8th April 2020 — Hallfield School chess players are still active with children having access to chess lessons, chess videos, online matches and chess puzzles seven days a week during term time.

Our U11 'A' team recently played two matches online: On 26th March, we had a six-player online double-round match against the current National Schools U11 Team Champions - King's College Junior School, Wimbledon. The match was fantastically close with the result depending on the final game. King's came out on top 6.5 - 5.5 in the end; a rematch has been scheduled!

Last week, we competed in a twelve-player online match against CGPS (one of the strongest chess schools in New York). It was a gruelling two-hour match which Hallfield won 33.5 - 12.5. Well done to all of our chess stars, our first international victory!

10th February 2020 — It was a busy weekend for our chess stars. On Friday 7th February, we sent a team of four pupils to compete against other local schools in the Birmingham and District Chess League Rapidplay. This event is mostly aimed at Senior Schools and indeed our main opposition was King Edward’s School ‘A’ team and King Edward’s V1 Camp Hill ‘A’ team. Despite the massive age differential, our four players performed magnificently and were crowned champions after winning all five of their matches including wins over their two main rivals. The sight of our young stars defeating Sixth Formers is always special. Felix was our top hitter scoring four wins and one draw from five games.

On Saturday 8th February, a number of Hallfield players represented Warwickshire in the Midland County Championships. They helped Warwickshire come out winners in all age sections and our top scorers were Rohan and Zain for the U11s and Farhaan (U9) who each won all three of their games. Well done indeed to all the pupils involved!

20th January 2020 — As part of Hallfield School’s five-year development plan, we were delighted to officially unveil our new dedicated Music Department at Hallfield on Wednesday 15th January.

Over 50 members of the Hallfield community gathered at 5.30 pm to enjoy drinks and canapés crafted by our in-house catering company, Holroyd Howe. We were honoured to welcome Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, to cut the ribbon. Julian gave a thought-provoking speech; that music was a birthright and absolutely a sustainable career for children to pursue.

Our guests then enjoyed a 20-minute concert from three of our Hallfield pupils along with our specially invited guests including Kieran Vas (an Old Hallfieldian), Juliet Barwell, Jiaxin Cheng and Di Xiao. We heard a beautiful array of music such as ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’, ‘Adagio Cantabile’ and ‘Vocalise’ by Rachmaninoff.

Mr Keith Morrow, Head Master of Hallfield School said: “This building, being one of the first projects to be completed at the start of our five-year strategy, demonstrates the commitment Hallfield School is making to develop and enhance musical opportunities for all of the pupils at Hallfield. Through the appointments of our inspirational Director of Music, Mr Pip Jopling and our Music Teacher, Mrs Rosie Edgar, and our large staff of dedicated instrument teachers, we are at the beginning of a journey at Hallfield to ensure our children develop a love of music and the skills and talents to reach their potential as musicians.”

Mr Pip Jopling, Director of Music, said: “I believe that all children should be seen as musicians: Afterall, it is now well accepted that involvement with music-making helps children with their coordination, it helps brain development and develops social skills and team-working skills. We, therefore, ensure that our department is an inclusive space and every child from the age of three receives a 40-minute lesson once a week. Every child has the opportunity to be a part of a musical ensemble from the age of five and every child has the opportunity to learn to play an orchestral instrument from the age of seven.”

Throughout the school week, the Music Department is a busy hub of activity. Pupils access our suite of practice rooms for individual or small-group instrumental/vocal lessons with a specialist teacher. Pupils also access our two music classrooms for class lessons, ensemble rehearsals and informal concerts. An after-school music technology club also takes place in the department’s Music Technology Studio three times a week.

For more information on Hallfield’s music provision, please come along to our Whole School Open Morning on Saturday 8th February. To organise a tour or enquire about a place please contact: admissions@hallfieldschool.co.uk

8th October 2018 — We are delighted to announce the successful applicants are:

Head Girl – Anika Hejmadi

Deputy Head Girl – Lauren White

Head Boy – Thomas Derrig

Deputy Head Boy – Muhammad Master

The selection process to these esteemed posts was very thorough. All Year 6 pupils were invited to apply for the roles by writing a letter of application to the Head Master, in which they were asked to explain their reasons for applying, using their neatest handwriting.

All applicants were then interviewed by Mr Morrow over the course of two weeks where they withstood some very tough questioning!

Mr Morrow said: “I was thoroughly impressed with how seriously all of the children who applied took the process and how committed to Hallfield School our pupils are.

It was a very tough choice as there were so many suitable children, but in the end, Anika, Lauren, Thomas and Muhammad shone through.

It was a great opportunity to get to know the Year 6 children as I am new to the school and I know the other Year 6 pupils will enjoy the opportunity to become school prefects.

My thanks go to all the children who applied! It is a fitting way to start our 140th year of celebrations.”

Anika, Thomas, Lauren and Muhammed will now be responsible for representing the School at both internal and external events, as Hallfield ambassadors. They will act as role models for the wider school community often speaking at school events, and more importantly, they will be the vital link between pupils and staff, keeping Mr Morrow and the executive team up to date with news and feedback from the pupils.

27th September 2018 — The capsule, which will be opened by future pupils on the School’s 150th anniversary in 2029, contains artefacts that will give future pupils a snapshot of life at Hallfield School in 2018. This includes photographs and articles of school events in 2018, a school newsletter, items of school uniform, a school teddy, artwork, a chess trophy, children’s letters to future pupils and today’s Birmingham Post and First News. The Head Master even took time out to write a letter to future staff and pupils of 2029 for the capsule.

After filling the time capsule up, the School’s Head Master, Mr Morrow, said a few words before burying the capsule in the ground.

Speaking of the event, he said: “We wanted to start a year of celebrations with an event that would capture the imagination of our pupils. They had obviously put a lot of thought and effort into the contents of the time capsule and it will be fascinating to see how life compares in 10 years’ time.”

Hallfield School will be celebrating their 140th anniversary throughout the academic year with a series of exciting events for pupils, parents, alumni and the local community. For more information visit www.hallfieldschool.co.uk/hallfields-140th-anniversary 

21st September 2018 —

Siblings, Sian Doal in Year 6 and Mohini Doal in Year 5 at the Edgbaston school, were the youngest of the 100 people participating in the charity walk on Saturday 14 July.

It took the generous duo between three and four hours to complete the trek - and partake in some ‘flossing’ action - but they said it was all worth it:

“We did it all for the kids in Malawi. It was hard, but we got through it.” They said: “We made Hallfield proud.”

The charity they worked with, Zero Hunger with Langar, has used the funds to serve children in Malawi, Africa.

Mr Jag Singh, Founder of Zero Hunger with Langar, said: “’Langar’ is the concept of FREE compassionate food for all people, regardless of faith, gender, age or social status and we believe in a world where food and freedom exists everywhere – serving is what we’re all about.

“It’s a win-win situation for the children in Malawi – we have helped them to become happier and have given them the drive to want to learn at school once they have had langar. The food we have supplied has helped many children back into schooling and reduced the number of children in villages looking for work to survive.

“Sian and Mohini are extremely inspiring children –, especially to their peers. We were delighted to have them on board with us.”

Keith Morrow, Head Master at Hallfield School, said: “Everyone at Hallfield is extremely proud of Sian and Mohini.

“Their incredible efforts have made a huge difference to a number of lives in Africa. They are a huge asset o the school.

You can watch a short video about their experience here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y7_pZkQ9ZQ