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Edward Betham School is a two-form entry Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School maintained by the London Borough of Ealing. We currently have 455 pupils on roll (including 35 Nursery places). The school is located on a split-site in Oldfield Lane South on the south side of Western Avenue (A40) within a short walking distance of several bus and underground routes. The school was founded in 1780 by Reverend Edward Betham - Rector of the Parish of Greenford - whose generosity enabled the education of the poor. Although there have been several significant changes in the area over the years, the school has retained its traditional ethos and attractive location in a quiet, leafy corner of Greenford. The school benefits from close links with the local community and neighboring Holy Cross Church maintaining a sense of belonging and tradition. Our school motto ‘The cross is steady while the world is turning’ reflects our Christian values alongside readiness to embrace change. Learning is at the heart of all school activities. The excellent relationships and teamwork between different members of our school community make for a positive, welcoming environment where everyone’s contribution is valued. The school benefits from a low mobility rate – over 90% of pupils remain at the school from Reception to Year 6 - enabling good progress for all of our learners. In February 2015, Ofsted judged the school to be ‘Good’ and the Diocese of London graded the school as ‘Outstanding’ in the same year. The school is served by a committed, pro-active Governing Body whose members execute their duties in a highly professional and supportive manner. The governors’ dedication to the school ensures effective strategic management and accountability at all levels. The school’s parent community – the Edward Betham Friends’ Association – works with enthusiasm and generosity raising funds throughout the year to help support numerous projects at the school. Everything we do reflects our values: What we believe in What we think is important The kind of people we want to be The kind of world we want to create and live in At The Edward Betham CofE Primary School, we aim to provide a happy and secure environment in which every child feels physically and emotionally safe to help children acquire the appropriate skills to enable them to reach their highest potential intellectually, physically, emotionally, spiritually, morally and socially, and to ensure that all pupils have equal access to a balanced curriculum, incorporating the National Curriculum, which ensures continuity and progression in their academic development. We aim to maintain within the whole school community, a Christian ethos in which the Christian faith is shared, explored, and enjoyed to foster respect for, and knowledge and understanding of, their own and different religions, ways of life, languages, and cultures and enhance the children's understanding of the multicultural community in which they live. We aim to encourage all members of the school community to have a concern, respect, and a caring attitude for others, their immediate environment, and the world at large. We aim to encourage the children to become responsible and confident people through the fostering of positive attitudes which enhance self-esteem to become self-reliant, to have active and enquiring minds, be able to question and reason, and be capable of independent thought and action. We aim to encourage parents to become involved partners through the provision of clear, accurate, and useful information about their children's development, and to encourage parents to support the work of the school by assisting during the school day and in other appropriate ways. View full school

Welcome to King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy where you’ll discover a great learning environment in which students aged from 11 to 18 are encouraged to reach their full potential. We invite you to be part of it. We believe that all children can achieve. We provide a stimulating learning environment where we raise students’ aspirations. We ensure equality of opportunity for all. We pride ourselves on being approachable – working with parents, students, staff, and the community in a spirit of cooperation and support. We belong to King Edward VI Foundation – which provides a proud history dating back to 1552 and a national reputation for academic excellence. We have high expectations of personal conduct and responsibility. We have an absolute commitment to high standards for all. Above all, we believe in the best – for our students, their families, our Academy, and the wider community. King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy is committed to developing responsible, aspirational, independent, happy, and well-rounded young people with the self-belief to reach their goals. Our work will be underpinned by our core values and driven by our unequivocal belief in equality and tolerance. We will secure this through inspirational and enthusiastic teaching, the provision of a broad, challenging curriculum, and excellent support and care. We want to ensure our young people fulfill and exceed their potential, be proud of who they are, be committed to lifelong learning and leave well-equipped to navigate their way through the challenges of the 21st Century positively contributing to society both economically and socially. The Sponsor, King Edward VI Foundation, has developed a vision and ethos for the Academy. The ‘ethos’ is what the culture of the Academy will be like – the thinking and values that will shape the way it works. The vision of the Academy is how that ethos will look and work in the Academy, how it will impact the day-to-day. This vision and ethos will help us to make the Academy a place where students fulfill their real potential. The Academy will become a beacon of aspiration for the children of the local community and will work with that community to provide an entirely comprehensive education for all of its students. It will blend excellence in academic, vocational, and extra-curricular activity to allow them all to succeed in ways most appropriate to them and their talents. The Academy will ensure that all students receive a well-rounded education that goes well beyond their academic study. It will offer a rich and diverse educational experience designed to broaden their horizons and to raise awareness of what is possible for them as individuals, increasing their ambition. Through strong pastoral systems, the Academy will nurture a caring environment, which values and respects diversity and which seeks to recognize and reward all skills, abilities, and achievements. The King Edward VI Foundation has values that can be shared with the local community of Sheldon Heath to maximize the achievements of the students within the Academy. The Foundation's vision is that: A culture of high aspiration and the celebration of high achievement in academic, vocational, and personal contexts can encourage all students to achieve their potential. A demonstrable interest in and commitment to each student through effective pastoral systems makes them feel safe, valued, and prepared to learn. A well-rounded education, extending beyond academic study and offering rich and diverse opportunities, enables all students to broaden their horizons and to feel that they can succeed at something relevant to them as individuals. The development of a strong and thriving sixth form at the Academy is essential for progression in the education of its students and will enhance provision in East Birmingham as a whole. Providing opportunities for students to practice leadership skills and to make a contribution to the development of their Academy will give students pride in their school and will support positive behavior and discipline. The specialisms of Science and Performing Arts can be maximized through high-quality teaching and learning, resources, and accommodation to offer choice, diversity, and achievement for all talents. Strong partnerships with the local and wider community can be used to enhance the curriculum offered to students and to develop a sense of ownership amongst residents. Access to new technologies will give students the confidence to participate and lead in a rapidly changing society. The Academy will be in a partnership with the King Edward VI Foundation. This means that it will benefit from links with other schools which are part of the same foundation. This partnership will help students to grow academically, vocationally, socially and morally, so that they leave the Academy as independent, cooperative, responsible, and creative young adults able to cope with the challenges and changes they face throughout their lives. Together with relevant qualifications, this will prepare students for entry to Further and Higher Education and the world of work. There is another partnership that we hope will play an important role in making the Academy a success: a partnership with parents. This is essential to ensure that students can achieve their potential and the Academy will encourage parents to feel that they are valued and able to contribute to the process of educating their child. View full school

King Edward VI High School for Girls is a high-performing independent school for pupils aged 11 to 18 with the capacity to transform the lives of the bright, multi-talented girls who come here from an extraordinary range of backgrounds. Our girls achieve outstanding results, but we are about so much more than outstanding examination results and places at top universities. We provide a richly varied and exciting education in a friendly, nurturing environment. We want to fire girls’ imaginations and arouse their intellectual curiosity. We know our girls will be tomorrow’s leaders and we want to help them develop the drive and skills they will need for the world of work, together with the confidence to aim high and pursue their ambitions with determination and enthusiasm. This is a unique school the girls’ intellectual rigor, the questions they ask, the music they make, their love of sport, and the interest they demonstrate for the world around them through fundraising and community links, all demonstrate what makes King Edward VI High School for Girls distinctive. At KEHS, we aim to offer girls an education that will prepare them for their future: in further education, employment, and in their personal lives. We want girls to embrace a love of learning, develop new skills, and make friends for life in a safe and supportive environment. We want to inspire them to aim high, believe in themselves, and pursue their dreams. Hand in hand with our academic curriculum goes a vast array of extra-curricular activities to suit every taste, offering time to relax, unwind, learn new skills and meet a range of people. Aware that learning does not stop at the school gate, we offer opportunities for independent study and a wide range of exciting, educational visits in the UK and beyond, to put learning into context and broaden horizons. Our core aims are summarised in the following statements: To offer girls a distinctive, academic education in a friendly, nurturing environment. To help girls to achieve academic success, inspiring a love of learning for its own sake. To give girls the confidence to aim high and pursue their ambitions. To encourage girls to achieve a productive and healthy work/life balance. To develop independent, resilient young women. To encourage girls to broaden their horizons and to think rationally and globally, celebrating diversity. To be accessible to able girls from all backgrounds. To encourage respect for others and a sense of collective responsibility. To provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities. We are proud to be a harmonious and diverse multi-cultural school, welcoming girls from all over Birmingham and beyond. KEHS is a small, friendly, and tolerant community with good relationships underpinning everything we do. We welcome individuals with lively minds and creative ideas. We want to challenge and support girls to explore new concepts and try new things, to follow their passions, and to achieve their potential. We encourage them to take risks, be willing to make mistakes, and learn from them so that they are more resilient and ready to face the future with confidence. We are proud of the outstanding results girls achieve in public examinations and the places gained at top universities, but equally proud of girls’ prowess in sport, music, art, and drama, of the happy, convivial atmosphere, and the thriving co-curricular program. We are also proud that KEHS girls serve their local and wider communities through community service and charitable engagement. Our highly qualified teachers have a passion for their subject they are outstanding mentors, motivators, and role models for students. All are committed to providing the best teaching and learning experience possible, nurturing our girls’ enquiring minds, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning. We treat all students as individuals and aim to provide a positive environment in which we can challenge them to push themselves to their limits. Our dedicated teachers forge excellent relationships with the girls and, crucially, are always willing to discuss topics, answer questions or offer additional help through informal one-to-one meetings at recess or lunchtimes. KEHS organizes internal professional development for all staff to keep them up to date with the latest research and ideas in education. Staff members are keen to share good practice and give presentations on cutting-edge topics to small groups of their colleagues throughout the year. At KEHS, we believe extra-curricular activities are vital in developing rounded, balanced students who enrich the life of the school as well as fulfilling their academic potential. We offer myriad opportunities for girls to sample exciting experiences from Rowing, Ultimate Frisbee, and Football Club to Philosophy Society, Schools’ Challenge quizzing, and Creative Writing. Some students help to run existing clubs or even start their own, to share their interests, developing their leadership skills, and becoming role models within the school community. View full school

King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls is an 11-18 selective girls’ school, forming part of the King Edward Foundation. The King Edward’s Foundation is responsible for the running of the five grammar schools (all of which converted to academy status on the 1st August 2011), two independent schools, and the King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy in the City of Birmingham. We currently have 901 pupils, 261 in the Sixth Form. We are very popular and have approximately nine applicants for every place given. We are a Performing Arts specialist college and gained High Performing School Status in 2010, as a result, our second specialism is Science. We are a busy, caring, and supportive school that values praise, enjoyment, respect, and honesty in all we do. A rich program of extracurricular provision provides chances for the girls to develop outside of the classroom, particularly in skills of confidence, teamwork, and leadership. We aim to develop young ladies who leave the school with a secure sense of identity, respect, tolerance for and understanding of difference and diversity, academic success, and as well-rounded, confident young women who are ready and able to embrace the challenges and opportunities of adult life. Our five Ofsted inspections have been outstanding, nonetheless, we are not complacent and review and plan for further development to strengthen our school. We are an ambitious and forward-thinking school, we are firm believers in Building Learning Power, a strategy pioneered by Guy Claxton, and we have spoken at national and local conferences promoting the approach. The vast majority of our lessons are graded outstanding or good. Our facilities are excellent and provide a 21st-century learning environment. Our school is built on a pleasant, enclosed campus, close to the center of Birmingham. The main building was constructed in 1911 and contains some excellent specialist teaching rooms and a beautiful Hall. Considering the selective nature of our school, academic achievement is important and we are anxious to provide our pupils with the widest possible choice within and beyond the framework of the National Curriculum. We follow a 50 period fortnight with three hour-long lessons in the morning and two in the afternoon. All our staff is well qualified and very able. All girls in KS4 take at least 11 GCSE subjects. Lower Sixth girls take four AS subjects plus AS Citizenship or Critical Thinking and Upper Sixth girls three A2 subjects in addition to General Studies or the Extended Project. We encourage each girl to participate in the life and activities of the school and we try to provide opportunities for everyone to take on real responsibilities within our community. Meaningful conversations with pupils and feedback on the curriculum are important. Academic standards are very high – in 2012 41.1% of all GCSE entries passed at A* grade and 80.3% at A*/A. At A Level 53.3% were passed at A*/A and 85.6% at A*/B. The school achieved its best contextual value-added measures for Key Stages 2 – 4 in 2012 (1031). The school features prominently in national league tables. We pride ourselves on the variety of lunchtime clubs with intellectual, social, sporting, and creative activities organized by both Staff and Sixth Form girls. We have a strong musical tradition with choirs, orchestras, and numerous instrumental lessons. Drama flourishes and we have several clubs run by the Sixth Form as well as our school production and joint ventures with King Edward VI Aston School (boys). Teams represent us in all the major sports. A contribution to the life of the School is expected from students and staff alike. We enjoy a reputation for our friendly atmosphere and our Form Tutors take a special interest in the progress and welfare of the girls in their care. Serious problems are referred to the Pupil Achievement Leaders (PALS) of each year group. It is our policy to involve parents immediately a need arises since we wish to emphasize our belief that education is a partnership between home and school. We have an experienced, talented, and committed staff. Teaching is lively and standards of preparation and marking are extremely good. We believe in offering opportunities for professional development through in-service training and opportunities for leadership and personal initiative. We are committed to the nurture and development of all those who learn here and seek to inspire all to be their best. We embrace the transformative power of education and value a love of learning and intellectual curiosity. We support all within the school to find, develop and enjoy their interests and passions. Our school offers vibrant extracurricular opportunities and participation is both valued and celebrated. We are a happy and caring school that values and takes pride in diversity and celebrates individuality. Our purpose is to develop students with empathy, understanding, and appreciation for other views and opinions. We support the girls to develop friendships that will last long beyond their time here and empower them to grow into independent, strong women who are equipped with the flexibility and moral courage to deal with the challenges of the modern world. View full school

King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls is a selective grammar school that aims to achieve the best for our students. We converted to academy status in 2011. In every way, the school reflects our celebrated and diverse multi-cultural population in the West Midlands. We regularly achieve top positions in the national league tables of examination results. Our last OFSTED report described the school’s provision as Outstanding. Girls are actively encouraged to acquire the understanding, knowledge, skills, qualifications, and interests that will help them find fulfillment in their future lives and careers. Our diverse and enriching school curriculum offers breadth, depth, and challenge at every key stage while catering to the needs and abilities of individual students. Teaching throughout the school encourages participation, curiosity, and creativity. Developing students’ capacity to become genuinely independent learners both inside and outside of the classroom, is embedded in our practice. Students enjoy high levels of challenge throughout all areas of their school life, yet all within a hugely supportive environment. Academic and extra-curricular enrichment underpin all aspects of the curriculum. After school lectures and seminars, in-house conferences, an extensive program of visits and trips abroad enhance the learning experiences of all students. Lunchtime and after school clubs and societies are offered to students of all ages and include art, drama, creative writing, dance, languages such as Latin and Russian, Christian Union, Islamic Society, debating, and many more, as well as a range of extracurricular sports clubs, including cricket, netball, and badminton to name just a few. The Duke of Edinburgh scheme is hugely popular, so too are community projects such as Envision. Leadership opportunities are offered throughout the school. On average 200 girls receive music tuition at school from our large team of visiting instrumental teachers. Music is intrinsic to the life of Camp Hill and all students are encouraged to contribute to the musical life of the school, whether, through Show Choir, Concert Band, Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, Flute Choir, String Quartets or Chamber Choir – the opportunities are myriad. Students are supported in their studies through peer and subject mentoring schemes, additional consolidation and revision classes, and one-to-one tutorial support. Individual guidance is also on hand from our dedicated student learning support staff. At every stage, the girls’ well-being and progress are monitored by form tutors, subject staff, and Key Stage Coordinators while the student planners enable parents to oversee their daughters’ homework and to gain an understanding of their day-to-day commitments and learning. View full school

We are a multi-ethnic, selective school for boys, being one of the eight schools in Birmingham that make up the King Edward VI Foundation. The school has been part of the Aston community since 1883 and has strong links with many local schools and organizations primarily through the work of the school’s Sports Partnership. We have the highest expectations of our students, not only in their academic performance but in their commitment to extra-curricular activities be it in sport, drama, music, or wider community service. By the age of eighteen, we expect all Aston students to be articulate, well-educated young men, capable of independent thought with the confidence and flexibility to face future challenges. Also, we expect students to leave Aston understanding the importance of tolerance and the value of integrity. In conclusion, we believe in the importance of offering our students a broad and balanced curriculum providing opportunities to achieve at the very highest level. There is an emphasis in our curriculum on academic excellence and the need to prepare students for nationally recognized academic qualifications. There is also a commitment to providing a wide range of opportunities for students to enrich their learning through educational visits and a timetabled enrichment program, including options such as Photography, History, Music Technology, Relaxation, and Meditation. These, amongst many others, provide students with time and space to pursue courses and areas of interest outside of the main curriculum. Most students stay on at Aston to continue their studies to A level. The options system is flexible to allow students to combine the study of arts and sciences. In addition to subjects offered at GCSE, Economics, Further Mathematics, Psychology, and Philosophy can be studied to A level. Art, Music, French, German and Government, and Politics are all taught collaboratively with Handsworth Grammar School. All students also follow a wide and varied enrichment program including PE and Games, as well as extracurricular opportunities in teambuilding, industry, finance, music, and drama. Many students choose to take an Extended Project Qualification allowing them to pursue an area of individual interest, and through tutorial supervision, study this to the highest level and achieve a significant national qualification. Three periods a fortnight are set aside for PSHEE in years 7 and 10 with two periods during years 8, 9, and 11. Topics covered include Study Skills, Health Education, Environmental Issues, Safety, Careers Education, Financial and Political Awareness, often using external speakers and agencies. Our approach to Sex and Relationship education recognizes that parents are the key figures in helping their children to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of growing up. The delivery of the sex education policy is through the programs of study for Biology and PSHEE. View full school

We are a multi-ethnic, selective school for boys, being one of the eight schools in Birmingham that make up the King Edward VI Foundation. The school has been part of the Aston community since 1883 and has strong links with many local schools and organizations primarily through the work of the school’s Sports Partnership. We have the highest expectations of our students, not only in their academic performance, but in their commitment to extra-curricular activities be it in sport, drama, music, or wider community service. By the age of eighteen, we expect all Aston students to be articulate, well-educated young men, capable of independent thought with the confidence and flexibility to face future challenges. Also, we expect students to leave Aston understanding the importance of tolerance and the value of integrity. In conclusion, we believe in the importance of offering our students a broad and balanced curriculum providing opportunities to achieve at the very highest level. There is an emphasis in our curriculum on academic excellence and the need to prepare students for nationally recognized academic qualifications. There is also a commitment to providing a wide range of opportunities for students to enrich their learning through educational visits and a timetabled enrichment program, including options such as Photography, History, Music Technology, Relaxation, and Meditation. These, amongst many others, provide students with time and space to pursue courses and areas of interest outside of the main curriculum. Most students stay on at Aston to continue their studies to A level. The options system is flexible to allow students to combine the study of arts and sciences. In addition to subjects offered at GCSE, Economics, Further Mathematics, Psychology, and Philosophy can be studied to A level. Art, Music, French, German, and Government and Politics are all taught collaboratively with Handsworth Grammar School. All students also follow a wide and varied enrichment program including PE and Games, as well as extracurricular opportunities in teambuilding, industry, finance, music, and drama. Many students choose to take an Extended Project Qualification allowing them to pursue an area of individual interest, and through tutorial supervision, study this to the highest level and achieve a significant national qualification. Three periods a fortnight are set aside for PSHEE in years 7 and 10 with two periods during years 8, 9, and 11. Topics covered include Study Skills, Health Education, Environmental Issues, Safety, Careers Education, Financial and Political Awareness, often using external speakers and agencies. Our approach to Sex and Relationship education recognizes that parents are the key figures in helping their children to cope with the emotional and physical aspects of growing up. The delivery of the sex education policy is through the programs of study for Biology and PSHEE. View full school

Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School is a Voluntary Aided, 11 – 16 Co-educational Comprehensive Day School, serving the Faith Community of Denbighshire. The Faith community encompasses families of all faiths and children of all faiths are welcome here in line with our admissions policy. The school is situated on land adjoining Ysgol Mair Primary School. All subjects benefit from specialist suited rooms and access to ICT is supported through bookable laptop trolleys situated in five zones across the school. Additional PC and tablet access have been developed by the library, now providing a superb learning resource center, incorporating our new school “virtual library” to support pupils in their work. Pupils are encouraged to use the library, both in school time and its research and study facilities during their free time and after school. Homework club operates Monday to Thursday from 3.15 – 4 pm. The school “quad” provides outdoor seating for pupils who prefer to eat al fresco and pupils are encouraged to maintain this area free of litter. The school benefits from generously sized outdoor sports facilities at Ffordd Derwen. Changing rooms at both on-site and off-site facilities have recently been upgraded to a good standard. A recent improvement to the lunchtime arrangements has enabled increased levels of participation in the “5 x 60” sports program. Further PE provision includes swimming at Rhyl Leisure Centre and the full range of amenities at the award-winning “Marsh Tracks” cycling center in Rhyl. We are a Catholic school promoting the Gospel values of Faith Hope and Love. We stand for understanding, kindness, forgiveness, truth, and respect. These attributes are those of people of all faiths and as such we welcome children of all faiths into our school. We have developed our beautiful Chapel to provide a calm and reflective place for groups and individual children to go to be calm and thoughtful. There are Year group assemblies held in the chapel each week and every form says prayers with their Form Teacher during tutor sessions in the middle and at the end of each day. Liturgies and services are also held in the Chapel and the school gym depending on the season and feast. Each year we celebrate whole school mass at our local Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Assumption (St Mary’s) in Rhyl. Bishop Peter Brignall is invited to celebrate the Mass of Welcome, supported by Fr Charles Ramsay, parish priest, and friend of the school. The staff and pupils benefit from the support and guidance from our diocesan clergy. The school supports local, national, and international charities in a variety of ways, including Rhyl Foodbank, St Kentigern Hospice, Ty Gobaith Hospice, The Royal British Legion, Marie Curie, “Jeans for Genes”, CAFOD and Missio. Students develop their understanding of other world faiths, both through the explicit RE curriculum and also through various enrichment opportunities such as visiting the local Mosque in Rhyl, the Synagogue in Liverpool, and both Christian Cathedrals in Liverpool. Pupils have opportunities to experience a “retreat” from daily life to reflect on their spiritual journey, through in-school retreat days, the “Flame” national youth events, and overnight retreat visits to centers such as Savio Retreat Centre in Cheshire. View full school