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King Edward VI Handsworth School,
Rose Hill Road, Birmingham B21 9AR
T: 0121 554 2342
E: office@kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk
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OUR TEAM
DAVID GOODWIN
HEADTEACHER
My own personal educational experience has been exclusively in selective education in the West Midlands. I strongly believe that the Birmingham Grammar School system provides young people from all backgrounds the best chance to go beyond their social and economic boundaries. My greatest passion, since starting my career, has been the provision of experiences and academic opportunities that go beyond examination subjects and outcomes. I am fascinated by the role that education can play in the development of character.
Throughout my career, I have witnessed how co-curricular activities can help nurture skills and values that equip students to make telling contributions to modern society. I have delighted in running sports and quiz teams, as well as organising and leading a wide range of educational visits, to both domestic and international destinations.
My vision for this School is to empower the students at Handsworth to be the next generation of leaders by providing a stimulating and inspirational academic environment that encourages students to seek challenge and to ask the right questions.
JACKIE KENDALL
DEPUTY HEAD
Having thoroughly enjoyed my time studying for a Joint Honours degree in Mathematics and Physics at The University of Nottingham, I decided to stay there to complete a PGCE course before starting my teaching career at a Secondary Modern school in Kent.
Returning to the Midlands, moving into the selective sector as a Mathematics teacher at KE Handsworth 1993 – 2006 gradually taking on additional responsibilities for Duke of Edinburgh, Data analysis and after promotions to Head of Mathematics and Assistant Head at another local school, I was delighted to return to KE Handsworth as Deputy Head in September 2013.
Throughout my career I have been interested in assessment, curriculum design and data analysis, although since taking up post here I have overseen a variety of other operational areas around school.
I enjoy all the Performing Arts events in school, supporting music residentials and even occasionally dusting the cobwebs off my clarinet to join in. Relaxing is a mixture of family excursions such as skiing, visiting National Trust properties and tandem rides, to more “me time” activities such as needlecraft and baking. I am always in awe of all the additional skills students here acquire away from the classroom, whether through school opportunities or by grasping those on offer locally and nationally.
SIMON FOSTER
DEPUTY HEAD
NICOLAS HEPPEL
ASSISTANT HEAD
I read Music at The Queen’s College, Oxford and then took an MA in History at Durham. My teaching experience has taken me from Manchester to East Anglia and now to Birmingham, and I was Head of Music here at King Edward VI Handsworth for several years before taking up my present post.
My chief interests are in how students learn and in how they can acquire the habits of mind which will make them thoughtful and positive contributors to society in the future. I am very excited to be able to support students from so many backgrounds make the step up to A-Levels, contribute to the wider life of the school and work towards the careers and destinations they are passionate about.
CHARLES TROTTER
ASSISTANT HEAD
I qualified as a Teacher of Physics at The University of Nottingham having studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Loughborough. I began my teaching career at a large comprehensive school in London close to where I grew up. After moving to the Midlands to become Head of Physics, I joined King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls which led to me leading the Science Specialism and joining the Leadership Team as the Director of Science. I became an Assistant Head in 2012.
While still teaching Physics across the school my leadership responsibilities revolve around our use of data including GDPR. Recent world events reignited an interest in use of technology in the classroom and for remote teaching. It is important that school is about more than being in classrooms. My role coordinating charity work and the House system as well as promoting extra-curricular participation and provision through a variety of mediums means that students are able to strengthen other skills such as leadership, persuasiveness and communication over their time in the school.
JANE GLENDENNING
ASSISTANT HEAD
After completing a Humanities degree and going on to teach English abroad for three years, I completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing before working in advertising and direct marketing for ten years. I then retrained as an English teacher in 2005 and worked at two comprehensive schools in Pastoral Care before moving here as Head of English in 2009.
In 2014 I became an Assistant Head and from 2017 to August 2024 was the Director of Pastoral Care and Designated Safeguarding Lead. As a result, in November 2021 I became the Foundation Leader in Safeguarding and Wellbeing for The Schools of King Edward VI Birmingham and am currently on a three-year secondment as part of the wider Education Team. This role involves compliance, governance, training and collaboration across the Foundation for both safeguarding and wellbeing.
I feel passionately about the mental health and wellbeing and produce resources, deliver staff training and promote opportunities for pupils, parents and staff to develop their understanding of mental health and how to support themselves and others. My role in school this year is Staff Wellbeing Lead and as a Mental Health First Aider and trained Senior Mental Health Lead, I am excited about promoting the wellbeing of all in our school.
This year I will also be taking on the role of Sustainability Lead for the school and am looking forward to learning more about this valuable area and working with students to inspire their enthusiasm to help drive positive change and create a sense of pride in our school setting. Any parents/carers reading this profile are welcome to contact me to be part of our wider approach to sustainability and climate change.
STEVEN RAMSEY
ASSISTANT HEAD
I completed a Honours Degree In Humanities and History in 2011 and soon after completed the Graduate Teacher Programme at Newman University Birmingham. I began my teaching career at a large mixed comprehensive school teaching History in Birmingham where I progressed to the position of Assistant head of Humanities.
At these early stages in my teaching career I knew I enjoyed not only helping students reach their potential but supporting and coaching other colleagues in their careers. After excellent outcomes I moved to fulfil the role of head of Humanities. In this role I developed a flare and passion for educational research and teaching and learning. I persued this interest and completed a MA in Educational Leadership and Management at Nottingham University. In 2016 I secured the position of Faculty Leader of Humanities and Social Sciences with the responsibility for Initial Teacher Training, Early Career teacher training and professional development for new and established colleagues. In this role I won awards for leading teacher development and assessment and feedback. I am currently completing the National Professional Qualification for Headship.
I am now the Assistant Headteacher at King Edwards VI with responsibility for Teachers and Learning.
I love my subject and thoroughly enjoy opening the doors of the past in the classroom. I love to travel around the world learning about new cultures and enjoy walking and trekking up mountains.
ANGELA LOMAS
SENDCO
Following my graduation from Leeds University with an honour’s degree in Zoology, I was the lucky recipient of the UK-McGill Fellowship Award which awarded me the opportunity to undertake a Masters in Science in the area of Animal Behaviour. My two years there was divided between studying at McGill University in Montreal and undertaking field research at the Bellairs Institute in Barbados. This experience also gave me the chance to travel, presenting my research findings within Canada, the USA and Naples, Italy. Whilst living in Canada, I taught laboratory sessions to undergraduates and got the ‘bug’ for teaching. I obtained my Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Birmingham University and began my teaching career.
I consider myself to be very fortunate and privileged to have worked closely with hundreds of students through my years as an educator, supporting them to be the best versions of themselves. I have held numerous responsibilities within the academic and pastoral arena, and by the far the most fulfilling role I have held is that of being the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). I pride myself in being an advocate for young people who have barriers to their learning, and being integral in supporting them to achieve their potential both in, and out of the classroom.
EMMA JONES
ASSISTANT HEAD
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to teach. Having read History at the University of Sheffield, I moved to Birmingham in 2006 to complete my PGCE through the University of Birmingham. Since then, I have worked in a variety of different schools in the state and independent sector in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull taking on a range of different leadership roles and feel very lucky to be continuing my career as Assistant Head at King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls.
As an Assistant Head responsible for Pastoral Care 7-11 and Safeguarding, I feel very passionately in the importance of providing a school environment that not only nurtures and supports, but also challenges, inspires and widens horizons. In leading the Safeguarding and Pastoral teams, I have a valuable insight into the life experiences of our students. As a former Grammar School student, I am very passionate about the opportunities this sector of education provides not only in the academic sense but in the wider context- in wellbeing, co-curricular and building character. A single sex environment provides the opportunities for students to be themselves, to break down stereotypes and to succeed.