Motto | Dextra Dei Exaltavit Me |
---|---|
Established | 1527 |
Type |
Grammar school; Academy |
Religion | Traditionally CofE, events such as Founder's Day are held at the Holy Trinity Church. |
Headteacher | Dominic Robson |
Deputy Heads | Russell Bowen and Ruth Hearn (On leave of absence) |
Chairman of the Governors | John Craggs |
Founder | John Vesey, Bishop of Exeter |
Location |
Lichfield Road/ Boswell Road Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B74 2NH England Coordinates: 52°34′08″N 1°49′16″W / 52.569°N 1.821°W |
Local authority | Birmingham |
DfE URN | 137988 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports |
Staff | Approx. 100 |
Students | 1025 |
Gender | Boys Co-educational (16+) |
Ages | 11–18 |
Houses | Blue, Gold, Red,White and Purple |
Colours | |
Publication | Mitre |
Website | bvgs |
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (BVGS) is a selective state grammar school with academy status in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. Founded in 1527, it is one of the oldest schools in Britain and the oldest school in Birmingham. The school was a day and boarding school until the 1880s, and retained a small number of boarders in the mid-20th century.
The school was founded in 1527 by the Bishop of Exeter John Vesey (formerly John Harman) who was a friend of Henry VIII and tutor of his elder daughter Queen Mary I, and it currently has approximately 900 pupils. The current headteacher is Dominic Robson as of September 2012. The school is noted for having well-respected school rugby union and hockey teams. In 2004 BVGS became a Language College and, in 2007, the school gained Training School status. Assistant Headteacher Steve Baugh is Head of the Training School and Continuing Professional Development. The school is also a sixth form college. It is situated on the A5127, next to Birmingham Metropolitan College (former Sutton Coldfield College) and the Cross-City Line.
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. Many of the trustees were related to Vesey including his brother Hugh Harman and his brother-in-law William Gibbons, among others. William Gibbons was appointed as the first warden under the Charter of Incorporation, yet no schoolmaster was ever appointed by the trustees of the deed at this time. Because Vesey was not living in Sutton at the time, he did not oversee the trustees duties and obligations. There is no evidence the original trustees carried out their duties of the school.