly used buses. They are run by National Express West Midlands.
International links
The school has enjoyed its many international links worldwide, which have brought a wide range of opportunities, development, exchanges and experiences - social, charitable, curricular and developmental - to its pupils and staff.
These Links enabled Five Ways to win the DfES Full School Award, celebrating Internationalism and it was described as "a major honour for excellence in this field."
The Babati link group
The Babati Link Group formed from within the school in 2003 exists to promote friendship and share educational resources with their Tanzanian friends at Babati Day School in the rurally remote town of Babati, Manyara.
Mr Wilson initiated this link after visiting Babati in 2002. The school has now raised several thousand pounds altogether to support Babati Day, all pupils taking part in fund raising. A trust fund has been set up and the money has been used for classroom renovation projects, air fares for Babati teachers to visit Britain, the cost of supporting an e-mail link between the schools, and so on.
A party of 45 students and teachers visited Babati in 2003, and carried out a classroom renovation. The Headmaster and a teacher colleague visited Birmingham in 2003-4, learning about teaching, management and leadership, as a result of which the school has developed a school improvement strategy.
One of the schools' World Challenge parties passed through Babati and helped build its first sports facility, a basketball court.
A second group of students and teachers travelled to Babati in July 2005. This group carried out renovations and also focused on teaching English as a foreign language. All students involved on the trip took Swahili lessons to facilitate this. Staff involved developed curriculum projects in English, Science, R.E. and Modern languages as a result of the visit.
In Summer 2006 a small group of students from the VI Form travelled to Babati to see the construction of a brand new ICT facility for Babati Day. Pupils from KEFW were actively involved in both the delivery of an ICT infrastructure, and the inaugural ICT lessons at the school, Supported by the Babati Link Group, a roadmap for future development of this facility has been put in place.
The English School
Five Ways was approached by Pate's Grammar School in 2005. They have an established link with the English School in Guangzhou, but struggle to accommodate the numbers of students from the partner school that wish to visit Britain. Therefore, Five Ways agreed to assist. Six students spent time in Birmingham in July 2005 and a party of six sixth formers and Deputy Head Mrs Long visited China in October 2005. Since then an exchange has occurred regularly.
King Edward Public School
Following an approach by the Chairman of King Edward School, who is the father of an ex-pupil, The Headmaster, David Wheeldon, and Deputy Head, Richard Fox, made a preliminary visit to Mahilpur in February 2004. Since then a group of students from India visited Birmingham in July 2004, and spent time in classes with Year 7 students. A group of sixth formers and two members of staff returned to India in February 2005. They carried out various teaching and learning activities. The next stage is to embed the link with India into the curriculum. We also welcome another party from India in November 2005, this time including teachers who will study teaching and learning in British schools, as well as six Year 8 students.
Christchurch Boys' School
Links are being forged at the moment with Christchurch Boys' High School in the South island of New Zealand.
United States' Links
The EDGE partnership is a thriving network of schools in south west Birmingham, working together on all aspects of education. A link has been established between this group and a similar network in Chicago. Currently, Five Ways' main partner school at the moment is Walter Payton College Preparatory High School which is a Math, Science and World Language High School. This is a CPD link aimed mainly at senior management at the moment. An exchange is currently taking place. The intention is to broaden this link to encompass teachers at all levels.
The school is also in the process of establishing a video conference link with Walter Payton High School in Chicago.
St Just School
A new link has been established by the French department with St Just School in Lyon.
The partnership school is a mixed comprehensive and very highly regarded school right in the centre of Lyon. This is an ideal exchange/link as Lyon is the twin town of Birmingham, while KEFW and Lycée St Just offer very similar characteristics.
Afri Twin link
The Afri Twin link involves a number of British schools in a triangular relationship, each with two South African schools; one private school and one township school. After some initial problems the link is now becoming established under Mr Webster's guidance.
The intention is that once initial contacts have been established, students will begin to communicate at a more advanced level, sharing ideas on study projects and using their contacts to inform work in various subjects. As well as this, it is planned to establish a video conference link.
Teachers will have the opportunity to share ideas on teaching and learning, and teacher visits between the schools for CPD purposes are envisaged soon.
It is hoped also to arrange a sports tour to South Africa, taking in the two partner schools.
Brekkuskoli School
The link with Brekkuskoli was established in October 2006 when Mr Isgrove, Mr Bird and Mr Dear visited Akureyri whilst on the Circum Iceland trip during half term. They met with a number of staff, including the Headmaster, to discuss future plans and had a tour of the school which is relatively new in that it is the result of an amalgamation of two of the oldest schools in the town.
Future plans include Video Conferencing and Teacher/Student visits.
Five Ways Old Edwardians
Notable alumni include:
- Richard Adams (Traidcraft) - Fair Trade pioneer
- Arun Arora - Anglican priest and former Director of Communications of the Church of England
- Kate Ashfield - Actress
- Peter Bennett, 1st Baron Bennett of Edgbaston OBE, Conservative MP for Birmingham Edgbaston 1940-53 and President of the British Productivity Council 1955-57
- Prof Sir David Cannadine - Historian
- Michael Checkland - Former Director General of the BBC
- Tom Butler - Bishop of Southwark
- John Copley, opera director
- Keith Fielding - International Rugby Union and Rugby League Player
- Oscar Deutsch - Founder of Odeon Cinemas
- Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin CBE, Chief Executive of Reading Borough Council 1988-91, former husband of Elizabeth Filkin
- Anisa Haghdadi - Social Entrepreneur
- Charles Hare - Tennis player - Represented Great Britain in the 1937 Davis Cup
- Steve Harper - automotive designer
- Geoffrey Jones (academic) - Professor at the Harvard Business School and business historian
- John Kenneally V.C. (born Leslie Robinson)
- Prof Michael Laughton, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Queen Mary, University of London 1977-2000
- Joe Lycett - Comedian
- Prof Raymond Lyttleton, Professor of Theoretical Astronomy at the University of Cambridge 1969-78
- Mazher Mahmood - The "Fake Sheikh" Journalist
- David Maloney - Former BBC television director and producer
- Martha Howe-Douglas - Actress
- Geoffrey Jones (academic) - Professor at the Harvard Business School and business historian
- Simon Morgan - Former Leicester City F.C. and Fulham F.C. footballer
- Nerm - BBC broadcaster and musician
- David Parsons - England Cricket Coach
- Tom Parsons - International Sportsman
- Rahul Potluri - doctor, researcher, scientist and Founder of ACALM
- Paul Ready - actor
- Alex Smith - Won "The Wolfram 2,3 Turing Machine Research Prize"
- Frederick Stratton OBE, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge from 1928-47, and President of the Royal Astronomical Society 1933-35
- Ben Wright - BBC Political Correspondent
- Jeremy Williams (actor) - Actor/Writer/Photographer
References and notes
External links
- School Official site
- Schools of King Edward VI (Admissions)
- Babati Link Group website
- Birmingham & District Junior Chess League Website
- Media Department Website
- Five Ways Chess Website
- School Council Website
- The Green Bus Website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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