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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 a well respected school rugby team 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 former school motto was "Dominus Mihi Adjutor" meaning "Lord, give me council." The school was a day and boarding school until the 1880s.

Contents

History

Sports

Facilities

Famous alumni

Reference

External links

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. Behind the Masonic Buildings (The former Town Hall) and on the site of the former Work House, behind the former Alms Houses, close to the Sons of Rest building off Mill Street.
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. This increased to 51 boys in 1866, 69 boys in 1869 and 105 boys 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.

Sports

In the 2005/2006 season, the school had one of the best rugby team 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.
The school also focus upon other sports and have an annual sports day, which comprises mainly of track and field events. Netball is available for the girls who join the school at Sixth Form.

Facilities

Construction of the new music centre (The Clive Richards Centre) on the site of the old gymnasium began in January 2006 has now been completed, leaving room for further development in the former music department in the North Tower. The Clive Richards music centre features several specially designed rooms with sound proofing. 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.
There are now plans afoot to transform a school playing field adjacent to the Birmingham Cross City railway line into an all-weather hockey and football pitch with flood lights in a project known as the "''Middle Field Project''". The project is being funded through grants and a fundraising project.
The North Tower is currently undergoing refurbishment work following the transference of the music department. The building will be used as an extension to the current sixth form facilities, which already include a common room with cafe, an office and a study room.

Famous alumni

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. Past student Chris Johnson, a former England U21 and current Bedford Blues rugby union player, teaches English and coaches the school's 1st rugby team.

Reference

★ ''The History of Bishop Vesey's Grammar School'', Kerry Osbourne

External links

★ Official website

★ www.bishopvesey.co.uk