King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy (HWGA) stands as a beacon of educational excellence, welcoming a diverse group of young women from the vibrant community of Handsworth. The academy’s ethos, deeply rooted in mutual respect, fosters a nurturing environment where each girl is encouraged to believe in her potential for success. This belief is not just theoretical; it is embedded in the fabric of HWGA’s culture, where the student welfare system plays a pivotal role in supporting the girls’ academic and personal growth.
From the moment they step through the doors in year 7, the students are emboldened to strive for their “personal best” in every examination, a journey that continues through to sixth form and sets a foundation for lifelong learning. The academy’s reputation, built on the pillars of hard work and high-quality education, resonates within the local community, a testament to the dedication of both students and staff.
The pride in the students’ achievements is palpable, reflecting the collective efforts of inspiring teachers, supportive families, and the girls themselves, who approach their studies with diligence and determination. This collaborative spirit is integral to the academy’s ethos, ensuring that every student not only meets but exceeds their own expectations.
Continual improvement is not just an aspiration but an expectation at HWGA. The academy’s commitment to excellence challenges students and staff alike to reach new heights, fostering an environment where academic achievements and personal development go hand in hand. The array of academic and enrichment opportunities available ensures that the girls’ education is comprehensive, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern world.
The young women of HWGA are not just students; they are leaders in the making, each with a unique potential that the academy helps to cultivate. With a future that shines bright, these students stand ready to make their mark on the world, carrying with them the values and experiences that have shaped their time at Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy. It is this unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of women that makes HWGA not just a school, but a launchpad for success.
2025/2026 School Year
Autumn Term
- Term starts: Monday 1 September 2025
- Half-term: Monday 27 October 2025 to Friday 31 October 2025
- Term ends: Friday 19 December 2025
Spring Term
- Term starts: Monday 5 January 2026
- Half-term: Monday 16 February 2026 to Friday 20 February 2026
- Term ends: Friday 27 March 2026
Summer Term
- Term starts: Monday 13 April 2026
- Half-term: Monday 25 May 2026 to Friday 29 May 2026
- Term ends: Monday 20 July 2026
Teacher Training Days
- 1 September 2025
- 2 September 2025
- 17 October 2025
- 5 January 2026
- 20 July 2026
Vision
“To empower every young woman to think critically, lead with courage, and grow with empathy—so she shapes the future as a confident and compassionate leader.”
Mission
- Nurture a culture of lifelong learning through curiosity, challenge, and high performance.
- Develop courageous, compassionate character, rooted in self-belief, empathy, and resilience.
- Build strong community connections, enabling every student to contribute with pride and purpose.
Values
Scholarship – Character – Community
We asked the students to give shout outs to the members of the King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy team who made a difference to them.
Here’s what they had to say:
“shout out to all teachers for being an inspiration for me to pursue a career in teaching as well.”
“Miss Jones works SO hard to make everybody happy and to support everyone – I know every other staff member does too but you can FEEL the support that she gives, not just experience it.”
“Mr Ali – always being great and putting a smile on everyone’s face! Thank you!”
“Ms Harte-for being an amazing club teacher and always supports us 🙂 #Miss Harte is the best”
“Mr Chai for never judging anyone’s failures and being positive about everyone’s results.”
“Miss Kavanagh – sooo sweet and amazing. – makes me feel welcomed in the lesson and I enjoy her lesson loads.”
“Miss Blanchette because she helps us when we don’t understand something and gives us helpful advice, not only on work but also mental health. She also makes students feel included.”
“I want to give a shout out to Ms Hussein, Ms T, Ms Jheeta and Ms Takhar because they have been very supportive and caring towards me during my journey in HWGA and have made me feel like i belong there and they always have smiles on their faces and always know what to say and when its the right time to say it”
“Miss Kouser for always making sure situations are dealt with and making sure her year group is ok ”
“Mrs Denley for being kind and nice”
“Miss Mazhar – really nice teacher, always able to help and give advice”
“Ms Imran because she is very kind and calm”
“Miss Aziz, Miss Dingwall, Mr Singh they all actually helped sort out stuff that had me feeling was never going to end.”
“Ms Stefan because I can talk to her about a lot of things and not feel judged about it.”
“Miss Hussain – A level psychology teacher. She is an understanding teacher who tailors her way of depending on her student. She teaching makes you feel heard and values your opinion. She is also optimistic and very supportive, which makes you enthusiastic for her lessons. She is willing to give extra time when needed and is very caring.”
“Mrs Floras lessons and teaching has got me improving in english a lot especially in Language which I used to struggle and her PowerPoints are really helpful for topic content and for GCSE revision”
“It is Miss Fox because in her classroom there are beautiful paintings and all of the paintings were so creative”
“Miss T for supporting me in lesson when she comes in and helps me improve my behaviour”
“Miss Runacres and Ms Hussain (pastoral manager). They are both fair and nice to me.”
“Ms Chen because she always helps everyone”
“Mr Din and Mr Mehmood as they understand us girls when we talk to them.”
“Miss T ?,? Miss Dingwall ?and the biggest shout out is to ?Miss Takhar?? Miss Runacres?? Miss Jheeta? because I can talk to them about anything and when something happens they are so calm and the put a real smile on my face and every they are positive even when its a bad day and they alway make sure I’m working hard and make sure I have a smile on my face everyday so i would like to give them the biggest shout out for there hard work and what they have done for me”
“Ms Orton because she does so much for me and is just great”
“I think Miss Thind and Miss Chowdury this is because I really love the way they care about me trying to help understand the reason of why I’m worried always find a solution”
“Ms Jaouen, she is very kind to us, makes sure we as a whole form don’t get in trouble, she put a coat rack for us so we can leave our coats and not get a negative. She also helps us all the time.”
“The dinner ladies because they are nice and caring and dedicated to their work”
“Miss Hussain (history teacher) because she recognises me when I write a good paragraph and she gives everyone a chance to answer a question .”
“Miss Orton, She’s very nice and friendly and gives good advice when I need it.”
“Mr Sangha for being the most real teacher. He tells us the truth instead of sugar coating it which helps us to know what areas we should improve in. He also gives us a lot of exam practice as well to solidify our learning. I respect him so much for that.”
“Miss Adeyemo- she’s very funny and patient and she really helps with my work and guides me when needed”
“Ms Jaouen, she is lovely and helpful. She always helps me with my work and creates so many resources to use. I know that I could speak to her if i had an issue.”
“Ms Bibi she allows the class to understand the work without it feeling like a overwhelming amount as well as allowing the class to not feel bored or distracted”
“Ms Takhar because she puts effort for getting the best things for us”
“Miss Jheeta because she is always very kind and caring towards her students and if we don’t understand something she helps us by going through it in detail”
“Miss Aktar she always tries her best to teach us and tries her best to explain the concepts always checking what we do and don’t understanding”
“Miss L Hussein (the English teacher,8G form tutor) she’s really nice and funny and really easy to talk to and she gives such good vibes.”
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy
Church Lane
Handsworth
Birmingham
B20 2HL
Telephone : 0121 554 8122
For queries please email the address below, Mrs D Pear (Head’s PA) will ensure emails are forwarded to the most appropriate person.
Email: enquiry@hwga.org.uk
Website: www.hwga.org.uk
Headteacher – Ms K Takhar
Please note that you can request paper copies of any of our policies or information available on the website. Please contact the academy using the email address or by calling the academy telephone number and request the information you require.
Academy Opening Hours
Reception is open from 8:00am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Friday
Compulsory attendance is from 8:45am to 3:15pm
King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy is party of the King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham.
King Edward VI Foundation Office
Edgbaston Park Road
Birmingham
B15 2UD
Telephone: 0121 472 1147
Email: office@kevibham.org
Website: www.kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk
Chair of the governing body:
Mr Fazle Kinkhabwala
c/o The Schools of King Edward the Sixth in Birmingham
Foundation Office
Edgbaston Park Road
Birmingham
B15 2UD