BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

Welcome back, one and all, for the final stretch of what has felt like a whirlwind academic year. Truly, where has the time gone? “Time and tide wait for no man,” said Chaucer – or was it my Year 8 Latin teacher? Either way, as I take stock, I’m filled with quiet pride. Our pupils have made admirable strides in every corner of School life; academic, pastoral, and artistic.

This half of the Trinity term is when the calendar really kicks into overdrive. Cue trips. Residentials. Packed suitcases. Forgotten toothbrushes. (And that’s just the staff.)

In Pre-Prep, Year 2 headed to Twycross Zoo. The weather was, shall we say, enthusiastic, but neither beast nor brolly could dampen the pupils’ spirits. “Can I go again tomorrow?” asked one exuberant pupil. “Of course,” I replied breezily, though I’m fairly sure her parents had other plans. Sensible ones. Probably drier ones.

Over in the Prep School, the intrepid adventurers of Year 5 spent a week conquering Dorset at the Cumulus Outdoor Centre. Meanwhile, Year 4 made Tewkesbury their own at Croft Farm, and Year 3 tackled Condover Hall in Shrewsbury. Lakes were swum, fears were conquered, muddy trainers were…well, irreversibly muddied. What struck me most was not the sheer volume of soggy socks but the resilience these pupils showed, and the bonds formed. A huge thank you to our staff, who once again proved that no sleeping bag or soggy timetable stands in the way of creating memories.

Before their residential, Year 4 gave a sterling performance in their music concert. Mrs O’Malley was full of praise. “They were absolutely first rate,” she told me. And let’s be honest, she’s not one for plastic praise.

Elsewhere, Year 6 tackled their final French speaking assessments at BCS. “Je suis très impressionné,” said Madam Newman, who momentarily became even more French than usual. Many Year 6s shone, with accent, fluency, and vocabulary all coming together in a delightful display of linguistic prowess. My own French accent famously veers towards rural Glasgow, so I speak from experience when I say this will serve them very well at senior school.

Speaking of stellar performances, several scholars flew the BCS flag all the way to the National Quiz finals, where they handled the pressure with aplomb. One judge apparently described them as “the full package” which, I suspect, may even surpass a 9 in GCSE.

Meanwhile, back in the land of fairy tales and fire buckets, Nursery and Year 2 dazzled on their ‘Wow Days’. Nursery plunged into the magical world of fairy tales, still very much alive and kicking in our culture. Year 2 tackled The Great Fire of London, linking flames to Pudding Lane, the Plague and in a roundabout way, to fire safety and hygiene. No small task for seven-year-olds.

Sport, as ever, provided more cheer. This week marked BCS’ first ever badminton match. A proud moment and not one I’d imagined writing a decade ago. The pupils approached it with gusto and grace. And, if that weren’t enough, our footballers made waves in the Harborne Cup Final. Some would say the beautiful game is alive and well in Edgbaston. I’d be inclined to agree.

Finally, to all those celebrating Eid al-Adha this week, we hope you had a joyful and peaceful day.

And to all our families, have a splendid weekend. Whether you’re scaling a mountain, watching Netflix, or attempting to dry out a suitcase in the airing cupboard, may it be restful, if not entirely uneventful.