King Edward VI Five Ways School - A Birmingham Gem!

King Edward VI Five Ways School  was originally founded at Five Ways in 1883, but relocated to a site in Bartley Green in 1958 (near Bartley Reservoir), about 5 to 7 miles away.


Where is King Edward VI Five Ways School?

King Edward VI Five Ways School is at Scotland Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 4BT. Not far from Bartley Reservoir.

 

In brief

The school was originally founded in 1883, and was based at Five Ways from that year until they moved to Bartley Green in 1958, on a site near Bartley Reservoir. The original J.A. Chatwin building was demolished during the 1960s during the rebuilding of Five Ways Island (including the building of the underpass from Broad Street to Hagley Road). The current school is about 5 to 7 miles away on Scotland Lane in Bartley Green.

King Edward VI Five Ways School King Edward VI Five Ways School in Bartley Green. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

King Edward VI Five Ways School - history

The school was founded in 1883 as part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. The school building was originally the former Edgbaston Proprietary School, at the junction of Ladywood Road and Hagley Road at Five Ways, Birmingham. The building was designed by J.A. Chatwin and opened in January 1883 by A. J. Mundella. At first the school had room for 350 boys. The first headmaster was E.H.F. MacCarthy, who remained in the post until his retirement in 1916. A building at the Bartley Green site was later named after him in his honour.

King Edward VI Five Ways School Public domain photo below dated to 1888 of the old King King Edward VI Five Ways School

 

From the Second World War to the Bartley Green move

During the Second World War, the school evacuated to Monmouth, and the boys attended Monmouth School. After the war, the school was getting a bit too overcrowded, due to the development of land around Five Ways, and there was no room to expand. So the decision was taken to relocate the school to Bartley Green. The land was formerly Bartley Farm next to Bartley Reservoir, and the Foundation purchased it. The school opened there at Scotland Lane in April 1958.

After the school moved away from Five Ways, eventually the old building was demolished, and Five Ways Island was developed during the 1960s. Ladywood Road was renamed to Ladywood Middleway. Meanwhile an underpass was built under the island from Broad Street to Hagley Road in Edgbaston. Islington Row became Islington Row Middleway, while Calthorpe Road and Harborne Road remained with the same road names.

In January 1983, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the school, this plaque (photo below below taken in 2009) was unveiled by Councillor P. Hollingworth (when Lord Mayor of Birmingham). It records King Edward VI Grammar School Five Ways from 16-1-1883 to 2-4-1958. The plaque was unveiled on 16-1-1983. It is below the Tubular Steel sculpture in the middle of Five Ways Island.

King Edward VI Five Ways School Plaque at Five Ways Island marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the school. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The original site of the of King Edward VI Five Ways School is today Five Ways Island. Seen here from Calthorpe Road in Edgbaston. No 1 Hagley Road stands on the corner of Hagley Road and Ladywood Middleway, approximately where the school stood from 1883 until 1958.

Five Ways Island Five Ways Island from Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

King Edward VI Five Ways School at Bartley Green

The site at Bartley Green has been developed ever since they moved from Five Ways in 1958. This includes the Eyles and Chowen Centres, the former and current home of the Sixth Form Centre. A music block and technology block have been added, as well as a Sports Hall and the MacCarthy Block. The Science Wing was also expanded. In recent years, a sports pavilion was built, as well as an astro turf playing field, a mobile classroom and an Observatory was built. The Eyles building was renovated into the Eyles-Music Block, as the old Music block had become too small. It was one of the first schools to get computer technology in 1978. This was achieved with links to Aston University. Girls have been admitted to the school since 1988. The school today is the largest co-educational grammar schools in the West Midlands and one of the top five co-ed grammar schools nationally.

King Edward VI Five Ways School

King Edward VI Five Ways School

King Edward VI Five Ways School

King Edward VI Five Ways School King Edward VI Five Ways School at Bartley Green. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

King Edward VI Five Ways School post

 

For the main feature go to this project here Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham.

 

Contact details

King Edward VI Five Ways School

Scotland Lane

Bartley Green

Birmingham

B32 4BT

0121 475 3535

 

Project dates

05 Aug 2021 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Education, Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com