The Veseyan - Winter 2023 by BVGS

THE VESEYAN WINTER 2023 | EDITION 19

WINTER 2023 | EDITION 19

DEAR READER, The School was fortunate this term to receive a number of copies of the BVGS magazine, ‘The Veseyan’ from the early 20th Century. As I perused these very well-preserved additions to the archive, my eye was drawn to a speech made by the outgoing Headmaster, Mr Herbert Jerrard, 100 years ago in 1923. Mr Jerrard was speaking about the value of education: “We went to School to be humanised – that was the great work of Education.” To me, this really resonates with our school mission. This 2023 edition of ‘The Veseyan’ celebrates scholarship. It rightly delights in, and is hugely proud of, the academic successes of our pupils and the broad, balanced and challenging curriculum we offer them. There is a lot to celebrate. 2023 sees our highest ever Progress 8 score at GCSE, an average grade at ‘A’ Level of an A and excellent destination data. At an individual level, these numbers don’t tell you the underlying full story of hard work, determination, resilience and teacher and parental support- the struggles overcome to attain that 9 or 6 or B. This new generation of pupils are certainly ambitious and professional and that is to be commended. However, this scholarship is, by itself, of no use to society if it is not coupled with character and community. This Veseyan celebrates the development of character and community here at BVGS – and that is really important. Projects like the ‘Giving Tree,’ ‘Inspiring Minds’ or the Christmas Fayre give pupils the opportunity to lead, to develop their initiative and to care. At this Christmas, as once again we hear of heart-breaking suffering across the world, we need to hold fast to our moral purpose as a School and as a Vesey family, so we truly develop young people, who will, as Jerrard put it, ‘be humanised’ and make the world a better place. Wishing you all a happy Christmas! Mr Robson Headteacher

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INVESTING IN EXCELLENCE CAMPAIGN NEARS £1.5 MILLION TARGET In a remarkable display of community support, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School's "Investing in Excellence" Campaign is on the verge of reaching its ambitious £1.5 million target. The campaign, aimed at developing a state-ofthe-art Learning Resource Centre and revitalizing the school's estate, has garnered overwhelming support from Old Veseyans (OVs), companies, and parents alike. With an impressive £1.27 million already raised, there's just £230,000 left to achieve the campaign's visionary goal. The school is now calling on you to help bridge this final gap and make a lasting impact on the educational environment for generations to come. For those looking to contribute, there are still meaningful and affordable opportunities to be part of this transformative initiative: Buy-a-Brick For just £20 per month for five years, you can own a symbolic brick in the Learning Resource Centre and receive a certificate of appreciation. Join the 500 Club Pledge £500 annually for the next five years leading to our 500th Anniversary. Your name will be etched on a plaque in the new Learning Resource Centre, and you will receive exclusive event invitations as a gesture of our appreciation. The school's vision is within reach, and your support can make all the difference. If all 100 remaining brick certificates are claimed and the final 50 places in the 500 Club are taken, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School will achieve its extraordinary vision for enhanced facilities and an enriched learning environment. Join us in making history Your participation matters, and together, we can finish this incredible journey. For more information on how to contribute or to get involved, please contact us at s.uppal@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk Let's make history together and ensure a legacy of excellence for Bishop Vesey's Grammar School!

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CONTENTS SCHOOL LIFE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN MESSAGE FROM SCHOOL CAPTAINS

4 5 8

SCHOLARSHIP RESULTS & DESTINATIONS NORMANDY TRIP SLAM POETRY GEOGRAPHY TRIP ART TRIP STEM AT BVGS CO-CURRICULAR

9 10 13 15 15 16 17 19

CHARACTER CHRISTMAS CONCERTS JUNIOR SOLOISTS PSHE WORKSHOPS ORACY & DEBATING SPEECH RECITALS ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ BELFAST HOCKEY TOUR RUGBY REVIEW Y7 RESIDENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE

20 21 24 26 27 27 28 29 30 35 26

COMMUNITY HOUSE FUNDRAISING HOUSE FESTIVAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH DIWALI WEEK ISLAMIC PRAYERS CAROL SERVICE GIVING TREE CHRISTMAS FAYRE

37 38 39 40 41 42 42 43 43

OLD VESEYAN NEWS MESSAGE FROM CHAIR OF OVA DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN MEMORIAM HOUSE OF LORDS EVENT OV GOLF SOCIETY GRAFTON MORRISH SQUAD ANNUAL OV DINNER FROM THE ARCHIVES OV VISITS

45 46 47 48 50 51 52 53 55 57

SCHOOL life

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese Proverb

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SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2023-2026 This 2023-2026 Development Plan seeks to meet the current needs of our School community: developing pupil scholarship, character, employability skills, pupil and staff leadership and creating a more sustainable school environment. We thought you might find it interesting to understand better how we are seeking to translate our mission of inspiration and excellence for all, into reality.

Scholarship

Environment

PRIORITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT

Leadership

Employability

Character

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DEVELOPING SCHOLARSHIP Further nurture and embed a ‘Reading Culture’ to improve Literacy. Enable pupils to be able to better express themselves, develop key skills of reasoning, listening, expression and delivery, organisation and prioritisation. Create a more explicit focus on Study Skills through our Form Time programme, with pupils across the School given the knowledge and skills to master certain revision techniques, and provide additional specific training on retrieval practice to individual Academic Departments. Promote a style of continuous assessment that encourages, written, verbal and nonverbal feedback. Place an emphasis on the intentional monitoring of lessons, that promote high standards of presentation in class notebooks, immediately address common misconceptions and praise and model excellent pupil work. Continue to develop an inclusive range of academic societies available to pupils through our Thursday Co-Curricular offer, as a means of nurturing a lifelong love of learning in all pupils. Keep up to date with the impact of A.I. on academic practices, assessment and teacher workload and ensure that all pupils understand the ethics involved with A.I. Provide more opportunities within our curriculum design for pupils to enhance their knowledge and sense of responsibility in terms of protecting the environment and promoting a sustainable future.

DEVELOPING CHARACTER Develop a specific roadmap for ‘Character Education,’ for each year group which incorporates continuous audit and ‘personal development rewards’. Continue to thoroughly educate young people to eliminate any instances of prejudice or ‘prejudice related language’. Develop a new format for the House System, which incorporates a ‘House Festival Model’, which runs throughout the academic year. Ensure that we have a programme of external speakers, drawn from our recent alumni and the local community and further establish links with local community organisations, such as the churches, gurdwaras, mosques and mandirs, to facilitate a programme of events that celebrate our diverse and inclusive pupil body. Further develop our PSHE Programme, with a specific focus on KS3 Economic education and increased pupil participation in PSHE Competitions. Through our ‘Inspiring Minds’ programme, we will continue to use BVGS as a vehicle for social mobility in the local community and provide a model of outreach that other institutions can follow.

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DEVELOPING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS Provide more explicit advice and instruction regarding employability skills and how these can be applied to a School setting. Create a regular ‘drop in slot’, where all pupils can access independent careers advice. Ensure our curriculum provides clear linkage and signposting to potential career outcomes. Ensure that all Departments feature visual displays in Departmental areas, which illustrate pathways from academic subjects to careers outcomes. Provide every pupil and parent with regular access to labour market opportunities. All pupils/learners should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them eg UTCs, apprenticeships

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP Offering additional opportunities for staff to exercise autonomy within our shared vision and accountability framework eg contributing more to the development of other colleagues, giving staff greater agency over their performance development, encouraging staff to engage with National Programmes, regional training hubs and subject associations, giving greater emphasis on the Wellbeing Committee as a vehicle to address staff issues and concerns.

DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENT Develop a clear Sustainability Policy that reduces the impact that BVGS has on the environment by focusing on the following areas informed by ‘Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems.’ Energy Management Waste Management Transport Biodiversity

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SCHOOL CAPTAIN TEAM Hello everyone! It’s been a busy start to the academic year at Vesey. We think it has been a brilliant term, with Christmas getting underway and much more. It was incredible to see the school come together to celebrate diversity and inclusion through Diwali Week, and the samosas were definitely tasty! Congratulations to those houses who have completed their fundraising weeks so far, we’ve loved seeing you take the initiative to raise money for charitable causes, building Vesey’s reputation as a pillar of the local community. Different years have been going on countless trips, which we are very jealous of. We hope they have all been enjoyable so far. The corridors and classrooms around school have been bustling and full of energy. We know all students have been working hard at their studies, making a strong start to the year. We’ve been putting in the effort ourselves as we approach our A-Levels! The captain team thoroughly appreciate all the work you have put into extra-curricular activities alongside your academic studies. We are so happy to be able to fully realise our vision for the school this year. We are so excited for Vesey to be celebrating Christmas in 2023 better than ever before! At the time of writing, from the music department, we have four Christmas Concerts and a Carol Service to look forward to. From drama, We have two expertly crafted performances of ‘A Christmas Carol’. Brand new this year, we also have the Christmas Fayre! We can’t wait to see and try out all the creative stalls you have come up with, and will be giving out prizes to the forms with the best stalls. To conclude, we hope you have all enjoyed this term at Vesey. Again, a big thank you to everyone who has volunteered with the many initiatives we are running in and around school. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes. See you in 2024! Chris and Tash, on behalf of the whole Captain Team.

SCHOLARSHIP

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” Malcolm X

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RESULTS & DESTINATIONS A big well done to our 2023 exam groups who achieved some fantastic results, placing us 8th in the Midlands state school league table and 54th nationally.

We achieved a Progress 8 Score of 0.73, Well Above Average

93% of our pupils were entered for English Baccalaureate

99% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and Maths.

99% of pupils stayed in education or went into employment after KS4.

1% We were in the top 1% for attainment at GCSE & A Level

We achieved an average grade of A at A Level across all subjects.

89 pupils attained AAA or better at A Level.

Destination

Number of Students

Subjects Studying

Apprenticeships/ Degree Apprenticeships

Accountants, BBC, Building Surveyor, Civil Engineering, HSBC, Royal Navy

Cambridge

Architecture, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, History, Natural Sciences

Oxford

History, Medicine

Russell Group Universities - 114 students

Birmingham

Biomedical Science (2), Business Management, Business Management with Marketing, Computer Science and Software Engineering, Computer Science with DIgital Technology Partnership, Law, (2), Materials Science and Engineering, Medicine (5), Physics (2), Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.

Bristol

Aerospace Engineering (2), Biology, Biomedical Science, Data Science, Dentistry (2), Economics (2), Law, Mathematics, Physics and Philosophy, Veterinary Science

Cardiff

Accounting and Finance, Journalism and Communication, Law,

Durham

Ancient History and Archaeology, Economics with Management, Modern Languages and Cultures

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Exeter

Biochemistry, Business Economics, Computer Science (2), Mechanical Engineering

Imperial College London

Medicine, Philosophy, Politics and Economics

King’s College London

History, Medicine

Leeds

Architectural Engineering, Law with Hispanic Law, Microbiology, Medicine (2), Psychology, Spanish

Liverpool

Architecture, Biological Sciences, Business Economics, Economics, Evolutionary Anthropology, Geophysics (Geology), International Relations, Mathematics, Medicine (3), Orthoptics, Pharmacology, Psychology, Veterinary Science

London School of Economics and Political Science

Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Manchester

Biochemistry with Entrepreneurship, Chemistry, English Literature, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine (3), Psychology (2), Religions, Theology and Ethics, Zoology

Newcastle

Pharmacology, Physics

Nottingham

Accountancy, Aeronautical Engineering, American Studies and History, Cancer Sciences, Criminology, Economics (2), Economics and Econometrics, History, History and Philosophy, History and Politics, Industrial Economics, Law with French and French Law, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Physiology and Therapeutics, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science

Queen’s University Belfast

Dentistry

Sheffield

Accounting and Financial Management, Architecture, Biomedical Science, Dental Surgery, Medicine (2)

University College London

History, Mathematics, Urban Planning, Design and Management

Warwick

Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Politics, Philosophy and Law

York

Chemistry, Physics

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Other Universities

Number of Students

Subjects Studying

Aston

Business, Business and Management, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering (2), Law (2), Mechanical Engineering, Optometry, Pharmacy, Politics and International Business

Bath

Economics, International Management, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Physics with Theoretical Physics

Birmingham City

Mechanical Engineering, Paramedic Science, Psychology

Bournemouth

Art and Design

East Anglia

Pharmacy

Harper and Keele Veterinary School

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (2)

Leicester

Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Financial Economics and Banking, Geography, Midwifery with Leadership

Liverpool John Moores

Accounting and Finance, Law (2)

Loughborough

Accounting and Financial Management, Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Science, Product Design Engineering

Manchester Metropolitan

Politics

Nottingham Trent

History, Law

Oxford Brookes

Business and Management, Motorsport Engineering

Strathclyde

Architectural Studies

University of the West of England

Filmmaking

Wolverhampton

Pharmacy

Degrees Overseas

Bulgaria

Medicine (2)

Georgia

Dentistry

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NORMANDY TRIP

At the beginning of the term, sixty-six of our pupils and seven members of staff went away to Normandy. They stayed at La Grand'Ferme Residential Centre. Pupils visited the magnificent Arromanches 360, which is a circular cinema located on a clifftop that oversees the beaches of D-Day where the Normandy landings took place. An experience which took the boys right through the journey of D-Day. Our pupils also visited the British War Cemetery and Bayeux Cathedral where they saw the Bayeux tapestry depicting the epic adventure of William the Conqueror in 1066. They enjoyed beautiful views from Arromanches-les-Bains and witnessed quicksand at Mont St Michel. They even found time to relax with a bit of sports, all whilst practising their French language skills.

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SLAM POETRY This term we had the pleasure of welcoming renowned poets Dreadlockalien and Alan McGreachie, also known as ‘Kurly’, who did a workshop for our KS3 pupils. The workshop was centred around Slam Poetry, where poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience. Dreadlockalien and Kurly spoke about what it means to write with purpose and how to express what you write with meaning. The pupils’ were asked to think of two words that rhymed and form a piece of poetry that was catchy. They then competed for the title of best poet by performing their poems aloud. All of the pupils were engaged and enjoyed the experience thoroughly. In the second workshop that our guests put on, pupils learned how to construct their poems fully and wrote their own full poems. You can watch a snippet of the day over on our Instagram page @bishopveseysgrammarschool

Geography trip Earlier in the term, Year 11 students took a trip to Carding Mill Valley where they walked along the valley to investigate how the width, depth and velocity of the water changed along its course. The students had to drop in table tennis balls and time how long it took them to travel a certain distance so they could calculate the velocity of the water. They also had to measure the width of the river banks and depth along different points. This was to help them with their natural geography field work as part of their rivers topic where they learn about different features of a river and how they change in the upper, middle and lower courses. - Bastiaan 11G

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ART TRIP Thirty seven Year 10 students had the opportunity to visit Leicester Museum and Art Gallery this term. The gallery had exhibits from dinosaur remains and natural forms, to The Egyptians, Picasso’s ceramics (include a video showing him producing his quirky work - to The Casta paintings, which explored racism and superiority. Students also got to see Leicester Cathedral and visit the Guild Hall for a short interval in the day. This was in aid of their GCSE coursework which required them to write two pages in their folder, including a drawing and analysis of the formal elements which apply to their chosen exhibit.

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STEM The STEM department has been very active this term with many guest speakers, trips and external projects thanks to the hard work of the STEM ambassador team and Mrs Miller.

This term saw 15 A level Chemistry students attend a lecture by Professor Steven Liddle of Manchester University titled “Uranium the Bogeyman of the periodic table: A case of Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde”. The lecture gave students an interesting insight into the Chemical and it’s potential uses and dangers. He talked about how opinions have changed over time and talked about some of the discoveries scientists had made about it. This is the 2nd in a series of lectures our students have been attending, designed to enthuse and inspire them about chemistry in the world around them. - Mrs Sanders

It was a pleasure to welcome Dr Peter Hoare and his colleague from Newcastle University for a day of Chemistry and STEM activities. Our Y7 and Y8 got to watch his “Colourful Chemistry” lecture highlighting that Chemistry can give a range of spectacular colours within different reactions. Students were excited to see so many interesting demonstrations in one lesson! Our Y9 students took part in a STEM workshop, considering all the implications of creating an off shore wind farm, lots of groups solved the problem by working together and making compromises. Finally, our Y12 students got the chance to see Infra Red spectra being produced in the classroom by using a portable Infra Red Spectrometer, our students got the chance to use the machine to show them how useful instrumental techniques are in identifying compounds. This was another chance for them to see Chemistry in action and the students appreciated the opportunity to use this very expensive equipment and the expert knowledge of Dr Hoare. - Mrs Sanders

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A former student, Beth Winterbottom, was invited to speak at the BVGS Women in STEM group. Beth talked about her experience of completing a degree apprenticeship at WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consulting firms. She shared her tips about finding a good mentor at work, building networks and taking risks. This was the first talk held by this group and the turn-out was amazing. Can't wait to see what the Women in STEM group have planned next! - Ibukun (U6)

To coincide with the start of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, students in Year 7-10 joined live-streamed events, brought to us by the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK) in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency. Inspirational experts working to tackle climate change joined the live links to talk about how space agencies, satellites, scientists and solutions help mitigate climate change and aid the international humanitarian community in protecting our planet. Y9 & Y10 students heard from Mike Gunton, Creative Director of the Natural History Unit and Executive Producer of Planet Earth III, alongside Matt Brandon, Series Producer of Planet Earth III. They shared some of the incredible stories told in the series, and the amazing ability nature has to adapt in the face of climate change. Y8 heard about protecting one of our most important ecosystems, the oceans. The good news is that we have science and solutions to tackle the problem – and a lot is already happening. Leading scientific ecosystem experts talked about the stress plastics bring to the ocean, including winners of the £1m Earthshot Prize who are already providing award-winning solutions. Y7 students found out about Protecting our Planet through Science. In November last year, ESA chose 17 new astronaut candidates from more than 22,500 applicants from across its Member States. Dr Meganne Christian was selected as part of this new ESA astronaut class of 2022 as an astronaut reserve. This new role with the UK Space Agency gives her the chance to help the thriving space sector push the frontiers of human exploration and demonstrate the benefits of space to us all here on Earth.

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CO-CURRICULAR The ultimate goal of the Co-Curricular Programme is to underpin the vision that shapes student life at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, namely, ‘Inspiration and Excellence’. We want out students to engage in scholarship that promotes the acquisition of knowledge and a lifelong love of academia. In addition, we want students across the School, to have the opportunity to develop their character through participating in altruistic activities that promote civic responsibility, kindness and thoughtfulness. Moreover, the participation in such activities will engender a confidence and resilience that prepares them for life beyond BVGS, whilst providing students with a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with students from other Year Groups. Finally, we want to cultivate leadership potential. All activities are supported by Sixth Form students and students from all years will be encouraged to take ‘the lead’ in certain sessions. You can find all of our Co-Curricular offerings here: https://issuu.com/bvgs/docs/cocurricular_booklet_2023-2024

CHARACTER

“In the end, it is the person you become, not the things you achieve, that is most important.” – Les Brown

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CHRISTMAS CONCERTS The final highlight of our Christmas celebrations this year were the four Christmas Concerts, featuring all of our Year 7, Juniors and Seniors. Their diligence over this whole term paid off, putting on a remarkable show. At the end of a long first term, it provided a boost of festive energy and a smile on our faces here at school: here’s a rundown of all that happened from some of our students!

awesome playing with the Funky Bishops and with the other classes. - Tom 7B Junior Concert Transitioning into Monday’s later concert, a wide variety of pieces were performed. Beginning with the Funky Bishops, they set the stage with ‘Strike Up The Band’, featuring superb solos from Szymon U6 V, Jasper U6 III, Joe T U6 I and Barney 10B. Following this, the band played ‘White Christmas’, showcasing a skillful solo played by Arron 10P. ‘That’s Life’ was next, starring Ethyn U6I as a vocalist, accompanied by the Funky Bishops. Afterwards, the band played ‘C Jam Blues’, featuring a broad variety of improvised solos, presenting an array of different members each time. ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ followed, featuring soloists Adi U6VI and Tim 11R. To finish, the Funky Bishops accompanied the congregational singing of ‘Hark the Herald’, a wonderful end to their set.

Year 7 Concert The Year 7 annual Christmas concert was held over two evenings and saw Year 7 play 8 songs, alongside some solos, and with Funky Bishops really hyping up the crowd. We played songs such as the classic ‘Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers’, which I really enjoyed. The audience loved the uplifting song ‘H.A.P.P.Y’, which we sang, as well as ‘A Little Bit of Kindness’ and Jambo Bwana, which is a brilliant Swahili song, and Mr Buxton's favorite song, ‘Cookies’, testing our breath control.

The Guitar Ensemble was next up, playing the famous ‘Viva la Vida’ and ‘Fly Me To the Moon’, featuring tasteful solos on both acoustic and electric guitar, showcased wonderful teamwork and musicianship. This was then followed by Junior Percussion playing the classic ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, which showcased a variety of brilliant percussive instruments in unison. The Junior Choir came next with ‘Rock Star’ and ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’, a classic that certainly upheld the Christmas atmosphere. Our younger students’ enthusiasm and skill was matched by our Year 13 ‘Plastic Fiction’ who developed the festive theme even further through the classic ‘Driving Home For Christmas’

After year 7 played H.A.P.P.Y, a brilliant piano solo was played by one of our 6th formers, Haydn S U6 III. It was a beautiful performance which had a meaningful message to it, showcasing Haydn’s incredible talent at piano. His friend, Szymon U6 V, also performed a brilliant solo, on the clarinet. We also all played our musical instruments – clarinets, violins, trombones and cornets - and the sound was outstanding. Year 7 played Eye of the Tiger, Jingle Bells and We Will Rock You. I really liked Eye of the Tiger as it sounded

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CHRISTMAS CONCERTS by Chris Rea, and ‘Lonely this Christmas’, offering a merry and energetic performance!

fast-paced ‘Jump in the Line’ by Senior Percussion Ensemble, who also played ‘Trinidad Tidings’, a mashup of many Christmas numbers. The groovy mood continued with Senior Choir, led by our now Vesey teacher Mr Lenthall, singing ‘Virtual Insanity’ with Year 13s to accompany. More singing was on the cards with the band ‘Plastic Fiction’ of Benedict U6 I, Charlie U6 II and Sunny U6 V taking to the stage for ‘Driving Home This Christmas’ and ‘Lonely this Christmas’ - you could tell it was a Christmas concert!

We finished the night with our showpiece Junior Orchestra, who exceeded the limits of the stage; their strength in numbers even made setting up a more challenging process than the actual playing! They began with playing ‘Canticum’, a dynamic piece both thunderous and calm. Afterwards, they played the iconic ‘Seven Nation Army’, conducted by Adi in U6. This was followed by ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ which they played phenomenally, despite only having 3 weeks to learn it! Following this, the orchestra took a festive turn, playing ‘Christmas Swings’ - a wonderfully performed piece featuring both ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and even ‘Frosty the Snowman’! Finally, following the Christmas mood, the orchestra ended with ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’, a festive way to finish the concert off in style! - Barney 10B and Alex 9R

We then reached the Senior Orchestra show for the night, shining with their stand lights in a darkened stage. As with Funky Bishops, there was a dramatic start with the stirring ‘Flight of the Thunderbird’ with our showman conductor Mr Buxton loving every note. Exemplary skill and musicality were then displayed in a version of Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, beautifully started by Szymon’s clarinet solo. Our night closed with more Christmas, playing a medley of the iconic ‘Home Alone’ music followed by the varied ‘Secret Agent Santa’ and ‘Christmas Swings’. After thank yous from Mr Robson and Mr Buxton, our Sixth Form band of ALevel Music students closed out the night with style and spirit, smashing out ‘I Wish It Would Be Christmas Everyday’ on their range of instruments to get the audience cheering one last time.

Senior Concert Our Funky Bishops began their fourth concert, this time with EIGHT solos in C-Jam Blues! Our Keyboard Ensemble led by Mr A Ross performed two wellknown pieces in ‘The Bare Necessities’ and ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ before two of our Lower Sixth, Josh L6 II and Annabell L6 VI, worked together on a piano-voice duet of ‘All for You’ by Ducrot. Their captivating performance was followed by the

In my seventh and final year of

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Christmas concerts, I can’t remember one (pack of four!) that was as energising, engaging and entertaining as this one. An extravaganza of collaboration, passion, dedication and, most importantly, Christmas, we gave our audiences a night of fun for their festive season – mission accomplished. Therefore, our wonderful musicians all across the school, Mr Buxton, Mr Lenthall and our SFE staff and our families can be very proud of the brilliance we’ve produced. If only it were, as our Sixth Formers wished, ‘Christmas Everyday’, we could keep the fun going. Until next year, Merry Christmas! - Adi U6 VI

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JUNIOR SOLOISTS As always, this term we have had a jampacked music calendar which began with our Junior Soloists competition. This year we had an astonishing 58 entries to win the title of Junior Soloist of the Year which Mr Buxton and Mr Lenthall had the difficult task of whittling down to just 13. The evening saw Isaac 10W playing the lyrical piece ‘Variations On Non Più Mesta’ on the recorder, Oliver 7G playing ‘Quizás, Quizás, Quizás’ on the violin, Sooraj 10E playing ‘Time’ on the piano, Josh 9W playing ‘Blue John’ on the trombone, Parin 10R singing a traditional Indian song ‘Mayamalavagowla’, YJ 7R playing ‘Aria’ on the cello, Joshua 10W playing ‘Opening Night Jazz on the piano, Jairus 10W playing ‘Covet’ on the drums, Aiden 7G playing ‘Snurretoppen’ on the piano, William 8B playing ‘Do Balanco’ on the drums, Shewan 7B playing ’Dirt Wizard’ on the drums, Marco 7W playing ‘Etude Op.10 No.12’ on the piano and Thomas 10B playing ‘All Because of You’ on the saxophone. While the adjudicator mulled over his Top 3 soloists, the Funky Bishops took to the stage with 2 pieces: ‘The Peanut Vendor’ featuring our trombone soloist Tim 11R followed by ‘Watermelon Man’ featuring a number of soloists including Arron 10P, Tim and Szymon U6 V. After a challenging deliberation, our adjudicator Mr Paul Douglas congratulated all 13 performers on their impressive solos and admitted that to choose just a top 3, was an immensely difficult task. However, he came to a decision of William 8B placing 3rd with his syncopated drum solo, closely followed by Parin 10R with his spectacular vocal performance. Taking the top spot was Marco 7W with his magnificent piano playing which was spectacular! All 13 performers should be so proud of the dedication and commitment that they have shown towards their instrument - it was showcased beautifully throughout the evening and it was a delight to listen to all the performances. “Many thanks to Mr Buxton and Mr Lenthall for their hard work and dedication to not only organising the spectacular evening but also whittling down the extraordinary 58 entries to just 13, the tech team Charlie and Tom in L6, Mr Ross as piano accompanist and all the music teachers on hand to assist and Mr Swindells and Mrs Gardner for refreshments, well done all for executing such a successfully evening." - Amelie L6VII (with input from Arron 10P and Joe T U6 I)

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PSHE WORKSHOPS PSHE is an important aspect of our teaching here at BVGS as many of the topics relate to character building, whether that’s through team building or simply being aware of the dangers in society. Everything outlined in the curriculum works to help better inform and prepare our pupils for life outside and after school. This term Ms Orlandini has organised numerous workshops with external speakers, we had: Everyone’s Invited Workshop which looked at rape culture and how we can work together to eradicate it. ‘The Sex, Lies and Love Project’ which further enhanced Y10 students’ knowledge on radicalisation, extremism and child sexual exploitation,. A Drug Workshop which informed Y9-12 pupils of the health dangers of vaping on the respiratory system and the body. Commando Joe’s Character Education Programme for Y7 to support the development of character, teamwork and resilience. A Bear Grylls reward trip for Y7 pupils where they worked in teams. And we are proud of the impact these workshops have on our pupils’ character.

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ORACY & DEBATING One of our themes of the week this term focused on Oracy where we had six debates in assemblies: Y13 - “This House believes that environmental campaigning should focus on changing government policy rather than individual behaviours” - Aayan Y12, Bastiaan and Luke Y11 Y10 and 12 - "This House believes that self-driving cars should not be allowed on UK roads" - Billy, Freddie, Anuraag, Taban and Henry Y9 - "This House believes that healthcare workers should not be allowed to strike" Tanay, Sam and Hanzalah Y7 - "This House believes that we should not eat meat" - Ahmed, Suleiman and Umar Y8 - "This House believes that sport is only about winning" - Joni, Sam and Hallam The speakers were very impressive and provided thoughtful responses to the topics discussed. To top it all, within the same week, our Vesey MACE team confidently defeated seven other schools to qualify for round two in the Spring round of debates.

SPEECH RECITALS It is always a real pleasure to see the work that Centrestage does with our pupils. This term, we saw our Y7 and Y9 pupils performing Speech Recitals. Pupils performed snippets from various Christmas films and were very convincing in their roles. It was lovely to see so many parents enjoying the evening too.

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CHRISTMAS CAROL As part of our many Christmas events, Centrestage hosted a production with BVGS students presenting Dickens’ classic 'A Christmas Carol'. The performance was nothing short of a masterpiece. The pupils involved ranged from Y7 all the way through to Y13, they played their parts incredibly convincingly and the audience were blown away by their talent. It really was the perfect evening to get us into the festive spirit.

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BELFAST HOCKEY TOUR Our Senior Hockey Tour was certainly a highlight of the term. The Sport Department organised a fabulous 4 day trip to Belfast where pupils played 3 matches, had 2 training sessions and did lots of fun activities.

In their spare time, pupils went gokarting, tobogganin, zip wiring, and went to Airtastic for a few games of bowling. On the final day of their tour, they visited the only UNESCO National Heritage site in Northern Ireland - Giant’s Causeway.

Their first game was against Wallace High School. The 2s played first and conceded 3 quick goals in the first quarter, but played well for the rest of the match and were unlucky not to score, with the final scoreline of 3-0. Their 1s were a very strong side who convincingly won 5-0, but despite the scoreline, a lot of lessons were learnt and there was still plenty to look forward to over the coming days.

“A special thanks to Mr Howell, Mr Doughty, Mr Lacey and Miss Groves for coming with us and making our tour as good as it was. An additional well done to the MVPs for each of the games - Will, Dan and Elliot, and also Leil for getting MVP of the whole tour. We look forward to building on this wonderful experience both on and off the pitch over the coming weeks!"

After training on Friday morning, the second game was against Grosvenor Grammar. 2 strong performances saw the 1s win 5-0 and the 2s win 4-1 - a very successful day.

- Emily & Beatrice U6

On Saturday, they had their toughest game on paper against the reigning Irish champions Banbridge Academy. The 1s saw a huge improvement from the start of the tour, but some good short corner goals from our opposition saw them win 5-0, but the score probably didn’t reflect the game. The 2s also saw a massive improvement, and we’re rewarded for their efforts with an excellent 4-1 win. After the game, we went go-karting, which was fierce competition and great fun, with Will taking the title of the fastest lap, closely followed by Mr Howell in 2nd and Harry in 3rd.

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MICHAELMAS TERM RUGBY REVIEW

why their progress this year has been nothing short of incredible and the enthusiasm within this group is to be commended. Once again, against their local rivals, all 4 games could not have been closer. Ira B-M, the stand out player on the day.

The first term has involved plenty of fixtures and Bishop Vesey firsts! The term started off strong with the 1st Team putting on a fine display in the first round of the national cup against Prince Henrys School, winning 55-5. Our opening weekend was a traditional showdown with Loughborough Grammar School, in which we saw plenty of tries and running rugby! The stand out from that weekend was the U15s, successful returning with 2 wins in the bag! It was a momentous occasion for the U16s when they travelled down the road to Queen Mary’s in late September to battle it out for local bragging rights. A stand out performance from the pack and help from Interim Coach, Mr Roach saw the team run out 19-12 victors. As ever with U16, fixtures are few and far between, so to get a win was a memorable occasion for them. On the same day, the U12s had a very tough day at the office against Loughborough Grammar School.

Then came Stratford, a favourable hunting ground for Mr Cairns and the staff since beginning at the school. The 1st game has been postponed and is to be played under lights at Coventry Rugby Club on 2nd February. The younger years group put on a fine display, with both U15 teams putting 50 points on their opposition. A special mention to Rami S (Y9). Even within his team losing out 40-19, he was already proving himself to be a stand out player of the year.

The Year 7s bounced back and showed

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The beginning of November saw the Greater Birmingham Tournament come our way again, a week full of excitement for the lads. Year 7 – 3rd Place Year 8 – 3rd Place Year 9 – 5th Place Year 10 – Winners Some great performances throughout the week. Mr Doughty and Mr Cairns were very pleased with their Year 8s and 7s who are showing fantastic promise for the future. Once again, the Year 10s were our stand out team, dominating any team that came their way on the day.

With the 1st Team gaining a bye in the second round of the National Cup, it was a time to rest and prepare for other challenges. On the same week, Stratford visited with their U12s. The Year 7s put out their best performances A-D to date with Rahand J (Y7) demonstrating he will tackle everything and anything at any point in the game. October also saw Year 7 fixtures on a Saturday return as 24 excited Year 7s travelled all the way down to Hereford Cathedral School.

This year is the first ever year where BVGS have had Family Days included into our Saturday Blocks. Our second Family day saw the arrival of Kings Worcester to the pavilion. After the 1st Teams cup exit, they saw this as the perfect chance to lay down a marker. On a day that would be described as a ‘perfect day’ for rugby, there were no excuses. A tight game where Kings dominated the beginning was then dominated by BVGS, and as ever the packs went blow for blow. BVGS eventually lost 26-12, but a very big step forward for the whole squad. The stand out performances were by the Year 8s. A lot of work has done in by the players and coaches this year, and this was on full show for all who were watching. Ajay M (Y8) and Ethan T (Y8) delivered the plan and released players throughout the game. An enthralling day for the Year 8s, one to remember.

Midway through October, we were deep into National Cup territory, first up the U15s away to Kings Worcester. This was touted as a very even contest, and so it proved to be. On what was a very heavy pitch, each team went blow for blow until the final minute. A late pick and go from Vesey was disallowed meaning Kings ran out 22-17 winners. Next up was the 1st Team. Leading into this, the team were extremely confident of their ability to perform and take the next step, but once again the weather seemed to get the better of them. In what was a very end to end game, the chances to score were of equal weight. The pupils simply just gave themselves too much to do with too little time, eventually losing out 24-14.

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Another first was our Varsity, introduced by Mr Cairns this year. What will be a whole school competition, began this year with 1st, 2nd and Year 7 battling it out against Queen Marys. A crowd of over 200 turned out to witness a fantastic evening of rugby at Veseyans Rugby Club. The evening started out with Year 7 once again putting on a fine display, with Jamie W (Y7) dominating all areas of the game once again. Chun Yat (Y7) put on his own display for the B team and led them to a 25-20 victory.

October saw the return of Rugby Tours, and there was only one option on Mr Cairns’ mind – none other than Newcastle. 69 pupils set off on the Wednesday before Half Term to play 2 fixtures and tour around Newcastle Falcons ground. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, the first fixture was cancelled. This however did not dampen the spirits of the pupils. We were granted access to the 1st team Pitch at Falcons and played an intrasquad friendly instead. The final night on the Friday was against Tynedale RFC. A fantastic night, which saw the Year 9s lose out by 1 try and the Year 8s win by 1 try.

It was almost a clean sweep for Bishop Vesey on the night, with both the 2nd team and 1st Team running out winners. Hopefully we can build on this evening and make it an even bigger event next year! More wins came against Adams Grammar and KE Five Ways later in the month. Another innovation is the Team of the Month award and Coach of the Month award. It is a fantastic way to recognise the hard work and performances of students along with the dedication our teachers show to their profession. There were so many good performances across the term, that the teams saw a good spread of students every month. Coach of the month was an absolute nail biter (As Geordie, Mr Cairns would say). The first month was a very tough call, but given he takes upwards of 3 teams and is fantastic at coaching a variety of B teams and the majority of Year 7, it could be none other that Mr Brooks.

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December has proven to be a difficult month, with plenty of fixtures cancelled and injuries. We have a very exciting new year to look forward to, with between 4-6 fixtures for each squad. Please check SOCS for all up to date information. Other stand out performances from this term include:

1ST TEAM

2ND TEAM

U15A

U12A

coach of the month SEPTEMBER - MR BROOKS (U12A&B, U14B) OCTOBER – MR CRAGG (2ND TEAM) NOVEMBER – MR DOUGHTY (U13) DECEMBER – MR DOUGHTY (U13)

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TEAM OF THE MONTH SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

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YEAR 7 RESIDENTIAL At the beginning of term, our Year 7 cohort enjoyed their residential trip, carefully organised to enable pupils to get to know each other better and to help them settle into their new school. They took a trip to Whitemoor Lakes where they took part in a wide range of team building activities, from canoeing through to abseiling. This is what they had to say: “Whitemoor Lakes was a really fun experience for me. The best part was the activities, I’m usually scared of heights, but WHitemoor Lakes helped me unleash the best of me” Aidan L 7W “I got to try out new activities that I had not tried before...I got to meet new people from different houses and I enjoyed that a lot” - Ronak M 7E “...whether it was paddling with friends in the lake, canoeing, or whether it was descending from high above when abseiling, you were always doing something fun.” - Jay W 7E

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CLIMATE CHANGE Our School Council team were invited to attend the Climate Change Assembly, hosted by King Edwards Camp Hill. There were over 2000 pupils from across the country in attendance all coming together to discuss the future of the planet. The day was meticulously planned with all materials and facilities being in some way or another renewable or climate friendly. Mr Bowen, former BVGS deputy headteacher and current Camp Hill headteacher, organised the event alongside Chris Packham and others. Throughout the day, we discussed different strategies to tackle climate change and the importance of avoiding meat consumption whilst harnessing domestic renewable energy. We also attended talks led by climate groups, including one by Scarlett Westbrook, the youngest policy maker in British History. Both her presence and passion were inspirational. We also got to witness live debates where we were able to remotely vote for the winner via our phones, which inevitably led to even more interesting discussions amongst our group. Half of the day was spent in a workshop where we were tasked with designing an environmentally friendly phone. We found that it was quite difficult to create something both cost-effective and renewable which made us realise that climate change is also an economic issue. The open mind and appetite for change allowed us to leave the event with a new outlook on how we are going to tackle the climate crisis. -Billy L6 VIII

COMMUNITY

In every community, there is work to be done. In every heart, there is the power to do it. Marianne Williamson

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HOUSE FUNDRAISING With the support of our Charity Officer Team, each House hosts a fundraising week throughout the year. Here is what Blue, Emerald and Gold have achieved this half term:

BLUE HOUSE

‘Students vs. Sixth Former’ Arm Wrestling Arjun 7B

Bake Sale Sarem 8B

Charity Initiatives Syem 9B

Penalty Shootouts Rohan 10B

Mario Kart Gaming Usairam U6

Guess the number of sweets Samad 11B

Non-Uniform Day (proceeds split with Emerald House)

£1762.98 raised for Dementia UK

EMERALD HOUSE

Paper Plane Competition Alex 7E

Guess the weight of sweets in a jar Thomas 8E

Wii Sports & Mario Kart Zach 9E

Crossbar Challenge Taiseer 10E

Bake Sale Luke 11E

Non-Uniform Day

Sponsored Silence Aayan L6

Non-Uniform Day

(half of proceeds from previous one)

£950 raised for St Basils

GOLD HOUSE

Rubix Cube and Chess Competition Harris 8G

Speed Drawing Thomas 9G

Guess the number of sweets James 11G

Bake Sale James 11G

£804.71 raised for Barnardo’s

(split proceeds with Purple House)

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HOUSE FESTIVAL WEEK It’s been a busy term of house events, commencing excitingly at the beginning of September with House Dodgeball, proceeding with House Spelling Bee, and finishing with our long-awaited first House Festival Week of this academic year.

which saw teams of two from each house in each year group compete to bake ‘Christmas Cookies’ of their choice, judged by appearance, texture and of course, taste Sports-based events such as basketball and rugby have heightened competitiveness amongst houses- the overall results as they stand are close, so it really has been all to play for. At the same time, for those who prefer events that challenge the mind, house maths and coding have seen students competing in a mathematics crossword and writing code to a brief.

House Dodgeball was a triumph for purple house, having accumulated the most points between years throughout the competition. The event saw eager competitors from each house years 7-13 compete in five dodgeball matches in the sports hall. A notable mention to Zawad 9B, who showed true commitment and teamwork when competing for blue house.

As of the 19th December, Blue House are taking the lead, yet with House Swimming Gala taking place on the 20th and a very narrow margin between all of the houses, the winning title is still all to play for.

The annual house spelling bee competition running in assemblies in late October proved a real challenge for competitors, featuring words such idiosyncrasy, ostentatious, nefarious and surreptitious.

- Sofia U6 II and Stevie U6 VII , House Coordinators

Moreover, the revival of the House Assembly has proved popular throughout the school in yielding support and enthusiasm within houses and encouraging those whom competing has never perhaps appealed to before to participate for their house. We have finished the term with House Festival 1 which has boasted an entire host of events: House art, baking, basketball, coding, maths, rugby, and trivia. The individuality of each event has attempted to cater for the entire cohort of students here at Vesey's, and we have been overwhelmed with the sheer size of participation amongst all houses and year groups. New to Vesey’s for the year 2023 was the House Baking competition,

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH At BVGS we pride ourselves on being global citizens and we love to celebrate the diversity within our community, so in order to mark the start of Black History Month we celebrated with the following: Jeffrey Boakye Jeffrey Boakye virtually visited Y9 and the GCSE musicians to talk to them about his book Musical Truth: a Musical History of Black Britain in 28 songs. Taking us from Brixton to Ghana, he talked us through his life growing up and related his experiences to the novel. We also heard about his research and the reasons why he chose the tracks.

Black History Month Assemblies Our pupils hosted morning assemblies to talk about the importance of Black HIstory. o celebrate the start of Black History Month. Here's a snippet of what Amos 11P and Jonas L6 presented: Black History Month Assembly.

Hidden Histories As part of our Hidden Histories Co-Curricular, pupils visited Vanley Burke's “Blood & Fire” Exhibition of prints at Soho House, Handsworth which charts Vanley Burke's history and the Black British experience.

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DIWALI WEEK For the first time in BVGS history, this year we held our very own Diwali Week, thanks to support from the Sutton Hindu Association. Here’s a rundown of what took place throughout the week: Assemblies teaching pupils about the significance of Diwali to each of the different religions in India, and how it is celebrated. Each assembly was hosted by our Y8-13 pupils and began with a dhol performance and ended with the sharing of sweets - a popular Indian custom. Indian Karaoke and Indian Food Sales at lunchtime. The snacks and sweets went down a treat, raising over £400 for Nishkam SWAT. House Diwali Quiz which tested pupils’ knowledge from their assemblies and exposed them to the many different languages spoken across India in the music round. The Cricket Carnival saw dozens flock to the astro turf to try their hand at the Longest Shot challenge, the Bowl Out competition and the Catch Match. Y7 also got the opportunity to design and make their very own diyas in their Art lessons. Such a diverse range of events would not have been possible without an entire team of students, staff and the Sutton Coldfield Hindu Association. To see all of our Diwali celebrations in action, visit our Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Czv8gCJMk2S/? igshid=ZDE1MWVjZGVmZQ==

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ISLAMIC PRAYERS For a number of years, Friday lunchtime has seen Muslims at BVGS gather for prayers in the STEM block atrium. They are supported by Biology Teacher Mr Yousaf. This term, has seen numbers significantly increase and so the Friday 13:25 prayers are now being held in Old Big School. A warm thank you to our sixth formers who have shown great leadership skills in their organisation of prayers.

CAROL SERVICE The Carol Service takes place every year at the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Sutton Coldfield. This has long been linked with Bishop Vesey, as this is where his tomb resides. After many hours of practice, the service began with a welcome from the Revd. Leanne Carr followed by a fanfare delivered by the Brass Band. You could really tell the effort they had put in from the first few notes. The choir and congregation jumped into the first hymn, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. After a short bible passage was read by Mr. Robson, Senior Choir, conducted by Mr Lenthall, stepped up to sing ‘Glow’, a beautiful piece that really felt like Christmas. One of our School captains, Adi U6 VI, then gave a reading called ‘At Christmas’, followed by an unbelievable performance of Sonata in D Major (Mozart) by Joseph T U6 I and a reading of ‘St Luke tells of the birth of Christ’ from Hermon 8B. The congregation joined us for ‘Away in a Manger’, contrasted by Junior Choir’s ‘A Great Big World’ with Mr Hazell at the helm. Sofia U6 II, a House Coordinator, read ‘The Shepherds go to the Manger’. Then the brass band then gave a hearty performance of ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’. After another short fanfare by the brass band, and a beautiful first verse sung by the soprano singers, the third congregational carol was sung, ‘Silent Night’. Luke 9R then gave a reading of ‘A Bell’, followed by heartfelt prayers from multiple religions, including Christianity by the Reverend, Hinduism by Varad 8W, Islam by Mustafa L6 III and Sikhism by Sanjay 11P. A peaceful way to end a magical evening. - Joel and Fraser 11B

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GIVING TREE From 27th November through to 22nd December, our Sixth Form students have been set up in the Gracechurch Centre, Sutton Coldfield and Mulberry Walk, Mere Green greeting the public and collecting donated Christmas gifts to distribute to the YMCA, St Basil's Hostel and St Giles' Hospice. Over the 4 weeks, students have weathered the cold, rain and snow to promote charitable giving to those in need this Christmas. Our Charity Officers tirelessly promoted their initiative even being visited by the Sutton Coldfield Town Council Mayor as well as the local MP Andrew Mitchell. We are proud to announce that, in total, students this year have collected, wrapped and delivered over 5000 gifts, creating a new record at BVGS!

CHRISTMAS FAYRE Bishop Vesey’s Christmas Fayre took place during the penultimate week of term as part of the ‘House Festival Week’, and proved to be a resounding success. Year 7-11 students took part, first by planning an activity with their classmates with £10 as a starter loan. Students then volunteered during their period 5s and after school to manage their form’s stalls in order to raise money for a local charity, supporting people over the Christmas period. Stall success and profits also won forms points for the house competition. Activities on the stalls included throwing balls into buckets and guessing the location of prizes on a treasure map. Visitors were also given the opportunity to show off their cricket, golf and football skills! Thank you to Mr Goodwin and the 6th form officer team for organising the event, the PFTA for providing refreshments and all students and form tutors who facilitated such a fun evening for those who visited the stalls. - Max Saunders U6I, Emerald House Captain

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CHRISTMAS FAYRE

OLD VESEYAN news

“Memories are timeless treasures of the heart” Unknown

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DEAR READER, Welcome to the Winter 2023 edition of The Veseyan. I hope you are well.

However, there will be no need to RSVP or to commit at all but it would be great to see you as and when you feel like joining in.

It has been a very full term for OVs, with an event at the House of Lords, the annual OVA Dinner and with lots of OVs returning to school to speak to current students about careers.

If you want to take part simply turn up. If you wish to be added to the Whatsapp group please message Ed on 07806669312 and then please feel free to add others or to bring other friends or partners along with you.

Dear Old Veseyans,

For future terms, the OVA are hoping to enhance the opportunities for all Old Veseyans and staff to come together, to share friendships and to network. With this in mind we will be holding informal meet ups in the Station pub every three months on the first Thursday of March, June, September and December at 8pm. I have set up an OV Quarterly Catch Up Whatsapp group (with nearly 100 members joined on the first day) to facilitate the organisation of this.

Ed Pitt

Chair, OVA

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY As always, we have a packed calendar for you here at BVGS. Many opportunities to revisit the school on Presentation Evenings and at our concerts, guide our current pupils on Careers Day or get together and socialise with fellow OVs on our Golf Day in the late Spring. TUESDAY 16TH JANUARY Piano Concert 7PM-9PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School WEDNESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY Senior House Music Final 7PM-9.00PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School FRIDAY 8TH MARCH Careers Day 9AM-3PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School THURSDAY 21ST MARCH Senior Speech Day 6PM-8:30PM Sutton Coldfield Town Hall TUESDAY 16TH APRIL Junior Spring Concert 7PM-9PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL Senior Spring Concert 7PM-9PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School FRIDAY 14TH JUNE BVGS Golf Day 12PM-8PM Walmley Golf Club B72 1HR THURSDAY 11TH JULY Main School Presentation Evening 6.30PM-7:30PM Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School If you would like to come along to any of these events, please look out for more details on our social media channels. Alternatively, you can contact Chair of the OVA, Ed Pitt, at ebwpitt@hotmail.co.uk.

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IN MEMORIAM STEVE BAUGH Steve Baugh joined Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in September 1990. Educated at Dartmouth High School (now Q3 Academy), Steve went on to study Geology at Queen's College, Oxford University. After a brief spell working as a logging geologist on oil rigs in the North Sea, Steve became a teacher. BVGS was his third school and he came to us with quite an academic pedigree: a member of MENSA, an Associate Member of the Institute for Geologists and a Fellow of the Geological Society. At first, Steve taught Physics, Chemistry and Biology before becoming a Geography and Geology teacher. He made quite an impression on Old Veseyans: “Steve's one of the most inspiring characters I've ever had the pleasure of calling my teacher. A lighthearted and yet driven approach to everything he seemingly does were traits that radiated onto his students with such profound effects. There must be hundreds of geologists and geology students who owe their careers to Steve. The time and effort he puts into his pupils are second to none. We might not agree about the lithology of some outcrops in Sutton Park, and about his taste in music, but Steve is the best teacher I've ever had.” Outside the classroom, Steve has been equally impressive. He has been a Governor, has run rugby and cricket teams, produced numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, including directing a certain Catherine Deeley and musicals such as Guys and Dolls and Grease, and has led so many trips at home and abroad to Costa Rica, Cuba, Iceland, India, Mexico and South America. Steve died far too young at the age of 59 - he had serious health problems in recent years. He is an absolute legendary member of the Vesey community and we will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Chris and daughter Holly.

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IN MEMORIAM MICHAEL BELMAN 1932-2023 Michael studied at Bishop Vesey from 1942 to 1949 and remained an active veseyan thereafter. Many OV’s will be aware of the Belman prizes for English, French and Mathematics and Public Speaking which were donated by Michael and his brother David. Following her death in 2006 Michael also donated the Marion Belman Memorial prize for singing.

PETER YATES 1931-2023 At 92 years of age Peter attended Bishop Vesey during WW2. He was a longstanding member of Moor Hall Golf Club, was captain of the Old Veseyan Golf Society in 1984 and was a vice president of Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club. He was an active old veseyan and regularly attended the annual dinner.

DR JOHN OAKLEY John passed away peacefully at Good Hope hospital on the 27th November. He was a keen and talented golfer and played for his county as a younger man. He was a member of Moor Hall Golf Club, and was captain of the Old Veseyan Golf Society in 2003. Our thoughts are with his wife Lynn and family at this sad time.

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HOUSE OF LORDS EVENT Our Investing in Excellence campaign for the new Learning Resource Centre celebrated a showpiece event this term with our visit to the House of Lords. Hosted by Lord Peter Ricketts (OV 1971) in the Attlee Room, over 40 Old Veseyans of all ages, from 19 to 84, were invited to hear about our plans, brought together by their deep connection with and fond appreciation of the school. The room was packed with both people and chatter as friends caught up with each other, reminiscing of their time at the school (it was fascinating to hear their stories!), as well as learning more about our exciting plans for expansion. Presentations from Mr Robson, Esther and Adi, our school captains, our inspirational guest speaker Eddie Jacobs (OV 2008) and closing remarks from Geoff Fletcher (OV and parent of two current pupils) provided a holistic group of perspectives on what makes our school special and how the LRC will transform the quality of education and more, when it opens in September 2025. A special thanks too to our speakers Lord Ricketts, Mr Robson, OV Dr Eddie Jacobs, Geoff Fletcher and our School Captains, Adi, Esther, Chris and Tash. Also thank you to our musicians Sunny and Charlie. To see the evening in action click here. If you would like to support our campaign, you can by: Joining the 500 Club - pledging £500 annually or £42 monthly for the next five years leading to our 500th Anniversary. Your name will be etched on a plaque in the new Learning Resource Centre, and you will receive exclusive event invitations as a gesture of our appreciation. Buying a Brick - For just £20 per month for five years, you can own a symbolic brick in the Learning Resource Centre and receive a certificate of appreciation. Your support will help shape the future of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School for all pupils. It will leave an important legacy of improvement for your son and the generations of young people to come. Click here to download a Pledge Form and return to the school marked Confidential.

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OV GOLF SOCIETY The Old Veseyans Golf Society has been in existence for over 90 years and is for the benefit of golfers of all ages and ability to enjoy Golf in the company of fellow Pupils and Masters of the School throughout the summer months. It currently has over 70 members and annually plays matches against Old Edwardians, Aston Old Edwardians and Old Silhillians along with competing for internal trophies such as the Seniors Trophy, Sylvanus Jones Salver, Herbert Jerrard Trophy, GJ Cross Rose Bowl, Alan Jones Salver and the John Ellison Cup with also two away days at Blackwell Golf Club and Brocton Hall Golf Club. We have a forthcoming Invitation Day on Sunday 24th March 2024 at Moor Hall Golf Club and if you are interested in attending or would like more information regarding the Society please contact Karl Ward on 07734 555887 or email karlk@orsuk.com - it really is a great society to be involved with.

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GRAFTON MORRISH SQUAD For the fifth year running the BVGS old boys team has participated in the Grafton Morrish Schools Alumni golf competition. It is also the fifth time that they have qualified for the finals played every year at both Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk Golf Clubs in early October. The regional qualification round is played at Olton, usually in early May, and typically three schools out of 12 qualify for the finals. The format is a six person scratch stableford foursomes and so there are no hiding places and every shot counts, as was proven this year when we qualified by one single point. The Grafton Morrish tournament is open to the golfing societies of independent schools and next year celebrates its 60th year anniversary. Five years ago the national Chairman contacted James Hemphill to enquire as to whether Bishop Vesey’s may be interested in entering a team as the constitution of the tournament was changed to invite “Ancient Grammar Schools”. The rest is history as they say and all of us who have been lucky to be part of the team have had five fantastic years representing the school in the Grafton Morrish and made many new friends along the way. This year we had a very tough draw in the finals, playing Epsom in the first round, first off at 7.30am at Hunstanton. There was no time to practice ( we do take it seriously!) as the sun had not yet risen in early October. Epsom were the defending champions and have class throughout the side and are without doubt one of the top six schools in the tournament. The format for the finals is a six person team set up as three teams of foursomes playing matchplay against your opponents. Sadly, despite some amazing golf from the team, we lost two matches to one to Epson with two of the three matches going to the eighteenth hole. It really does come down to a single put here and a single put there. There is no doubt however that as a team and school we have embraced the tournament both on and off the course and would go as far to say that we are now a school, that when it comes to the competition, are one that the other schools want to avoid even if you are playing for Eton, Epsom, Millfield et al. The highlight for us all however is the legacy created for the school, so far as that any exBishop Vesey’s student who plays golf, now has the opportunity to play in a wonderful tournament, meet up with ex-schoolmates and build long lasting friendships with players from other schools. Notwithstanding the above however, we are a team that goes to the Grafton Morrish to play well and to win. We have mastered the playing well part; I think next year it is time we mastered the next part and that is to win. Watch this space!

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ANNUAL OLD VESEYAN DINNER This year’s Old Veseyan Dinner was a great success and brought a fabulous array of 115 alumni together to reconnect and reminisce, especially for those OVs returning to celebrate their 10th, 35th, 45th, 50th and 60th anniversaries since leaving BVGS. It was also fantastic to see some of the current students taking part and assisting with the formalities on the night. We hope they will return in years to come as they join the OV family. The evening began with the OVA drinks reception in Old Big School, a room that currently serves as a multipurpose space full of Vesey memorabilia. The guests then headed down to Big School for a delightful dinner which was intertwined with toasts from Mr Goodwin, Paul Wallis and the student representatives. Deputy School Captains, Tash and Chris delivered an entertaining and informative speech providing an update on the school’s sporting achievements, house system, charity initiatives and trips that students have been on recently. Stuart Southgate also delivered a speech on behalf of the OVA to provide an update on their activities in supporting OVs and a range of school projects, including the pavilion refurbishment, the biology greenhouse replacement and a sound desk for the music department. Thanks to the generous donations of the OVA committee and the shallow pockets of attendees, the raffle raised a fantastic £980 which has been donated equally to the Old Veseyan Benevolent Fund and the Learning Resource Centre project.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES We are grateful to have recently received a package of Old Veseyan Magazines ranging from 1915 through to 1979. Thank you to one of our OV families for sending these to the school. Here are a couple of snippets from 100 years ago, The Veseyan Summer 1923:

WINTER 2023 | EDITION 19

OV VISITS RORY GASKIN Rory came top in his finals at Oxford University reading Law and came into school to give our Oxbridge applicants advice on writing their personal statements. He talked through examples and he explained the importance of highlighting transferable skills from current experiences to what is required of pupils in the course that they are applying to. CAMERON BAILEY Cameron is completing a Civil Engineering degree apprenticeship with engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald. Throughout his talk, Cameron explained the skills required in civil engineering as well as the economics behind projects. In order to demonstrate these ideas, he hosted interactive activities. He also explained the advantages of doing a degree apprenticeship which was insightful for students.

VINAY JALAF STEM Society has continued to host excellent speakers. Vinay Jalaf (OV), currently working at Rolls Royce, and Andrew Godber of SBK Consulting have given us fascinating insights into their careers: “Mr Vinay Jalaf, who completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering talked about the development of nuclear submarines. We found out about the safety measures put in place to shield the occupants from the radioactive propulsion system, the propulsion system itself and the structural makeup of the submarine. We were also shown how the mental and physical health of the occupants must be considered in the design of submarines and how facilities such as gym equipment and kitchens are implemented to maintain the well-being of those on board.” - Elliot U6

WINTER 2023 | EDITION 19

KARL WARD & JON RATLEDGE Karl Ward, ORS -UK and Jon Ratledge (OV), Tamworth Steel are proud to co-sponsor the first team rugby shirts for the next two years. Karl and Jon met the current first team squad and shared their rugby playing memories from their own school days. After Karl and Jon left school, they joined Veseyans Rugby Football Club and are life long advocates of the value and camaraderie of the Old Veseyans Association

CAPTAIN BREEN & PROFESSOR BOB LOWNDES On our Remembrance Day Service, we welcomed back Captain Breen and Professor Bob Lowndes. Captain Breen read 'In Flanders Fields' before our School Captains and Officers read prayers for peace from their different faiths.

BETH WINTERBOTTOM Beth has completed a degree apprenticeship at WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consulting firms. She shared her tips about finding a good mentor at work, building networks and taking risks.

BISHOP VESEY’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

STAY CONNECTED @bishopveseysgrammarschool Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School @BVGS1527 linkedin.com/school/bvgs

WINTER 2023 | EDITION 19 EDITOR - SABRINA UPPAL