Bishop Vesey's Grammar School

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Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (BVGS) is a grammar school and language college in the Sutton Coldfield area of Birmingham, England, one of the oldest schools in United Kingdom which celebrated its 450th anniversary in 1990. The school is also a Sixth Form College.

It was founded by The Bishop of Exeter Bishop John Vesey (formerly John Harman) in 1527 and currently has about 800 pupils. The current headteacher is David Iddon. The school is noted for having one of the best school rugby teams in Birmingham and in 2004 became a recognised language college.

The school's Latin motto, Dextra Dei Exaltavit Mei means "The right hand of God hath lifted me up;" The old school motto was "Dominus Mihi Adjutor" meaning "Lord, give me council." The school was a day and boarding school until the 1880s. The school has one of the best rugby teams in the Birmingham area after defeating all of its local rivals, reaching the 5th round of the National Daily Mail Cup and competing in the 'super 16s' tournament at Warwick University amongst the top rugby schools and colleges in the country. This refers to the 2005/06 season where the school produced its finest team in the school's history according to statistics.

Construction of the new music centre (The Richards Centre) on the site of the old gymnasium began in January 2006 which has left space for development in the former music department in the North Tower. The Richards music centre features specially designed rooms with sound proofing and a music recording studio. The grounds of the old music centre will now be used especially for new sixth form common and studying rooms. This was scheduled for completion in September 2006, but was not completed until October 2006. The Music Centre is now in full use in the School Syllabus.

Famous people who have been pupils at the school include Cat Deeley who was a pupil in the Sixth Form. However, due to her popularity in the modelling industry, she was often away from the school for photo shoots. Famous teachers include Bob Atkins whose expertise in directing Gilbert and Sullivan productions has given him fame in the West Midlands and wider area. Also on the staff is ex-student Chris Johnson, a former England U21 and current Bedford Blues rugby union player, who teaches English and coaches the school's 1st rugby team.

[edit] History

The first foundation deed set up by Bishop John Vesey in 1527 provided an endowment from property income of £7 a year and twenty one people were appointed Trustees to manage the school and pay a fit and proper person to teach Grammar and Rhetoric.

It was not until 1540 however that a second deed was set up providing for the endowed properties to be held by the Warden and Society of Sutton Coldfield and layman John Savage was appointed as the first master.

Until 1544 St Marys Hall was used as a schoolroom and then a school was built close to the church on Blind Lane.

Complaints relating to the diligence of the Trustees and the Corporation came before the Chancery Court which ordered in 1636 that control be transferred to a new board of fourteen Trustees.

In 1728 the Corporation provided land for a new school building in the present location, one of the conditions being that the headmaster Paul Lowe should agree to teach English, writing and arithmetic to twelve parish boys (At that time there was no stipulated age of entry to the school, the qualification required being the ability to read and usually to pay).

William Webb was appointed headmaster in 1764 and under him a sound basic education was provided and the school prospered. He was headmaster for 53 years until his death in 1817. His successor Charles Barker had an entirely different view of the role of the school. His interest was in the teaching of Classics. He often had only a handful of students and in 1840 only one pupil was enrolled at the school. He was a strong supporter of the proposal for the setting up of National Schools for the provision of general education.

On his death in 1842 James Eccleston was appointed Headmaster, but was so embroiled in debt that in order to avoid prison he departed in 1849 for Tasmania.

In 1840 the Grammar Schools Act tightened up controls on schools and with better controls and a return to a basic curriculum, the school again began to prosper. Under Joseph Wright, appointed in 1859, a full general education was offered. The buildings were extended in 1861 and in 1863 there were 26 boys enrolled, 51 in 1866, 69 in 1869 and this had increased to 105 in 1875.

The 1881 census shows the headmaster Rev Albert Smith resident with his family, a second master Major Dunn, six staff including domestic servants and ten boarding boys. At this time there were also about eighty day boys who were expected to pay either 10s a quarter if from the parish or £2.10s a quarter if from elsewhere.