We had a lovely first half term to 2026! Our diligent Eco Committee members participated in this year’s Big Bird Watch and submitted their results which is helping the RSPB estimate whether populations are growing or declining across the country. We spotted gulls, tits and sparrows as well as one little wagtail that likes to visit outside of the school reception in the morning hours. They have really had a valuable contribution to monitoring and encouraging biodiversity across the site.

We also spent some time learning how to make seed snails. We know that not everyone has access to a massive garden or allotment, so we practiced how you can sow seeds in a smaller space so that you can grow your own veg on your window ledge! These space savers are great for starting seeds off and then when they are big enough, you can transfer them to pots that can also sit on your window ledge if you don’t have an outdoor space. Well done everyone for a fantastic first half term to 2026! We’re hoping to plant their tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, aubergine and watermelon by Easter so they can settle in over the holiday.

Cian has very kindly provided us with another write up from another very interesting lecture at University of Birmingham.  This ties in perfectly with electricity and magnetism unit our Year 8’s are currently studying.  Thank you again Cian for sharing what you have learned with us so we can all benefit.  He certainly embodies each of our Turves Values.

“Fundamental things to universe- atoms (electron, proton, nucleus)

Human beings- brain, heart, skeletal muscles, peripheral nerves- there must be a magnetic field involved. There are magnetic fields that control things like heart, muscles

Why do animals migrate- a sea turtle can go back to where they were born, even after swimming alone for 10,000miles for 1 year- not just turtles, birds, butterflies, bugs- all sense earth's magnetic field. Earth could be considered one giant magnet. Inside earth, outer core, molten iron, charged particles, we experience this as a magnetic field. Every 300,000 years, the magnetic field flips. We don't know when it will happen next, could be 100,000 years.

Earth's crust is constantly recreated- magma pushes up, solidifies, makes new rock layer. Especially in ocean.

Earth's magnetic field protects us from the solar storms that the sun emits. All planets are magnetic, so we can assume that all space objects are magnetic. most magnetic thing is a neutron star. There is a vast empty space between galactic clusters. So empty that if you travel in straight line, you will only occur 1 particle every few km. Despite seeming empty, it is full of strong magnetic fields. Magnetism links to everything, from tiny atoms to giant neutron stars

A famous person believed the earth was a giant magnet. He made a giant magnetic sphere and got a needle. He moved around it, always pointed north. Micheal F came up with the idea of magnetic fields.

In low temp, atoms/electrons are straight, so are magnetic. In high temp, thermal waves disrupt them, not magnetic.

Transparent, shiny, pink magnetic crystals. Each different crystal material, the atoms are arranged predominantly in one direction. Some of the crystals are arranged in 2d. The layers are too far apart, so the atoms can’t communicate together.

All the different phenomenons over 100s of years have helped us understand magnets as they are today

MRI machines save hundreds of thousands of lives a year. It runs from a superconductor, a giant magnetic field 10,000 times that of the earth*.

Technology like the HDD use magnets.

There are lots of magnetic implications in everyday life. A microphone, a speaker, an auto-focusing and image stabilisation camera al use a neodymium magnet. So does the haptic engine, magsafe, and charging the phone.

Wind turbines and engines also use magnets, but it leaves a big carbon footprint. To get neodymium, lots of mining is done, which destroys our earth, and releases lots of bad chemicals into the air.

Why don’t we recycle neodymium? At UoB, they try researching it. But car companies don’t want to recycle their engines, as it can give away the designs of them. Outcome is very significant. The human race had been significantly changed by magnetism and the research of magnetism.

For more info, visit MagneticBirmingham.com”

Throughout this half-term I have had the pleasure of coordinating our peer mentoring sessions. The commitment shown by both mentors and mentees demonstrates the positive impact of pupils working together to strengthen our school community.

These packed sessions reflect our shared understanding that improving school attendance is a collective responsibility. By building supportive relationships across year groups, pupils are helping to create a culture where everyone feels encouraged, valued and motivated to attend each day - while having the opportunity to take responsibility to overcome any barriers to good school attendance.

Our mentors have continued to show maturity, empathy and leadership, providing consistent encouragement; acting as positive role models and embodying our Turves Values. Equally, our mentees deserve recognition for their willingness to participate, reflect and take meaningful steps towards improving their attendance. Their openness and effort are central to the success of the programme.

Peer mentoring is more than an attendance strategy; it is an investment in developing resilient, confident and successful individuals. When students feel part of a caring and connected community, they are more likely to thrive both socially and academically.

This week pupils from Year 9 and 10 got their results back for the UK Maths Challenge. The challenge was issued to the top set of each of the two-year groups and is an internationally recognised award to identify mathematical talent from pupils all across the UK.

Declan, Connor, Louie, Charlie and Llemari in Year 9 as well as Tyshae, Yahya, Aiden, Kamron, Jamie, Teo, Zack, Logan and George in Year 10 all achieved bronze awards.

Alfie in Year 9 achieved that year groups only silver award with Charles, Duarte, Sebastian and William in Year 10 all getting silver awards

And then for his second time at TGBS Remee in Year 10 achieved a gold award. A young man with some super mathematical talent.

Congratulations to all of those who took part. The UK Maths Challenge is an incredibly tricky test and shows a lot of resilience and skill to even attempt. Year 8 and Year 7 will get their chance to try the junior one in the next few months.

Turves Green Boys’ School recently hosted a successful Careers Fair in the Main Hall, giving pupils structured access to a wide range of education, training, and employment pathways.

The event formed a key part of the school’s careers programme and supported pupils in developing a clearer understanding of their post-16 and post-18 options, in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks.

What pupils did

Prior to the event, pupils completed a planning task during Form Time, identifying at least three organisations they wished to speak to. This ensured that engagement at the Careers Fair was purposeful and matched pupils’ interests and aspirations.

During their allocated sessions, pupils:

• Spoke to a minimum of three different providers
• Introduced themselves professionally and confidently
• Asked questions about courses, careers, entry requirements, and progression routes
• Recorded key information on their careers worksheets to support reflection and next steps

This approach encouraged pupils to take ownership of their careers education and develop important communication and employability skills.

Who attended

The Careers Fair welcomed a diverse range of organisations, ensuring pupils were exposed to academic, vocational, technical, and specialist pathways, including:

• Sixth form colleges offering A Levels, BTECs and T Levels
• Further education colleges specialising in vocational and technical routes
• Universities and higher education providers
• Apprenticeship and training providers across construction, engineering, IT, health, and business
• Armed forces, including the British Army and Royal Air Force
• Sport, creative, STEM, and specialist career organisations

This breadth of provision ensured pupils could explore pathways aligned to a wide range of interests, abilities, and future ambitions.

The Careers Fair is part of TGBS’s ongoing commitment to high-quality careers education, supporting pupils to make informed, ambitious, and realistic choices about their next steps.

The school basketball team produced a thrilling performance on Monday 9February holding on for a dramatic 41–37 victory in a game that swung wildly from start to finish.

TGBS came out firing and looked in complete control early, racing to an incredible 21–0 lead. Tight defence and quick ball movement left their opponents struggling to find any rhythm, as the onlookers watched the scoreboard climb without reply.

However, the momentum shifted as the game wore on. The opposing team regrouped after the opening shock and slowly clawed their way back into contention, tightening the score across the second and third quarters. What once seemed a runaway contest turned into a tense battle, with every possession carrying weight.

In the closing moments, the score stood delicately poised. With time nearly expired and the pressure at its highest, the winning team showed composure beyond their years. As the buzzer loomed, a last-second three-pointer was launched - and dropped cleanly through the net by Shanrique - sealing the 41–37 victory and sending the bench into celebration.

The win was a testament to a fast start, resilience under pressure, and the confidence to deliver when it mattered most.

We are thrilled to announce that this summer, our school will be putting on the beloved musical “The Wizard of Oz”! Join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion on an unforgettable journey down the Yellow Brick Road.

Auditions are coming up!
Pupils who are interested in performing can collect an audition pack from Mrs Haynes or Miss Harrison. Auditions will take place after half term, so make sure to pick up your pack and start preparing your part!

Whether you love singing, dancing, acting, or simply being part of a fantastic team, there’s a role for everyone. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a magical production that promises fun, excitement, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for more details about rehearsal schedules and performance dates. We can’t wait to see your talent shine on stage!

Step into the magic – see you on the Yellow Brick Road!

The Tigers group recently visited Kings Norton Construction College as part of their intervention, where they were introduced to a range of opportunities within the groundwork and construction sector. Staff at the college provided an overview of different career pathways and the skills required to succeed in the industry, giving the group valuable insight into real-world construction environments.

During the visit, the boys took part in a practical block paving activity, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and develop practical skills. They approached the task with enthusiasm, worked well together, and demonstrated positive attitudes throughout the session. All the boys were brilliant, representing the group extremely well and making the most of the learning opportunity.

This year the Department for Education has launched its National Year of Reading Campaign, due to the number of children reading for pleasure falling at an alarming rate. 

Annually, we take part in the Book Trust’s ‘Bookbuzz’ initiative which aims to promote reading for pleasure in Key Stage 3. At form time in October, pupils were shown a range of short clips from award winning authors talking about their books for this year’s round. Each pupil has a personalised bookmark on which they selected their top 3 books. Our Year 11 prefects worked hard to sort all the individual books and had the privilege of handing these books out to pupils in the final week of school as our Christmas ‘gift of reading’. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to raising the profile of reading, we have ensured that each pupil in KS3 has their very own book to read at home over Christmas that they have chosen themselves. Staff and pupils were delighted to receive, discuss and above all, start reading their new books in their dedicated form time reading session. Along with their Accelerated reader books, pupils are well equipped to embrace the year of reading initiative!

The popular game has become a key part of our break time at TGBS! Thanks to Mr Rawlings, pupils can meet in A1 with their Beyblades and compete against one another. The boys enjoy mini tournaments and cheering each other on.