WEEKLY UPDATE

Each week on Friday there will be an update on all things to do with Fairlight.

Please read and click on the links to find out what is going on.

WEEKLY UPDATE

SUMMER TERM WEEK 2

Another exciting week at Fairlight with lots of positive things to share.

VISITORS TO SUPPORT AND WORK WITH FAIRLIGHT

The Brighton City Partnership for Education (BCPfE) is a group of local schools who work closely together and support each other and one of the ways of doing this is sharing good practise as well as supporting each other in projects or new initiatives. 

As part of the work we do with our partnership of schools we were visited this week by 3 Headteachers from local schools to carry out some learning walks with Mr Jordan.

This involved them standing on the gate, following the children into school and then visiting classes to see the learning taking place as well as walking around the school to see displays, playtime and all those other things in school that are happening during the day.

The staff have had feedback about the visit however I wanted to share with you some of the key headlines from their visit.

They were impressed with how calm the school was. Children in classrooms learning. Movement around the school was calm. Two of the Headteachers didnt even realise a whole Key Stage had gone to playtime because of how calmly and sensibly the children moved from the classroom to the playground. And back again after playtime- and the Headteachers were stood in the corrdiors when this happened.

The warm and poisitive start to the day from the gate to the classroom was noticed and then how quickly the children are starting their learning was something all of the visitors noted.

Walking around the school they saw some amazing quality art displays and spoke to a number of children who all spoke so positively about their school and their experience of school.

I have to say I am very proud of what they saw and how positively they spoke about Fairlight. 

FANTASTIC FAIRLIGHT FOOTBALL

On Tuesday our school football team travelled to Coldean for the Quarter Final of the Fitzgerald Cup following our win last term against St John the Baptist.

The teams left in at this stage are normally the football schools with large numbers to chose from and players who live and breath football out of school.

On arrival we were greeted with a big pitch and full size goals which is in stark contrast to the playground and the level where we practise.

And also confirmation from our "scouts" that a number of the players on the other team play football for clubs out of school.

A tough few minutes at the start of the game resulted in us going quite quickly 1-0 down.

A few words, a small change in formation and getting used to the slope and hill meant we took a barrage of shots and attacks however we fought strongly and even got a few shots away of our own.

A half time team talk about the need to press and get shots away was needed and as we were only 1-0 was able to give some hope.

Within 3 minutes of the restart and with the words ringing in the ears of the Fairlight players we were 3-1 and shooting from all angles and from all parts of the pitch.

A solid defence performance meant we pinned them into their half and with 7 minutes to go (we are not sure where the ref found 5 of those from) we were 5-1 and defending for our lives but still fireing in shots and testing an excellent keeper.

The full time whistle went (eventually) and a shocked but happy team had secured a 5-3 win and semi final against Westdene.

LIBRARY DESIGN

We are starting to plan for some redecoration of the school library.

We are awaiting work on the ceiling to install new lighting and a new heating system as part of the whole school heating and lighting plan however there are some areas we can start now.

There are 6 pillars in the library and we were thinking about each one representing one of the Fairlight Superheros.

What we are wanting is someone who is extremely artistic or creative to turn our ideas into reality. 

We would be able to provide the resources or the ideas.

What we need is the talent.

So if you think you could do something with one of the pillars and you have a Superhero in mind please speak to Mr Jordan.

It might be that each Superhero is taken by a different artist or is worked on in a different style.

We can't wait to hear from you. 

PRAY FOR FAIRLIGHT

This is a message we recieved from Brighton and Hove City Mission.

Throughout the year the schools team at Brighton & Hove City Mission is joining with Off the Fence and other Christians across the city to pray for those working in schools, for children and young people and the issues they face.

We will be praying for your school on Wednesday 15th May and if there is anything specific we can be praying for your school, the children or the staff please let us know using this link https://forms.gle/dQSfLaLwYdsTdfBz6 or feel free to display the attached poster in your school.

Christians in your school community may like to join us in praying. We are meeting at Holy Cross Church, Downs Way, Woodingdean BN2 6BD, at 4pm on the 15th May to pray together. 

WEEKLY UPDATE

SUMMER TERM WEEK 1

A great first week back and the weather has also been kind (ish).

SOME GREAT NEWS ABOUT THE CHILDREN JOINING US FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 IN RECEPTION

Tuesday 16th April was National Offer Day when all the children who have applied to join schools in September find out which school they have been allocated.

This is an exiting and scary time for the families - and in light of the ongoing issues in Brighton and Hove around the falling birth rate and pupil numbers for schools also.

I am sure many of you will remember the nervous wait to find out which school you had been allocated.

We have contacted all of the families who have been allocated Fairlight to welcome them and to direct them to the information they need to start reading and preparing to start school.

The amazing news is that we have been allocated 60 children to start with us in September 2024- which included 76% choosing us as their first choice. 

This is the exact number of children for the places that we have. 

Of the 46 schools in Brighton and Hove just 19 (41%) took their full allocation of which Fairlight was one of.

We are also one of the most popular schools in terms of first choice and total allocation in the local area with other local schools getting 50-60% first choices.

And with the total number of applications being only 88% of the total number of places it would appear it was a tough year so to have 100% of the places filled is amazing. 

This is excellent news for the school. As I have shared before schools are funded based on the number of children we have in the whole school so therefore the more children we have the more money we have to spend. So a full Reception means we hopefully get 7 years of a full year group moving through the school. 

I think this shows how much the work that the school is doing in so many areas is valued by parents both at the school but also those wanting to join the school.

I would like to personally thank the Office team for their hard work in organising and planning the large number of tours we do each year. To also recognise the amazing work that Miss May and the EYFS Team do to make Reception so welcoming. And of course not forgetting the parents and pupils who are living examples of the school. And of course the rest of the staff who make all of our visitors welcome. 

OFSTED

I wanted to update you about OFSTED.

We were contacted at the end of last term by OFSTED who wanted to come and inspect the school. 

As you may have seen in the media OFSTED have recently had to review their practise and all inspectors have recieved training following the sad death of Ruth Perry- a Headteacher- and the outcomes of the coronors' review.

Due to the situation we found ourselves in at the end of last term I requested a deferral of the inspection as I felt this would add undue pressure on the staff in school but also in light of the fact that we would also not be able to show ourselves in our best light. 

I know you are aware of why this was the case from my previous messages.

This deferral was accepted by OFSTED.

I am pleased that they took this decision and thank them for taking this position.

This is however all new to the inspection process so now we do not know when they will be back.

I would expect it would be within the next term.

We will be in touch when they do confirm they are coming as you will be asked to complete Parent Surveys. 

FRIDAY FOOTBALL

There won't be Friday football this week.

We will start again next week. 

HALF TERM CATCH UP FROM MR JORDAN

I hope you are having a good break and that you have managed to catch up with family and friends.

School may be closed to pupils however there has been a couple of building projects ongoing as well of course as Easter Club running at the school.

We will see you all back on Monday 15th April 2024 for the start of the Summer Term. Hopefully someone will tell the weather that it is the summer term!!

END OF THE SECOND WEEK WITH THE CHILDREN AT HOME

I have seen a number of children and parents during the holidays.

The children all looked very happy.

Some of the parents did but a few were quite desperate for us to open the school and for the summer term to start.

If you are wanting ideas to keep the children occupied then here are 3 to keep you going. And you can show the children the website and these were given by Mr Jordan.

NUMBER 1. READ

Half term is a good chance to read.

The simplest way to get some books to read is to go to a library and take some books out.

Charity Shops always have a great selection of cheap books.

And you could then donate them to the school or make use of the new Book Swap we will be running in the playground after school using the new PTA Magic Reading Hut. See a picture of it below and watch out for updates. 

NUMBER 2: TIMES TABLES

Don't forget to keep practising those times tables. 

NUMBER 3: TIDY UP

After Half Term we will be relaunching a Fairlight favourite the Golden Dustpan and Brush.

This will be a special award that our cleaners will be awarding to the class who have tried to and helped to tidy their classroom.

And to start practising you may want to get them doing some tidying at home.

The class who are awarded this prestigous awrd will get to show off the Golden Dustpan and Brush Award that Chris has made- see below.

SAD NEWS FROM THE FAIRLIGHT COMMUNITY

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Neil Avard- husband of Shereen Avard our Assistant Headteacher for SEND/ Inclusion and "dad" to Bessie our School Dog passed away at the end of last week after a short illness.

Neil was a great supporter of Fairlight and worked with a number of families to support them through his work with the One Church and Russel Martin Foundation.

https://www.russellmartinfoundation.co.uk/news/a-heartfelt-tribute-to-a-beloved-friend-and-colleague 

On a personal note I will miss my chats about Brighton and Hove Albion as well as a selection of other random topics. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Shereen and their children Alex, Max, Sadie, Anna and of course Bessie.

He will be greatly missed. 

Weekly Updates

Below are the previous updates from this academic year. Please read through to find out what has been happening.

Of course to save room most of the pictures and videos have been removed from old posts.