Welcome - Values and Ethos
Five Ways is a great school in which to learn, with a deserved reputation for academic success. We continuously strive to encourage intellectual curiosity and creativity amongst our students and provide excellent support for their academic development, which take the majority on to study at some the most highly selective universities in the United Kingdom and overseas.
However, and equally importantly, we are committed to supporting every one of our students to be decent human beings who care for themselves, each other and the world about them. To do this we provide a wide range of opportunities for young people to challenge and learn about themselves. Our Duke of Edinburgh programme, overseas trips, charity events, drama productions, competitive sport – even a school opera, are only a snapshot of our remarkable school, a school proud of its heritage yet excited by its continued development, growth and innovation
Mrs L. Johnson
Headteacher
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
Staff Senior Leadership Team
Headteacher
Strategic Leadership and Professional Management
Senior Deputy Headteacher
School Curriculum and
Professional Development
Deputy Headteacher
Personal Development and Pastoral Care
Assistant Headteacher
Director of Sixth Form and Senior Outreach
Assistant Headteacher
Director of Key Stage 4, Student Opportunities and Enrichment
Assistant Headteacher
Director of Key Stage 3, Student Conduct and Attendance
Assistant Headteacher
Student Safety and Development, Careers, Wellbeing and DSL (whole school)
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Data Manager, GDPR and School Timetable
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Teaching and Learning, EVC and Primary Outreach
Associate Assistant Headteacher
SENDCO, Head of Inclusion and Student Services
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Professional Mentor: ECT & ITT
Associate Assistant Headteacher
Disadvantaged 11-18 and Student Mentoring
School Business Manager
Finance, Estates and Human Resources
Head of Associate Staff
Student Leadership Structure
School Captain with responsibility for Academic Scholarship
School Captain with responsibility for School Environment and Sustainability
School Captain with responsibility for
House Events
School Captain with responsibility for
School Council
School Captain with responsibility for Public and School Events
School Captain with responsibility for Student Leadership and Prefects
Vice-Captain with responsibility for #Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Vice-Captain with responsibility for Student Care and Support
Vice-Captain with responsibility for
Charity and Fundraising
Vice-Captain with responsibility for
Wider Community
Vice-Captain with responsibility for
School Community