A group of year 10s volunteered to take
part in the West Midlands Fire Service
Congratulations and
thanks to students, parents and staff
for making this year so successful. It
has been an immensely busy year and
highly productive.
The beginning of the year launched
in style with the 50th Anniversary
celebrations and we close with the
likely prospect of record breaking
examination results in Year 11 and
Year 13 and most of the new building
completed. Mixed registration groups
have started purposefully, and we are
preparing to hit the ground running in
September.
There have been many achievements for
individuals and groups of students, all
of which are preparing Fairfax students
for life in the 21st Century workplace.
GCSE results are published on Tuesday
24 August and ‘A’ level on Thursday 19
August. We hope the students who are
leaving us are prepared for their next
challenges, whether this is further
education, or employment. We will miss
them all, and hope they are all able to
come back and let us know how they
are getting on.
We say goodbye and best of luck to
some of our staff too as they move
to promotional posts elsewhere – Mr
Jones (Teaching Assistant), Miss Bye,
Mrs Edmunds, Mrs Brown, Mr Small,
Mrs White (Drama), Mrs Cornell and Mrs
Cassell. We say a special goodbye to Mrs
Davies who finishes her teaching career
after many successful years here. We
send best wishes to Miss Lowrey, Mrs
Robertson and Miss Carroll as they begin
their maternity leave.
We look forward to the new academic
year and the challenges it will bring for
our learners – please see further details
in the Newsletter. In the meantime,
enjoy the summer holiday, and we look
forward to seeing most of you again in
September.
Over the summer the new building should
near its completion – we don’t expect it
to be completely ready for September,
but hope to have “moved in” during the
autumn term. There will be an opening
ceremony in September.
Also, over the summer, a number of
additional security features will be
installed to ensure we comply with the
latest guidance.
Students will not be allowed into the
school site before 8am, and will only be
able to enter the school site through
Reception until 8.15am. Students are
welcome to have breakfast in the canteen
but must not go into the rest of the school
until 8.25am so that we can ensure they
are fully supervised.
Barriers are being installed to the car
park entrances. If parents need to come to
school, please push the button to contact
reception to let you in. It won’t be possible
for parents to park in the car park at the
end of school waiting for students because
of the access required for transport for
physically disabled students. Please park
in the road at this time.
With the start of the new term we will,
of course, have a renewed emphasis on
standards. We expect students to have
a high standard of uniform, bring all
the correct equipment, conform to the
expected behaviour code, be punctual
and maintain attendance over 95%.
We will contact you if there are any
problems with these – please contact us if
there is anything we need to know about.
Challenge one weekend in June. It
consisted of 5 different challenges that
we had to do as a team. To win we had to
do the following challenges; Orienteering,
a Fire Service challenge, a Raft Building
challenge, It’s a knockout and a quiz.
On the Saturday morning, a group of 11
of us started the weekend by doing the
Orienteering challenge. We got lost a few
times but we got to Wyndley eventually!
Fairfax was the only group to come back
as a full team! Next was the Fire Service
challenge. We all made our way to the
Monmouth Drive playing fields. While the
Fairfax team were pulling vans along the
rest of us were cheering for them. It was
the same for the Raft building challenge
that took place at Wyndley. We were all
cheering for the Fairfax team and laughing
when our raft sank. They tried their best
though and never gave up!
Sunday morning was time for the “It’s a
Knockout” Challenge. The teams had to
do things like balancing a cup of water
on their heads while going over obstacles
and crawling through foamy tunnels but
Fairfax did well. On Sunday evening, we
all met at the town hall to watch the quiz
and find out the overall result of the whole
weekend. The winner got £250 so we all
had our fingers crossed! At the end of the
night, we all managed to stay quiet as the
results were read. Fairfax came 2nd place
and we won £100 which we have all agreed
should be donated to the Richard Massey
trust fund. Well done to John Wilmott who
came first!
The weekend was really fun for us all and
a good experience for us to have. We all
enjoyed participating and cheering for
Fairfax. Coming 2nd overall isn’t a bad
result. Next year the Year 10’s just have to
beat that and come first!
Written by Samantha Reid
It has been a very busy year in the life of Fairfax Governors
and our various committees who have been involved across
the full range of school developments and activities.
We have worked with the school to develop and approve
over twenty different school policies including areas such
as Assessment and Marking, Behaviour and Discipline,
Equalities, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities,
and Performance Management.
Individuals have attended parents’ evenings, awards
ceremonies, productions and performances as Governing
Body representatives, and of course many of us were able
to join in and enjoy the 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Several Governors have attended training for induction,
child protection, school self-evaluation and safer
recruitment procedures adding to the extensive range of
knowledge and skills that collectively governors bring to
support and challenge the school in our role as critical
friends.
Governors have been involved in significant developments
around school buildings including the new performing
arts centre; the development of outstanding financial
practices for the management of the school budget and
overall financial management; a sharper focus on pupil
attainment and outcomes at GCSE and A level including
the setting of targets for future years; the decision making
around changes to the school day and vertical tutoring;
and a review of staffing structures and skills to support
and make available additional leadership capacity for the
school.
We continue to focus on improving contacts with parents
and key to this is the sharing of news and information
through the Governing Body pages on the new website
and regular updates in the newsletter.
We have begun to look at where we see Fairfax in the
longer term and develop a 5-8 year plan for the school
particularly given the significant changes being introduced
to schooling by the new Government. You may be aware
that the Secretary of State for Education has opened up
the opportunity for more schools to become Academies.
Governors have already discussed this issue at a recent
meeting and are in the process of looking at what the
benefits, challenges and risks of such a move would
be for the school. This development is at a very early
stage but we will keep you fully informed about future
developments.
We are always looking to add to the membership of the
Governing Body as vacancies arise so if you feel you could
give the time and add to the range of expertise knowledge
and skills then please do contact me via school.
Finally, on behalf of the Governing Body I would like to
thank parents for the support they have given to the
school over the last twelve months.
Martyn Collin
Chair of Governors
Sarah Wilkowski has been in touch to let us know that she
has just gained a first class degree in Classical Literature
and Civilisation at Birmingham University. This is an
outstanding achievement. Students in Humanities will
know Sarah well, as she has spent one day a week in
school this year to give herself experience for when she
trains to be a teacher. She also supported Y12 during last
week’s future aspirations programme. Congratulations,
and well done!! Matt Hands has also achieved a 1st class
degree in stemcell Biology and will now study medics.
The week commencing Monday 28th
June was National School Sports Week.
On Wednesday 30th June Fairfax held
our very own Dance Day. Pupils took
part in a mixture of dance-a-size, hip
hop and bollywood taster sessions
throughout the day learning many
new skills and routines. On Friday 2 July thirteen Year
7 pupils went to Moseley Tennis Centre and participated
in the National School Sports Week – Birmingham’s Wake
up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They had the
opportunity to take part in new and exciting activities
ranging from tag rugby to golf and also participated in
a new world dance record at 20 past 12 to promote the
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games. Thursday
1 saw 5 of our physically disabled students learning the
Dance moves to High School Musical at Wilson Stuart.
Friday 2nd July also saw sixteen of our pupils attend
an event at Ramada Hotel Penns Lane. Pupils had the
opportunity to take part in many athletic events and
meet and ask questions of Lord Seb Coe. The week was
an excellent opportunity for our pupils to experience new
and exciting opportunities and performed exceptionally
well.
Congratulations to Fairfax Zone Hockey team for entering
the Birmingham inter-schools hockey competition held
at Nechells Community Sports Centre. The team played
against schools across Birmingham and were undefeated
in all matches played. Special thanks to the players:
Martin Wharton, Elizabeth Tullet, Michael Richardson,
Sam Sprague, Ciaran Rooney and Sam Upton.
On 5th July Fairfax House Council visited Parkview School
in Alum Rock as part of a two day exchange. The visit was
based on identity and diversity. We studied the 7 Olympic
values and how the Olympics represents diversity. We
then thought about our own identity and the cultural
identity of Olympians.
House Council Exchange Continued...
We also toured each other’s schools; Park view and Fairfax
are very different, not just in size but also in race- one is
predominantly white and the other predominantly Muslim.
The journey to Parkview school was nerve wreaking
because we’d never been to an all Muslim school before
but we had a really good time and were made to feel
really welcome; we hope that the Park View students felt
the same.
Written by an exchange student
On the 18th July 2010 39 pupils and four members of staff
from Fairfax School will be departing on an expedition of
a lifetime to Tanzania. Pupils from Years 11, 12 and 13
will be spending four weeks in the East-African country;
here they will take on the challenge of trekking up Mount
Meru (4566m) and the highest mountain in Africa, Mount
Kilimanjaro which stands 5892m above sea-level. After
witnessing the incredible beauty Tanzania has to offer,
pupils will be giving back to the community that will
have assisted them in their climb by carrying out work
on a project in support of the charity Light in Africa.
This charity supports sick, handicapped and abandoned
children in Tanzania; pupils will be camping and working
in an orphanage, they will have the opportunity to carry
out building work to improve the facilities and to develop
lessons to help to teach the children important skills
as-well as having time to simply play and get to know
them.
Fairfax pupils have worked incredibly hard over the past
two years to raise the money to go on this expedition.
They have come together to organise and carry out
fund-raising which has included raffles, car washes,
bag-packing for shoppers and many sponsored events
including a sponsored sky dive. Both staff and pupils
would like to say an enormous thank you (or as we will
be saying in Tanzania “Asante”) to the parents and many
different organisations that have supported the pupils’
fund-raising efforts; this includes Marks and Spencers,
the Round Table and many more. Their support has
helped to ensure that pupils will return to England on the
14th August having had a truly unforgettable experience
and having helped to make a difference to the Tanzanian
community in Moshi.
Big Congratulations from the Maths department goes
to the following students: Claire Mathews, Kate Insley,
Mathew Yau, Michael Sheppard and Nickie Morris, Rhian
Banger, James Bullock, Laura Hughes, Danielle Ventham,
Mercy Chitate, Rachel Neill, Molly Thompson, Rebecca
Hambley, Chrisafenia Roberts and Daniel Salway, Ben
Edge, Luke Edwards. Consistent hard work and effort
throughout the year: Stephanie Ponter, Ashton Hemmings,
Sophie Manley, Lee Welford, Matt Neville, Ellen Coulson,
Lilly Walsh and Kiaya Leek and Eve Windsor.
If any students have any maths book, can they please
return to their maths teacher, students need to return a
text book to receive a new one in September.
During this year we helped ‘one goal’ by making separate
scarves which we then stuck together to make one large
scarf. All of year 7 took part in making this scarf which was
then given to our local MP Andrew Mitchell. But before this
creative side we had to research the ‘one goal’ campaign.
We learnt that around the world it is mainly boys who are
literate because most girls have to stay home and help
with work and house work. Some children also have to
travel miles to school and most families don’t have the
money. This means they are illiterate.
We enjoyed finding out about the ‘one goal’ campaign
as we knew that we will be helping other children who
aren’t as advantaged as we are so we knew that we will
be helping them have a brighter and better future. Also
there was a creative side as we got to have fun making
our own scarves which were all diverse and beautiful.
We feel that these children should be able to have a
better life like us. Just because they live somewhere else
doesn’t mean we can’t all have the same rights. We think
that other people should be grateful for what they’ve
got because other children in the world might not have
these.

A group of Year 9 students have been rehearsing hard
over the past few weeks ready to perform The Comedy
of Errors to a public audience at The Birmingham Old Rep
Theatre on October 11th 2010.
This is part of The Schools’ Shakespeare Festival which is a
non-competitive, supportive and celebratory opportunity
for young people to perform half-hour Shakespeare plays
in a local professional theatre.
Rehearsals will continue after the Summer holidays to
ensure this is a show to remember!
Tickets are available from The Old Rep Theatre Box Office
in September.
With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, it is
with pride that I look back at the attendance successes
achieved by the students at Fairfax School over the past
twelve months:-
An improvement from 93.26% to 95.28% attendance
A fall of 50% of term-time holiday requests
An increase in the number of students achieving 100%
attendance
The increase in the number of students attending school
prior to being collected for medical appointments, and
then returning before the end of the school day.
A reduction in the number of pupils classed as “Persistent
Absent Students”
These successes have been due to the combined efforts
of parents, students, school staff, and the Local Authority
support services and I believe that we now have the
foundation for continued impressive results.
Unfortunately, it has been necessary to prosecute some
parents in order to create this foundation, and the latest
case in June saw one parent awarded a twelve month
Community Order with Supervision, with £50 costs.
Last year, I decided that I needed a starting point for a
minimum attendance before warning notices were issued,
and I therefore thought 90% was reasonable. I know that
part of the improvement in attendance has been due to
a vigilant approach being employed and action taken
when any student fell to that level. It was found that
many parents were unaware that their child had had so
many days off sick and made the improvements when the
matter was brought to their attention.
As a consequence, I have decided to raise the minimum
level before action is taken to 91%.It is stressed that this
is when action is to be taken – obviously the school wants
students to attend more than 95% of the time so that
their results improve accordingly.
At 91%, parents will be informed that the level of
attendance is unsatisfactory and that all new absence will
be classed as “unauthorised” without proof explaining
that the student has sought medical help. In these cases,
a “Red Card” will accompany the letter and ought to be
taken to the medical centre and signed by the doctor,
dentist, or even the receptionist and later given to me
by the student so that the absence can be recorded as
“authorised”.
That card is provided as an aide to parents so that it is easier
to show a genuine absence. Too many “unauthorised”
absences come to the attention of the Education Social
Worker and the process towards prosecution takes place.
As usual, all term-time holiday taken will automatically
be considered “unauthorised”.
It was fantastic that 27 pupils with 100% attendance
received a prize in the draw in May, and of course, this
will happen again next year – except that I am attempting
to get sponsored extras so that even more with 100% will
automatically receive a reward. I will keep you posted.
Finally, many, many thanks to the majority of parents and
carers who have supported the school’s tough but fair
stance in this crucial area of school policy. Fairfax staff
remain focused on maintaining the superb strides made
this year, and, as ever, I am available on my extension
number 299 to discuss any concerns you may have
regarding attendance.
Mr Hubball
A reminder to purchase your new ties from Clive Marks
before September.
Year 7 and Year 8 students need to purchase the Lower
School Tie, Year 9, 10 and 11 purchase the Upper School
Tie, and 6th form purchase the 6th Form Tie – please do
not forget to purchase the tie for your House!
From September, the 50th Anniversary Ties will no longer
be part of the uniform so must not be worn in school.
They may be worth keeping – they could be valuable one
day!
The nearest Clive Mark Schoolwear shop address is:
409-411 Birmingham Road,
Wylde Green,
Sutton Coldfield,
Birmingham,
B72 1AU
Who to contact if...?
In all instances, please contact school reception by letter,
email (post@fairfax.bham.sch.uk) or phone, who will be
able to pass a message to relevant staff.
Parents may find it useful to know that Thursday and
Friday 2 and 3 September will be teacher training days,
and students will not be expected in school.
Remember we start the new timings to the school day:

For all general queries your message goes to your son/ Start of School 8.35
daughter’s House Tutor in the first instance. For specific Breaktime 10.40 - 10.55
subject queries your message goes to the Director of the
Lunchtime 13.15 - 14.00
relevant faculty. Reception will be able to let you know
the names of the relevant staff. For general welfare issues End of school 15.00
that the House Tutor is unable to resolve, your message
goes to the pastoral office. Our Pupil Support Directors Term starts for students on Monday 6th September 2010
will deal with issues as soon as possible. at the times given below:

For attendance issues, your message goes to the Year 7 and Year 12 – 8.35
Attendance Officer. Once you have contacted these Year 8 and 13 - 10.55
staff, if there are still any unresolved issues, please ask Years 9,10,11,13 – 11.55
reception to contact the leadership line manager of the
relevant team. Please do not send queries directly to the At the beginning of next term, you will be sent newsletters
Headteacher or the Chair of Governors as queries must be to give you dates for the year ahead, including important
dealt with by staff with direct responsibility. After going assessment dates.
through the procedure above, if you are still dissatisfied,
register a complaint with the Headteacher. Advance notice: School is closing at 1.15pm on Tuesday
14th September to prepare for the school Open
Valuables Evening.

The school cannot take responsibility for valuable items We have spoken to the bus companies who have changed
that students bring into school such as MP3 players and bus times as follows:
mobile phones. We advise you not to bring them into
school. We do not have the capacity to help students Morning Services*:
finding lost valuables.

Uniform standards Bus Start Depart Via Destination

Time
Thank you for your support of high standards of uniform. 838 0803 Gravelly Lane Yenton/ Fairfax (0822)
Students who do not wear the correct uniform will be Walmley
given a uniform detention during part of their lunchtime. 839 0807 Bagot Arms Walmley Fairfax (0823)
Students wearing items such as jewellery which are not
part of the uniform will have them confiscated until the 879 0800 Parson & Sutton Town Fairfax (0825)
end of the half term. A reminder that girls’ skirts should Clerk
be knee length.

Afternoon Services*:

Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term Bus Start Depart Via Destination
2010 2011 2011 Time
Thursday 2nd Tuesday 4th Tuesday 26th 838 1505 Fairfax Walmley Yenton (1520)
September to January to April to Friday 839 1505 Fairfax Walmley Bagot Arms (1519)
Friday 22nd Friday 18th 27th May
879 1520 Fairfax Sutton Town Parson & Clerk
October February (1540)
Half Term Half Term Half Term 915 1511 Fairfax Sutton/ Erdington (1555)
Monday 1st Monday 28th Monday 6th June Yenton
November to February to to Thursday 21st
Friday 17th Friday 8th April July *Timings are subject to change by bus companies – please
December check before the start of term.

Jul 23rd School closes for Summer Holidays

12.30
Aug 19th Advanced Level Result day
Aug 24th GCSE Results Day & 6th Form
Enrolment