The Vesey Experience

Our Values

• Inspirational teaching and outstanding learning
• Academic excellence, a spirit of enquiry and curiosity.
• Enrichment opportunities building leadership, independence and resilience. 
• A warm, outward-looking community, celebrating diversity and equality, actively anti-discrimination

Our Mission

Founded in 1527, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School has the mission to provide inspiration and excellence to able boys and girls from Birmingham and across the Midlands. We are one of the leading state schools nationally.

Our mission is inspiration and excellence. We want all our learners, irrespective of background, to be scholars, well equipped for life beyond school, with a deep knowledge, understanding and life-long enthusiasm for the subjects they are studying. Through our curricular and extra-curricular provision, we want to develop students of excellent character, responsible global citizens, who will make the world a better place through their kindness, thoughtfulness, confidence and resilience.

At ‘A’ level, standards have been consistently high over the last decade. In 2022, 86% of the grades attained were at A*- B and around 70% of students going to study at Russell Group universities. We have an excellent record of Oxbridge and Ivy League success.

Attainment at GCSE is rising with, in 2022, 75% of all grades at Grade 7 or better and progress is outstanding.

Our School is a place of opportunity and aspiration. We have a vibrant co-curricular and extra-curricular offer including Botany, Creative Writing, Debating, Cooking, Politics, Creative Writing, Stock Market Challenge, F1 in Schools, Strategic Planning, Astrophysics, Problem Solving, Hidden Histories, Well-being, Brainteasers, Chess, Latin, Coding and a vast range of music, sporting and drama opportunities.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. As a multi-ethnic school, we want all our pupils to feel they are an important part of our school community and we work hard to ensure everyone feels safe and supported while they are with us, regardless of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, economic background, gender, sexuality or ability. Having a mission of inspiration and excellence, we want all our learners, irrespective of background, to be scholars, well equipped for life after school, with a deep knowledge, understanding and life-long enthusiasm for the subjects they are studying. As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School working towards a Silver Equality Award, our commitment to equality of experience underpin every aspect of school life.

Teaching and Learning

We have reviews and audits of our subjects to ensure our topics and resources reflect our student body and society as a whole. In PSHE, pupils are educated about a range of topics including tolerance of others, racism, healthy relationships and the Equality Act. We work with a variety of external companies to enrich students learning experience. These include Stand against Violence, Loudmouth, NSPCC, Bold Voices, Everyone’s Invited, Just Like Us and the DSM Foundation. In the library, we stock a wide range of fiction promoting inclusivity. Learn about our PSHE Programme here.

Recognising and Celebrating Diversity

We aim to include parents and students in celebrating the diverse nature of our student body.  We have an equality calendar marking events such as LGBTQ+_History Month, Black History Month, the Holocaust, White Ribbon Day whilst the daily blog signals days such as United Nations Day, International Day of Tolerance and months such as Islamophobia awareness month. To reflect our diverse student body, we have a range of groups and societies that are supervised by staff but led by students such as the Islamic Society, the Heritage Group and the LGBQT+ society.

Training

Staff, students and governors have training/education about diversity and inclusion.  From “banter” to overtly discriminatory things we may hear in person and see on social media, all of our school community will be aware of how to deal sensibly with any situations that may occur. Students are encouraged to report incidents of discriminatory behaviour and/or language to the Pastoral Team or through Tootoot.

Equal Opportunities

BVGS seeks to promote equality of opportunity, provision, access, and treatment for all members of our community. We do not seek to tolerate difference but to celebrate it through challenging all forms of prejudice, encouraging active commitment to equality, and promoting critical thinking. As a school, we understand that our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is an ongoing journey. We are still listening, learning, and improving all the time and remain committed to this as a whole school community.

Behaviour

Our Behaviour Policy makes it clear we have a clear and consistent approach to discriminatory behaviours so that all members of our school community can feel safe and welcome at school.