BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

After the excitement of last week, with our U11s’ triumphant exploits at the IAPS regional qualifier at Millfield School, our brave girls now turn their focus to the National Finals. Next week, they travel to Oundle School in Dorset to compete against the very best netballers in the Prep School world. What a challenge and what an honour! We wish the very best of luck to Mrs Somerville, Miss Tucker, and our outstanding team. Go well!

Meanwhile, from the ski slopes in Italy, news is filtering through that our ski team is performing exceptionally well, with some truly impressive times being posted. The boys are flying! It also appears that Miss Tucker may be mounting a challenge for the title of ‘Teacher Ski Champion’ – a fiercely contested honour, I am sure. Watch this space for updates!

Back at BCS, it has been a very productive and rewarding week. I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of lessons, and I must say, there is some phenomenal teaching taking place. A real highlight was a Year 2 lesson led by Miss Hall. With her calm persona and exceedingly high expectations, she has created a classroom environment that allows young minds to thrive. Another standout moment was 5VF’s music lesson with Mrs O’Malley. The challenge was there in abundance – pupils explored bass notes and passing notes with great enthusiasm. The focus was on ‘The Skye Boat Song’, a favourite of mine not just for its melody but for its association with my homeland. A wonderful lesson indeed!

Music fever truly gripped BCS this week as we hosted the annual Young Musician of the Year heats, now with the exciting addition of Ensemble of the Year. The standard was simply outstanding, with our pupils performing with such confidence, poise, and musicality. If this week’s performances are anything to go by, the final, on Thursday 20 March at 6pm in the Atrium, will be an evening to remember. Please come along and support this event. And while the Prep School musicians shone, our younger pupils in Years 1 and 2 also delivered beautiful recitals, reminding us all that the future of music at BCS is in very safe hands indeed. As Sir James Galway once said, “Learning an instrument is the key to a lifetime of music.”

It wasn’t just music that took centre stage this week. Our linguists were also on top form as they competed in the National Language Spelling Bee. Under the expert guidance of Mrs Newman, our pupils have been immersing themselves in French, Spanish, and German, showcasing their impressive linguistic skills. Learning a new language from an early age is a gateway to understanding different cultures, broadening horizons, and developing cognitive flexibility. As the great Geoffrey Willans put it, “You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.” We wish all our young linguists the very best in this exciting competition.

Finally, as we head into the weekend, a reminder that Evensong takes place this Sunday at 4pm in the Chapel. A special occasion that rounds off the weekend beautifully! I encourage you all to join us for this moment of reflection and harmony.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead!