Solihull School was founded in 1560 with the income from the chantry chapels of the parish of Solihull. The school is particularly proud of the richness and diversity of the education that it provides. The school has always been closely involved with the community, making its sporting and theatrical facilities available for local schools. In September 2020, the school merged with Saint Martin’s to create a leading 3-18 independent co-educational day school across two campuses. Solihull Senior School on the Warwick Road campus and Solihull Preparatory School on the Saint Martin’s campus.
Organisation. Solihull provides education for over 1,500 children aged between 3 and 18. The Headmaster of Solihull School is Mr Charles B Fillingham. Mr M P Penney is Head of the Preparatory School, which occupies a 20-acre campus on Brueton Avenue and has more than 430 pupils aged from 3 to 11. Mr S A Morgan is Head of the Senior School attended by 1,100 pupils aged 11–18. In 1973, girls were accepted into the Sixth Form. In September 2005, the school became fully co-educational.
Site and Facilities. Solihull moved to its present site in 1882 and the original school building, School House, survives. The Senior School campus now comprises over 40 acres of buildings and playing fields. Over the last 20 years there has been a very substantial building programme. This originally involved the extension of the Science Department and Design and Technology Centre, the laying of an artificial turf pitch and three squash courts, and the redevelopment of School House. In 2002 a new theatre, the Bushell Hall, was built, which can accommodate an audience of 600 and an assembly for 1,000. At the same time, the old hall was transformed into a library and IT rooms. In 2003, the Alan Lee Pavilion, was completed. In September 2005 a new teaching area, the George Hill Building, was unveiled to provide 16 classrooms and an extensive social space. The David Turnbull Music School was unveiled in September 2009. In September 2015, a four-floor, state-of-the-art Sixth Form centre, The Cooper Building, opened. It was designed to transform Sixth Form teaching and learning and to incorporate the latest multimedia technology. A second artificial turf pitch was completed in 2017. In November 2019, the school opened its refurbished Refectory. In September 2020, Solihull merged with Saint Martin’s school and opened Solihull Preparatory School on the Saint Martin's campus. During the summer of 2020, the Junior School building on the Warwick Road campus was repurposed for Senior School use and renamed The Mark Hopton Building. In September 2022, a new dance studio opened in The Mark Hopton Building. The Preparatory School on the Saint Martin’s campus has been redeveloped as a 3–11 school with substantial building work and modifications such as bespoke specialist teaching rooms for Art, Design and Technology, ICT, Music and Science and Clevertouch boards. Prep School facilities include a full sized floodlit artificial pitch, a 25m swimming pool, a large recently built library of over 8,000 books and a SMArt Performing Arts Centre that incorporates an auditorium and a dance studio. In October 2021, development work commenced on a car park expansion, extensive grounds facilities and new playing fields. This latest construction project on the Saint Martin’s site was completed in September 2022. In September 2023, Solihull was confirmed as a Microsoft Showcase School 2023-2024.
Curriculum. In the Prep School particular emphasis is placed on establishing high standards in core subjects and key skills that permeate the children’s learning across the curriculum. The Prep School has specialist teaching rooms for Art, Design and Technology, ICT, Music and Science. EYFS and Infant pupils enjoy the ‘Alice House Guide to Living Well’ programme – covering Happy, Engaged and Meaningful Living - and Junior School pupils learn resilience skills as part of the Prep School’s Wellbeing and Personal Development programme.
At the beginning of the Senior School, all pupils take at least one year of Latin and Spanish. In the second year French and German are optional subjects. English Language and Literature, Mathematics, a Modern Foreign Language, Physics, Chemistry and Biology remain compulsory subjects to GCSE. Three other subjects are chosen from a wide range of options.
The size of the Sixth Form enables the school to offer a very wide range of subjects and combinations. These subjects are Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classics, Dance, Design and Technology, Economics, English Literature, French, Greek, Geography, German, History, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, PE, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies (Philosophy and Ethics), Spanish and Theatre Studies. There is also a substantial programme of Enrichment for all pupils in the Sixth Form, ranging from Debating and Creative Writing to Cookery and Theatre Design.
Academic Success. In 2023, Solihull recorded another set of outstanding A Level results with a 100% pass rate; 77% A* to B grades and 52% of all grades falling into the A* or A category. At GCSE, 67% of the 2023 grades were at 9–7.
Games. Games are an integral part of the school curriculum and all pupils in the school are involved. PE is compulsory until Year 11 and all pupils in the school have a games afternoon. The school has a very strong tradition in the major team games, but also offers a very wide range of other options. The principal team games are rugby, cricket, hockey and netball. The Prep School pupils play football in addition to these sports. The school also has teams in tennis, athletics, swimming, clay-pigeon shooting, cross-country, badminton, basketball and fencing to name but a few. In recent years the school has organised very extensive tours for pupils of differing ages: in 2023 our senior rugby and netball teams toured South Africa. Individual and team success in national competitions is a regular feature of Solihull sporting life.
Music, Drama and Dance. The school has a very strong tradition in Music and Drama, which has been enhanced since the building of the Bushell Hall, The David Turnbull Music School on the Warwick Road campus and the SMArt performing arts centre on our Saint Martin’s campus. Over a third of all pupils learn a musical instrument and there are over 25 different musical groups in the Senior School. This ranges from orchestras, bands and choirs to piano, string and wind ensembles. Several of these groups are very successful in competition at local festivals. There are many opportunities for pupils to perform at concerts, both formal and informal, throughout the year. A busy programme of masterclasses is given by visiting professional musicians. There is also an excellent Chapel Choir that performs during the school week and at the chapel services each Sunday. Each term the choir sings Evensong in a cathedral (including an annual visit to St Paul’s in London) and performs on BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service. In 2015, the school joined the Steinway Initiative, purchasing three new Steinway grand pianos.
The Drama and Music departments come together each year for the staging of an ambitious musical, which always involves a large number of pupils. There are two major dramatic performances each year: a school musical (Twelfth Night, Nell Gwynn, Little Shop of Horrors, Fame and The Addams Family) and a school play (Fuente Ovejuna, The Royal Hunt of the Sun and Goodnight Mr Tom). In 2023 Solihull was privileged to welcome Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss MBE for the British Premier of ‘My Brothers’ Gift’ and Susan Pollack OBE for a performance of Kindness: A Legacy of the Holocaust. In addition, there are several other productions throughout the course of the year, including a recent highlight the 9 Teens World Premier. Solihull expanded its Performing Arts offering with the addition of Dance in 2020.
Outdoor Education. Outdoor Education plays a major part in the school’s life. In the Third Form pupils take part in an outdoor activities programme called Terriers. In the Shell Form every pupil spends a week at the school’s David Fricke mountain cottage in Snowdonia. From the Shell Form pupils are able to participate in the CCF, which has an Army and an RAF section, and from the end of the Fourth Form, they can pursue the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. There are approximately 80 pupils in the CCF and 160 are involved at different stages of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
Admissions. Pupils are accepted into Solihull School through assessments at 3+, 4+, 5+ and 6+ and examination at 7+ to 14+. A major point of entry to Senior School is at 11+ (Year 7). Places are awarded on the basis of written exams in English and Mathematics, verbal and, in some cases, non-verbal reasoning plus an interview. Some pupils are also accepted to enter the school at 12+, 13+ and 14+. A substantial number of pupils enter the school at Sixth Form level. Offers for admission to the Sixth Form are made on the basis of an interview, predicted GCSE grades and a personal profile. Such offers are conditional on receiving a pupil’s school report which should indicate high levels of effort and attainment, excellent conduct and a positive attitude to school life plus achieving a minimum of two grade 7s and four grade 6s at GCSE, normally including grade 6 in Mathematics and English.
The dates for entrance examinations and the Sixth Form scholarship examinations are available on the school website. Fees per term (2023-2024). Nursery fees are available on our website. Reception/ Infant 1/ Infant 2 £4,143; Junior School £4,733–£4,917; Senior School £5,625. Scholarships and Bursaries. The number of awards and their value is at the discretion of the Headmaster. As well as Academic, there are Art & Design, Music and Sport Scholarships which are awarded at 11+. At Sixth Form Solihull awards Academic, Art & Design, Music, Performing Arts and Sport Scholarships.
In addition to scholarships, means-tested bursaries are available to offer opportunities to pupils with financial needs. Applicants for such assistance are considered at Senior School and Sixth Form entry.
The Development and Alumni Relations Office at Solihull School. Solihull School Community Network alumni.solsch.org.uk is a network bringing together alumni, parents past and present, former and current staff and friends of both Solihull and Saint Martin’s schools. It is a place to share memories, forge careers and social connections and offer support to current students and recent leavers. Email moseleyl@solsch.org.uk or call 0121 703 2963. Old Silhillians Association. The Old Silhillians Association support and maintain links with the school. They also have their own clubhouse and extensive sports facilities. Website: www.silhillians.net; email: osa@silhillians.net. Charitable status. Solihull School is a Registered Charity, number 1120597. It exists to provide high-quality education for pupils between 3 and 18 years old.
Governors & Staff:
Chairman of the Governors: Mr Damian Kelly, BA
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors: Mr Richard Bate, MA Cantab, ACMA
Executive Headmaster: Mr Charles B Fillingham, MA King’s College London, MSc Oxon
Head of the Senior School: Mr Sean Morgan, BA
Head of the Preparatory School: Mr Mark Penney, BA
Senior School Deputy Head (Teaching & Learning): Mrs Katherine Robinson, BSc
Senior School Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs Rachael Speirs, BA
Preparatory School Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral & Staff Welfare): Mr Michael Jones, BA, MA
Preparatory School Deputy Head (Academic): Mrs Janet Humphreys, BEd
Director of Development and Alumni Relations: Ms Lucy Lunt, BA, PGDip
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular): Mrs Hannah Fair, BA, MA
Assistant Head (Staff Welfare): Mrs Emma Jones, BA
Assistant Head (ICT Strategy): Mr Matthew van Alderwegen, BA, MA
Preparatory School Assistant Head: Mrs Emma Inglis, BEd
Junior School Assistant Head: Mrs Suzannah Farnan, BSc
Alice House Assistant Head: Mrs Helen Coleman, BSc
Head of Sixth Form: Mrs Natasha Evans, BA, MA
Head of the Middle School: Dr Peter Spratley, BA, MA
Head of the Lower School: Mr Michael Gledhill, BA, LLB
Head of EYFS: Mrs Julie Litwinko, BPhil
Head of Infants: Mrs Hannah Grace, BA, QTS
* Head of Department
Mr Gareth Affleck, BA (*History & Politics)
Mr Nick Adams, BA
Miss Mia Agudo-Dunn, BA
Miss Rachel Airdrie, BA
Mr Oliver Anderton, BSc
Mrs Joanne Ashton, BA
Mrs Nicola Atkins, BEd
Mr Matthew Babb, BSc
Mrs Katie Baden, BSc
Miss Emma Baker, BA
Mr Owen Bate, BSc
Mrs Rebecca Beavon, BA
Miss Claire Bednall, BSc, MSc
Mrs Jennifer Bernamont, BSc
Mr Mark Bishop, BSc, MSc (*Mathematics)
Mrs Claire Black, BA
Mrs Laura Blackburn, BSc
Mr Mark Briggs, BSc
Mr Darryl Brotherhood, BSc (*Health & Fitness)
Mr David Brough, BSc
Mr James Brown, BA
Mrs Alison Burt, BSc
Ms Libby Campbell, BA
Mr Edward Carne, BA
Dr William Carroll, PHD
Mrs Rhian Chillcott, MA
Mr Samuel Chillcott, MSci, MEng (*Physics)
Mrs Jackie Clark, BA, MA
Miss Beth Cobden, BA
Mrs Kirsty Cooke, BA
Mr Neal Corbett, BA (*Design Technology)
Miss Alexia Coste, BA, MA
Mr Martin Covill, BSc
Mr Geddes Cureton, BSc
Mrs Hannah Davidson, BSc
Mr Mark Davies, BEng
Mr Paul Delaney, BA (*French)
Mrs Pelvinder Deu, BSc
Mrs Nicola Dickerson, BA
Ms Claire Dignon, BA, MA
Dr Amy Eagleton, PhD
Mr Alex Eden, BSc
Mrs Janine Elkington, BSc
Mrs Tracey Farnell, BSc (*Prep School Sport, Health & Fitness)
Mr Francisco Fernandez-Valverde
Dr Sian Foster, MA, MPhil, DPhil, MBA
Mrs Joanne Francis, BA, MPhil
Mrs Bettina Freeman, MA
Mrs Tracy Gallagher, BEd
Mrs Corinne Goodman, BSc (*Chemistry)
Mrs Caroline Graham, BA
Mr Simon Grove, LLB
Mr Christopher Guy, BSc
Mrs Saranne Haley, BSc, MA
Mrs Helen Hallworth, BSc
Mr James Hands, BA
Mrs Lucy Harper, BA
Mrs Jennifer Hart, BA, QTLS
Dr Stuart Hart, BA, MPhil, PhD (*English)
Mrs Mieke Hartland, BA
Mrs Louise Haynes, BSc
Mr John Henderson, BA (*Art & Photography)
Mrs Kim Higginson, BA
Reverend Rachel Hill-Brown, MTH, BEd
Mrs Kate Hull, BSc
Mr Matthew Imison, BA, MBA
Mrs Iryna Igoe, BEd
Mrs Elzabe Jansen van Rensburg, BSc
Mr Gareth James, BA
Dr Amelia Jennings, BA, DPhil
Dr Richard Jennings, BSc, PhD
Miss Azahara Jimenez Fuentes, DipHE
Mrs Joanna Johnson, BA, MPhil (*Classics)
Mr Conor Joyce, BSc
Mr Tim Kermode, MA (*Director of Music)
Ms Natalie Leeson, BSc
Mr Nick Leonard, BEd
Mr Nicholas Linehan, BA
Mrs Alexandra Longden, BA
Mrs Gabrielle Lowe, BSc, PGDip
Miss Lydia Lynch, BSc
Mr Andrew MacArthur, MMath
Mr Andrew MacKenzie, BA
Mr Darren Maddy
Mrs Jane Mander, BA
Mrs Hanlie Martens, MMus
Mrs Julie Massarella, BEd (*Food & Nutrition)
Mr Cameron May, BSc
Mr Philip May, BSc
Mr Tim Mayled
Mr Christopher Mayer
Mrs Kirsty McAlister, MA
Mrs Colette McArthur, BA
Mrs Wendy Meigh, BEd (*Economics & Business)
Mrs Hayley Middleton, BEng, BCom
Mr Stephen Mitchell, BSc
Mr Junaid Mohammed, BA
Mrs Clare Mollison, BA
Mr Paul Morgan, BA (*Spanish)
Mrs Rachel Morgan, BEd
Miss Rebecca Noon, BA
Mrs Dawn Parker, BSc (*Biology)
Dr Mary Partridge, BA, MA, PhD
Mr Owen Parsons, MSci
Mrs Vanessa Patel, BA (*Computer Science)
Mrs Donna Penney, BSc, NASENCo
Mr Simon Phillips, BA, MMus (*Academic Music)
Mrs Emma Pimlott, BSc
Miss Tegan Pike
Mr Alex Poole, BSc
Mr Ali Raza
Mr Richard Reed, BSc
Mr David Rice, BA, MA
Mr Brett Richmond, BSc
Mrs Catherine Ridout, BEng
Mr William Rigg
Mrs Helen Roberts, BMus, MMus
Mrs Alex Roll, BA
Mrs Louise Rooney, Level 5 Dip Ed, MBACP (*Wellbeing & Personal Development, Anti-discrimination Lead)
Ms Laura Rutherford, MA Cantab, MEd (*Religious Studies)
Dr Fran Ryland, BSc, MPhil, PhD (*Combined Science)
Miss Jenna Sainsbury, BA
Miss Eloise Saunders, BSc
Mr Daniel Shodipo, MSc, MA
Mrs Elizabeth Shearing, BA, SENCo, APC, AMBDA (*Learning Support)
Mrs Jane Sixsmith, MA & Honorary Doctorate
Mr Keith Slade, BMus, RNCM
Miss Jessica-May Smith, BA
Miss Rebecca Smith, BSc
Mrs Joanne Spencer, BA
Mrs Julie Spraggett, BMus
Mrs Laura Spratley, BA
Mrs Kirsteen Stafford, BA, MA (*Drama)
Mr Leo Tat, MSc
Miss Rebecca Taylor, BA
Miss Amy Thacker, BA, MA
Mr Steve Thompson, BSc (*Sport)
Mr Matthew Tibbitts, BSc
Mrs Raminder Trainor, BSc
Mr Jack Vaabel, BA
Ms Sarah Vaughan, BA, MEd
Mrs Danielle Wana, BA (*Academic PE)
Miss Stephanie Waldron, BSc
Mr Joseph Walker, BA
Mrs Sarah Watton, BA
Mrs Laura Webb, BA
Mrs Ruth Whaley, MA
Mr David Whiting, BSc
Miss Anna Wilkie, BSc (*Psychology)
Miss Rebecca Windmill, MSci, MA (*Geography)
Miss Helen Winn, LLB
Miss Mia-Rose Yates, BA
Ms Zhe Zhou, BSc, MSc
Assistant Staff:
Human Resources Manager: Mrs Hayley Miles, MCIPD MA, BA
Assistant Human Resources Manager: Mrs Joanna Barrett, CIPD
Admissions Registrar: Mrs Nicolette Mullan
Admissions Officer: Mrs Allison Morris
Admissions Administrator: Mrs Linda Bevan
Assistant Bursar (Operations & Staff): Ms Julie Henrick, ILM
Assistant Bursar (Facilities, Compliance & Transport): Miss Gemma Deery, BSc, IOSH
Headmaster’s PA: Mrs Lisa McGann
PA to the Bursar: Ms Suzanne Baldwin
PA to the Head of the Senior School: Mrs Tracey Duggan
PA to Head of the Preparatory School: Mrs Jessica Harris
Director of Academic Guidance & Administration: Mrs Rhian Chillcott, MA
Alumni Events & Communications Manager: Mrs Lynn Moseley
Head of Technical Support: Mr Martin Moseley
Head of Marketing: Mrs Lucie Ray-Barrett
Marketing Assistant: Mrs Julia Ackroyd, BSc
SSI & DofE Manager: Mr Philip Dean, MBE
Medical Officer: Dr Sunil Kotecha, MBChB, FRCGP, MSc
School Nurse Team Leader: Mrs Helen King, RGN
School Nurse: Mrs Liz Munro, BSc, RGN, DN, QN
School Nurse: Mrs Claire Evans, RGN
Librarian: Mrs Alison Vaughan, BA