Interesting to read your post. I went to Wheelers Lane Secondary Modern Boys from 1953-1957, the Head Master at that time was Mr North. When I went there there was no opportunity to obtain any qualifications at all. During the my last year myself and three other pupils were chosen to sit for a special exam called the UEI, Union of Education Certificate, which incidentally I've never heard of since…. We all passed the exams in English, Maths and Metal Work but these qualifications had no bearings on our future employment. What it did do was to give the Head Masters and teachers confidence that they could teach boys of our age to achieve.
A major interest at the school was sport, the football team always did well, the rugby team in 1956-57 won every game that they played. The track and field events, particularly sprinting was second to none.
Looking back I realise Secondary Modern schools were educating us for employment nothing more than 'factory fodder' and labourers. One of the boys in my class wanted to be a vet or work with animals and the careers officer said that he'd got him a job lined up for an interview at Wards Engineering as a capstan operator and that summed up the whole outlook for the type of employment for fifteen year old boys.
As I recall the school was built just before the second world war, 1939, so was a comparatively modern building when I attended, unfortunately there were that many boys there that my first year class was annexed in rooms at the back of a church the other end of Kings Heath. I can never remember less than 45 pupils in a class.
I could go on, but there's a few of my memories. Hope it's of use.
Regards Baz