King Edward VI Aston
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King Edward VI Aston School (KEASTON) (grid reference SP073895) is a selective grammar school and specialist Sports College. The school is located in the Aston area of Birmingham, England and has a large influence on the Aston community, through its extensive curriculum and community links.
It is an all-boys' school and is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI which runs seven schools in Birmingham. Currently Aston has 740 boys with 210 of those in the Sixth Form.
The current headmaster is Mr. C. Parker who previously worked at the school in the history department and now teaches A-level Government and Politics. His deputy headmaster is Mr. F. Hedley who currently teaches GCSE History.
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[edit] History
The King Edward VI Aston schools were founded in 1883 as separate boys' and girls' schools in a common building. In 1911 the girls' school moved out to a new building in Handsworth and merged with two smaller Foundation schools (Summer Hill and Bath Row). The whole Aston building was then used for boys. With the departure of the girls, the Pyramus and Thisbe Wall (which had previously served to separate the boys from the girls) was also removed. King Edward VI Aston is the only school in the foundation which still occupies its original site.
[edit] Head Masters
King Edward VI Aston has had only ever had eight Head Masters. This is quite remarkable, given its 123 years of history. The average term for an Aston Head Master is approximately seventeen years. The longest serving Head Master was Mr L.G. Brandon, who held the position for 33 years (one hundred terms). The Head Masters of the school are as follows:
- Mr. J. Temperley - 1883-1894
- Mr. E.W. Floyd - 1894-1912
- Mr. J. Manton - 1912-1936
- Mr. L.G. Brandon - 1937-1970
- Mr. D.W. Hawley - 1970-1984
- Mr. N.W. Gamble - 1984-1992
- Mr. P.A. Christopher - 1992-2004
- Mr. C. Parker - 2004-Present
[edit] The House System
The House System within the school has a fundamental role in the school's structure. There are three houses, each of which takes its name from a previous Head Master at the school. There used to be a fourth house, School, but this has long since gone. The three houses compete against each other throughout the year, in both sporting and non sporting events. The culmination of the year's sporting House achievements is represented by the presentation of the Hawkesford Trophy to the successful Head of House. Until 2006, Floyd had been considered dominant, winning the Hawkesford Trophy for the past 25 consecutive years. However, in Mr. C. Cockbill's final school year in charge of Temperley house Floyd's winning streak came to an end, with a triumphant victory for Temperley. The new head of Temperley is Mr T. Finn.
The Houses are as follows:
[edit] Floyd
House Colour: Blue
Head of House: Mrs S.E. Wells
[edit] Manton
House Colour: Yellow
Head of House: Mr T.A. Davies
[edit] Temperley
House Colour: Maroon
Head of House: Mr T. Finn
[edit] Sports
Recognised as a Sports College, King Edward's Aston offers as many as 27 sports and specialises in a good number (below) during 1hr 40min sports sessions for all Year 7-11 pupils.
- Rugby (Main School Sport) - Autumn/Winter/Early Spring
- Hockey - Autumn/Winter/Early Spring
- Athletics - Spring/Summer
- Cricket - Spring/Summer
- Basketball
- Football - Spring/Summer
- Badminton
- Tennis
Senior (Year 12 and 13) pupils are offered the chance to take part in many activities within and outside the school during their games lessons.
Each year each house competes to win the Hawkesford Trophy based on each house's performance in a variety of sports, starting in October with the Cross-Country race involving a 1-mile lap around Aston Park located next door to the school. Throughout the three terms there are sports such as Football, Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball, Cricket, Rugby, Rugby Sevens, Swimming Gala, Tennis, Hockey etc and it all culminates to the end of year Sports Day at nearby Alexander Stadium which is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.
[edit] Sporting Visits
On 13th July 2006, 35 rugby players and 5 staff set out for Australia, the destination for this year's rugby tour. Previous tour destinations have included Northern Ireland and South Africa.
Additionally, each year, a group of students, usually those studying for GCSE PE, spends one week a year at Ogwen Cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales. Here, they take part in outward bounds activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, orienteering and hill walking.
[edit] Music and Drama
Music and Drama flourish at Aston. They are both very active departments within the school.
[edit] Music
The Music department offers tuition in almost any instrument. All boys who play an instrument are able to join one of the many ensembles in the school, ranging from the Junior Wind Band to the Big Band, which has recorded three CDs. It is notable that the school does not have an orchestra; there is a concert band and a string orchestra, but the two ensembles do not play together. Every ensemble performs in at least one concert a year. Several of them, particularly the school Big Band, perform in many more than one concert. The department draws senior musicians from all ensembles to form pit bands for the school productions.
Each year the department is host to the annual House Music Festival in which all boys in years seven to ten have the opportunity to show off their musical talents and represent their house. The competitors are divided into several categories, by year group and instrument. Each competitor can perform in as many solo categories as they are able, and in one ensemble. The performances are judged by a visiting adjudicator.
Each year the department goes on tour and on 13th July 2006 a large number of musicians departed for Belgium.
[edit] Drama
The Drama department has a range of extra-curricular activities going on throughout the year. Annually, alongside the girls' school, King Edward VI Handsworth, Aston puts on at least one full school production. In recent years these have been Threepenny Opera, West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar. Productions are usually staged at Aston, though Little Shop of Horrors and Grease have both recently been staged at the girls' school with boys from Aston taking part. The combined Sixth Forms of Aston and Handsworth also stage a production of one of Shakespeare's plays once a year. In 2005 it was Hamlet, 2004 Much Ado About Nothing and Othello is planned for December 2006.
The Drama Department also holds a House competition, in the form of the House Drama Festival. In recent years, the format has changed but the objectives are still the same. Each house holds a short production and competes against each other. A panel of judges decides which production was the best.
[edit] The Festival of Cultures
For many, the highlight of the school year is the annual Festival of Cultures held in July, after all examinations have finished. The Festival aims to celebrate the broad diversity of cultures represented in the school community. It also provides students with opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities associated with individual cultures in workshops.
Before 2005, the Festival of Cultures took place during afternoon school, and students attented one workshop. However, the new format of the event sees students have a whole day off timetable, and all students in years seven to ten attend three workshop sessions. Previous workshops have included origami, Bhangra dancing, magic, yoga and pizza making, amongst many more. The 2006 Festival was held on 12th July and included workshops for Hungarian Dance, Opera, Cartoon Drawing, African Dance, Bollywood Film, a visit to a Spanish Restaurant and many more. Prefects and staff supervise individual workshops, whilst Senior Prefects oversee the smooth running of the event as a whole. Senior Prefects also decorate the quadrangle and piazza areas with flags and bunting to add to the festival atmosphere.
The Festival continues into the evening, with current students and their families, staff, old boys, and new students (set to join in September) invited. The evening consists of a programme of entertainment, based largely on the workshops from the day. There are also displays of art work and several food outlets, including a tea shop, a barbeque and the International Food Hall. There are also several stalls, including, for the first time in 2006, a Fair Trade stall.
[edit] School Officers and Prefects
Each year Aston has a School Captain, a School Vice-Captain (or two/three Vice Captains) and a team of Senior Prefects who, combined together, effectively run the school with the guidance of staff. The School Captain and Vice Captains are known as the School Officers. Every other student in Year 13 is a prefect, and approximately 20 are Senior Prefects. Each Senior Prefect leads a group of prefects in a variety of different tasks across the school including prefect duties and helping to organise events such as the The Festival Of Cultures. House Captains are also appointed at the beginning of each year. All House Captains are Senior Prefects.
Previous School Captains include:
1999-00: Thomas Denyard, 2000-01: Graeme Hazlewood, 2001-02: Rajhvir Chana, 2002-03: James Hunt, 2003-04: Jack Braniff.
[edit] School Song
The School Song is sung during the final assembly of each term. It is also sung during the Leavers' Assembly and on Speech Night.
Traditionally, the third verse is sung more quietly than verses one and two, and verse four is the loudest. It is now common for students to clear their throats in an overly exaggerated way after the third chorus. However, this practice was briefly suspended at the request of Mr J.G.Smith, the school's last Senior Master, during his final assembly in 2002, after 32 years at the school. The song is frequently quoted during assemblies throughout the year.
The lyrics of the first verse of the song are as follows: -
Now let us lift our voices
With one consent to sing
Long live the name of Edward
Our founder and our King
Who will not join this chorus
Is either rogue or fool
Long live the name of Edward
God bless the brave old school.
[edit] Notable Aston Old Edwardians
- Sir William Brockington CBE - Educationalist - 1883
- Sir Edgar Britten - Sea Captain - 1886
- Sir Ernest Canning - Industrialist - 1887
- Sir Leonard Parsons - Paediatrician - 1891
- Sir Harold Smith - Politician & Chairman, The Gas Council
- RE Phillips VC - WW1 Hero - 1907
- Sir Ivan Stedeford GBE - Industrialist - 1911
- Major General David Muil CB OBE - Dentist - 1911
- George Painter OBE - Author - 1925
- Les Ross MBE- Radio DJ
- Bernard Ford - With Daine Towler won four consecutive ice dancing world titles and four European championships in the 1960s
[edit] Sources
King Edward Grammar School for Girls, Handsworth 1883-1983, Alison Thorne, 1983
