Welcome - Values and Ethos
It is a real honour to lead such a prestigious school; an opportunity which makes me very proud. Teaching is my first career and I am still learning, which is what I love about my work. I have always had a passion for improving opportunities for young people, and by leading Five Ways, I have the privilege of impacting positively on the lives of so many. Working with esteemed colleagues and able young people, enables me to influence decision making and contribute greatly to their personal growth.
I delight in investing in others and helping them realise their potential, whether that be students or staff. Everyone can grow if they are visible and their voices are heard. This mantra lies at the core of what I believe and value as Headmistress. I have learned first-hand the gift that a teacher can bestow on a young and impressionable mind. It is my imperative to work with colleagues, parents, students, governors and the wider education community to ensure we impart the necessary education, skills and virtues so that they thrive.
C M Jordan
Headmistress

Our mission is simple and is aligned with that of our Multi-Academy Trust Sponsors, King Edward VI Foundation which is to make Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK, by ensuring ‘Educational Excellence for Our City.’
The strategy underpinning these aims centre on three strategic objectives:
· Learning with us
· Working for us
· Partnering with us
At Five Ways our mission mirrors this, we strive to:
· Develop exceptional people through growing talent, investing in others and caring about every person
· Commit wholeheartedly to improve social mobility in Birmingham – postcode and poverty should not determine a young person’s education and future opportunities
· Collaborate, develop and create enriching and life enhancing opportunities for all
This is encapsulated in our School vision statement:
“Within a friendly, caring and stimulating community
Five Ways will educate able young people
from all backgrounds and prepare them for life.”
Our School
Five Ways School was founded in 1883, originally situated in a building at Five Ways – in the heart of Birmingham. We relocated to greener pastures in 1958, next to Bartley Green Reservoir. The School has always been a selective Grammar School, established by the King Edward Foundation. Originally we were an all-boys school. Today we are a thriving selective co-educational grammar school. We are proud of our rich heritage, but embrace new traditions and customs to reflect the world we live in today.
We are a larger than average secondary school with 900 students in lower school and 400 in upper school. We have a clearly defined family ethos, which is modelled by all and promoted by the School Leadership Team and staff body. Underpinning our work is a strong Student Leadership, led by our dedicated School Captains. They lead the student body effectively and are wonderful ambassadors for the school.
Please meet the two teams below and feel free to contact us if you have any queries.
Get in touch if you have any queries, concerns or well wishes.
School Leadership Team
Ms C Jordan
Headmistress
-
Staff Performance
-
Admission Standards
-
Capital Devolvement & Estates
-
GRC-One
-
Teacher Support and mentoring (FAC)
-
Finance & Budget
-
Staff Attendance
-
School Policy
-
Staffing & HR
-
Foundation Education & Academy Trust Group
-
GSHA Treasury
-
SE Consortium
-
Balaam Wood Partnership
-
Public Relations
-
Governance
Mr Atherton
Senior Deputy Head
Curriculum and School Improvement
-
Leader of the School Curriculum: student lessons, learning and examinations
-
Monitoring the quality of Teaching and Learning
-
Leadership of all Subject Leaders to ensure quality of education
-
School Timetable
-
School Examinations
-
Finance, Budgets and Governance
Mr Walker
Deputy Head
Co-Curriculum
Character and Collaboration
-
Leader of Student Development and the Co-Curriculum
-
Oversight of the Pastoral Leadership and provision to ensure high quality student experiences
-
Leader of Staff and Student Equality, Diversity and Inclusion provision
-
Leadership lead on our partnership with Balaam Wood and Schools across the Foundation
-
Finance, Budgets and Governance
Mr Overton
Assistant Head
Curriculum, Assessment & Organisation
-
Leadership of Marking, Assessment and Reporting
-
Alumni Relations
-
Leadership of Student Supervision due to staff absence
-
Staff Induction
-
Leadership of Subject and Pastoral Leaders training
-
Finance, Budgets and Governance
Mr Russell
Assistant Head
Timetabling and
Director of Sixth Form
-
Director of Sixth Form
-
Leadership of all Post 16 education: Curriculum and outcomes
-
Student Achievement
-
Student Conduct
-
UCAS, Oxbridge and destinations
-
Careers
-
Student Support and Welfare
-
Extracurricular provision and extended learning
-
Deputy DSL
-
Finance, Budgets and Governance
Mrs Tolley
Assistant Head
Student Welfare, Wellbeing & Safety (11-16)
-
Designated Safeguarding Lead & Looked After Children
-
Senior Mental Health Lead
-
Careers, Years 7-11
-
Student Support
-
SMSC and British Values
-
PSHE and Wellbeing
-
Medical Support
-
Charity
-
Finance, Budgets and Governance
Mr Quinn
Assistant Head
Student Conduct and Attendance (11-16)
-
Leadership of Pastoral Leaders for Year 7-11
-
Leadership of student attendance including student leave of absence requests
-
Lead of Behaviour Management systems
-
Behaviour for Learning in the classroom including staff training
-
Parents’ Evenings
-
Finance, Budgets and Governance
Dr Dale
SLT member
Associate Assistant Head
-
Leadership of Digital Strategy, IT & Computer Services
-
Timetabler
-
Data Manager
-
Data Analysis for the achievement and progress of all students
-
Data Protection Lead (GDPR)
Mr Lewis
Associate Assistant Head
Co-Curriculum, Student Voice and Digital Communication
-
Teaching and Learning including remote education provision
-
School website
-
External Links and Outreach with Primary Schools
-
Educational Visits Coordinator
-
Leadership of the Student Council
-
Data Protection Officer (GDPR support)
Mrs Cotton
Associate Assistant Head
Professional Development and Professional Mentor of Early Career Framework and Initial Teacher Training
-
Professional Development
-
Professional Mentor
-
Staff Induction and training
-
Teacher support and mentoring
Mrs Collins
Business Manager
HR, Finance, Estate Head of Associates
-
Fire, Health, Safety and Estates
-
Financial Management
-
School Budgets
-
Contract Catering Lead including Free School Meals
-
Estate Development
-
Staffing and Human Resources
-
Leadership of all Associate Staff
Mrs Tyrie
Associate Assistant Head
Inclusion
-
SENDCO
-
Year 6 Transition
-
Pupil Premium Coordinator
-
Academic Tutoring
-
& Intervention Programme
-
Deputy DSL
Student Leadership Team - School Captains
Saffron Sandhu
Student Diversity
Jia Avasthi
Wellbeing
Ella Heathfield
Leadership
Finn Heathfield
Student Council
Rose Bowen
Charity
Rio Walker
Public Events and Prefects