Handsworth Grammar Junior Baccalaureate: A groundbreaking new awards scheme has young students enthusiastically embracing life at a renowned inner city grammar school – to earn five shiny new badges for their blazers.
The unique Junior Baccalaureate programme has been introduced at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys to encourage students in Years 7, 8 and 9 to aim high and achieve, both academically and personally.
Assistant Headteacher Mohammed Mohsin, who created the programme, explained: “The main idea was to create a ‘gamified’ framework to encourage younger students to make the most of school life.
“Our students get fantastic grades, but there’s so much more we want them to develop and accomplish while they’re here, which will make them into well-rounded adults.”
Each of the five badges awarded as part of the Handsworth Grammar Junior Baccalaureate centres around of one the school’s five CARES values – Community, Aspiration, Respect, Endeavour and Service.
Then, each has a list of seven landmarks, of which five must be completed for a student to be presented with the badge.
Mr Mohsin said: “School should be fun, and in Key Stage 3, GCSE work hasn’t begun yet, so there’s plenty of time for our students to enjoy other aspects of school life.
“Participating students submit evidence of what they’ve done, and staff sign off on it. Every landmark they achieve, we can evidence exactly where they’ve achieved it.”
Handsworth Grammar Junior Baccalaureate: students embrace scheme
The Junior Baccalaureate has already been embraced by students, who have set out to achieve as many badges as possible.
Ranbir Matharu has already achieved all five badges in just two years – and is set to be the first recipient of the Junior Baccalaureate.
Ranbir said: “My main focus was trying to achieve something over three years – I surprised myself by managing to complete it in just two! My parents and friends really encouraged me.
“I think the Baccalaureate is a great addition to school life because it explains all the opportunities we have here at the school, and you can look forward to coming in and trying to achieve new things.”
Mr Mohsin said: “We’re all really proud of Ranbir for being the first student to complete all five badges.
“He will have his name inscribed on the new Junior Baccalaureate honours board, and we’re going to invite his parents in for the big reveal!”
Giovanni Eliason is on his way to completing the Baccalaureate, currently holding four badges.
Giovanni said: “Each badge represents a different value in the school. Every time I achieve a badge I feel like I have more in-depth connections with that value. I’ve been trying to embody those values in everyday life.
“Working on the badges, I’ve got to explore some things I didn’t know about the school, like the library’s Reading Challenge, which I didn’t know was available until it became part of the Baccalaureate.
“I’m driven to get my name on the honours board – I want to be immortalised in the school and inspire future years!”
The first student to receive a badge was Praj Chowdhury.
Praj said: “When the Baccalaureate was launched, my form teacher went over all the criteria we could complete – and I realised I’d already done everything I needed for one of the badges!
“It was great to be rewarded for things I’d already achieved at school and in my own time.”
Mr Mohsin said: “The students’ response to the Baccalaureate has been really impressive – they’ve fully embraced it.
“The level of enthusiasm and friendly competition between participants is contagious. The badges are brilliant because students can see their peers proudly sporting Baccalaureate badges on their blazers, and it encourages them to get involved too.
“I joke to the students that I want them to be like the Chelsea Pensioners – weighed down by their badges and accolades!
Parents have also responded with enthusiasm and have even raised the idea of having something similar for Year 10 – 13 students, which the school is now working on introducing as a Senior Baccalaureate.
Mr Mohsin said: “I’m really proud of all of our boys who have embraced the Junior Baccalaureate. Staff can see them embodying our CARES values in every aspect of school life, and we see their pride in what they’ve accomplished.”
Headteacher Tim Johnson said: “HGS is known for its excellent academic achievements, but this new Junior Baccalaureate programme encourages our younger students to get stuck into the other side of school life – activities, clubs, events – in a fun way.
“This is a unique idea that has been created here at Handsworth, and I’m so proud of the way that the students and staff have enthusiastically embraced it – it’s great to see the students showing off the badges on their blazers!”
Possible contributions to the Community badge include charity fundraising, mentoring, environmental awareness and researching local history; while Aspiration activities include completing the Reading Challenge, working on modern foreign languages and achieving 100 House Points.
“This is a unique idea that has been created here at Handsworth, and I’m so proud of the way that the students and staff have enthusiastically embraced it – it’s great to see the students showing off the badges on their blazers!”
– headteacher Tim johnson
For Respect, students might aim for perfect punctuality or zero behaviour incidents, become a Kindness Champion or dress up on Culture Day; while the Endeavour badge encourages 100% attendance, participation in extracurricular clubs and school competitions, or studying an instrument.
Lastly, the Service badge criteria include volunteering at a school event, becoming an Anti-Bullying Ambassador, taking part in Sports Day and taking up leadership positions.
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