Blue Plaque: Birmingham Blue Coat School

Birmingham Blue Coat School boasts a rich history spanning over 300 years, deeply rooted in the city’s commitment to educating its less fortunate children. 

A mission born from compassion
Founded in 1722, the Blue Coat School began as a charity school under the guidance of Reverend William Higgs, Rector of St Philip’s Church (now Birmingham Cathedral). Its initial purpose was to provide food, clothing, and education to 32 boys and 20 girls from impoverished families, typically aged between nine and fourteen. 

The Blue Coat legacy
The school’s original home was a plain brick building constructed in 1724 near St Philip’s Church, at 5 St Philip’s Place. Above the entrance, statues of a Blue Coat boy and girl, sculpted by Edward Grubb, were erected in September 1769, symbolising the school’s mission. These originals are now preserved in the school’s reception, with replicas at the current site. This building was significantly enlarged between 1792 and 1794, with the addition of its distinctive stone façade.  The school’s distinctive blue uniforms gave it both its name and enduring identity. These weren’t just clothes – they were symbols of dignity, opportunity, and transformation for children who might otherwise have faced lives of hardship.

From City Centre to Edgbaston
Increasing pupil numbers necessitated a new home and, after years of negotiation, the school relocated to its current site on Somerset Road, Edgbaston, in 1930, with the new buildings officially opening on 29th October of that year.  During the second world war the school’s boarding houses were transformed into accommodation blocks for nurses and medical students from Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Thriving school community
The school continues to thrive as an independent preparatory day school, maintaining its core values and commitment to providing an outstanding educational experience within a supportive Christian community. The tradition of the distinctive blue uniform, which gave the school its name, endures, with special “Best Blues” cloaks still used for important occasions.