Join us as we celebrate 500 years of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School (BVGS) and discover the remarkable history of one of England’s oldest schools.  Tour and refreshments available.

Visitors will begin their journey in the Headteacher’s House, which has been the home of the school since 1729, before moving into Old Big School.  Here, you can view the school’s First World War Memorial, exhibits dedicated to former pupils and Victoria Cross recipients Gus Bonner and Alan Jerrard, and a copy of the school’s original 1527 Foundation Deed.

Guided by our student leaders, visitors will then enjoy a tour of the school site, including the former boarding accommodation, reflecting a proud boarding tradition that continued until 1969.  The tour also includes the historic School Hall, which houses an extensive display charting the school’s rich heritage and development over five centuries.

The visit concludes with an opportunity to explore some of BVGS’s modern facilities, including the Richards-Randon STEM Block, opened in 2016, and the recently completed Robert P. Lowndes Learning Resource Centre, which opened in 2025. 

Please note that the visit gives access to the Headteacher House and Old Big School but is not accessible beyond that point due to the nature of the site. Refreshments and toilets available. Dogs welcome. Tours can be undertaken round the site.  Please note that the site is multi-level. 

How to get there:
Please use public transport where possible. We are 10 minutes walk from Sutton Coldfield Railway Station.  Pedestrian access via 1729 entrance on the Lichfield Road.  Cycle sheds available next to main school car park. However, parking is available on school car park via Boswell Road.

Image credit – Wikimedia Creative Commons

Organised by Bishop Vesey Grammar School