WEEKLY UPDATE 

SUMMER TERM

WEEK 14

 

And relax...

A Final Weekly Update – July 2026

As the final whistle blows on another fantastic school year, I wanted to take a moment to thank every member of our Fairlight community for making 2025–26 such a memorable season.

Like the weather this year, there have been moments of sunshine, moments of storm clouds, and the occasional period where we all wondered what on earth was coming next! Yet, just like a great football team, our pupils, staff and families have shown resilience, teamwork, determination and humour throughout. Together, we have celebrated successes, overcome challenges and created countless memories.

Our Wonderful Year 6 Team

This week we say goodbye to one of the very best Year 6 "teams" we have ever seen at Fairlight. They have shown kindness, determination, friendship and a real sense of responsibility throughout their time with us. They have been fantastic role models for our younger pupils and have represented the school brilliantly.

To our Year 6 children: thank you for everything you have contributed to Fairlight. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you and wish you every success as you move on to secondary school. Wherever your next match takes place, remember that Fairlight will always be cheering you on from the sidelines.

Farewell and Thank You

This week we also say goodbye to two very special members of the Fairlight family as they retire.

Mr Jason Hammond leaves having made an outstanding contribution to our Special Needs Team. His speech and language expertise has supported countless children and families over the years, and we have been incredibly fortunate to benefit from his knowledge, professionalism and compassion. He will be greatly missed and we wish him a long and happy retirement.

Miss Juliette Cornwell also leaves us for a very well-earned retirement. Miss Cornwell has been part of Fairlight for more years than many of our Early Years children can count to – despite her best efforts to teach them! Her dedication, warmth and commitment to generations of Fairlight children have left a lasting legacy. We thank her for everything she has given to our school and wish her happiness, relaxation and many exciting adventures ahead.

A Temporary Farewell

We will also be saying a temporary goodbye to Ms Fran Malone, who has been seconded for the year to one of our partner schools to lead and support their Special Needs Team.

Thankfully, she is only "down the road", and we know she will do an amazing job supporting children and staff there. We look forward to keeping in touch and welcoming her back to Fairlight in the future.

Looking Ahead to September

Whilst there are some farewells, there are also some exciting arrivals and returns.

We are delighted to welcome back Miss Michelle May, who returns to Fairlight as Assistant Headteacher following her adventures at Middle Street Primary School.

In addition, we are pleased to welcome:

  • Mrs Layo Pat-Olumba
  • Miss Eve Harris
  • Miss Anna Medvedovsky

who will all be joining our fantastic teaching team in September.

I know you will join me in giving them a very warm Fairlight welcome. Parents will have the opportunity to meet all class teachers and staff at the beginning of the new school year.

A Busy Summer at Fairlight

Although the children will be enjoying a well-deserved break, the school won't be completely quiet over the summer.

Our Summer Holiday Club will be running, classrooms and shared spaces will receive some much-needed cleaning and tidying, decorating projects will take place around the school, and our incredible Gardening Club volunteers will continue caring for our outdoor spaces.

All of this will help us prepare for another exciting year ahead.

For your diaries:

  • Staff return: Tuesday 1st September 2026
  • Children return: Wednesday 2nd September 2026

You can find all key dates for next year here:

https://www.fairlight.brighton-hove.sch.uk/parents-and-carers/dates-for-your-diary

A Thank You from Middle Street Primary School

We were delighted to receive a letter from Anne Allison, Chair of the Interim Executive Board at Middle Street Primary School, thanking Fairlight staff and governors for their support during what has been a particularly challenging year for their school community.

The letter recognised:

  • The leadership support provided through Michelle May's secondment to Middle Street, helping provide stability and reassurance for pupils, staff and families.
  • Fairlight's support in welcoming a pupil from Middle Street during a transition period, helping him settle, make friends and prepare successfully for his move to a new school.
  • The professionalism, generosity and kindness shown by Fairlight staff and governors in supporting another school within the Brighton & Hove community.

The letter was a lovely reminder that schools achieve great things when they work together. We are incredibly proud of the Fairlight team for demonstrating the values of collaboration, compassion and community spirit every day.

 

Fairlight's 100% Attendance Champions 2025–26

What an incredible achievement! These children attended school every single day of the school year, showing exceptional commitment, resilience and enthusiasm for learning. We are enormously proud of them all.

🏆 Reception

  • Vlad
  • Dylan
  • Remi

🏆 Year 1

  • Grayson
  • Amir
  • Orla
  • Mateo

🏆 Year 2

  • Murilo
  • Heidi
  • Giovani
  • Imogen
  • Oli W

🏆 Year 3

  • Tomiri
  • Reginald
  • Leo

🏆 Year 4

  • Maddie Jane
  • Freja
  • Seraphina

🏆 Year 6

  • Mahdiyar

Outstanding!

To achieve 100% attendance across an entire school year is a remarkable accomplishment. Every one of these children has demonstrated perseverance, dedication and a positive attitude towards their education. Their commitment has enabled them to make the most of every learning opportunity, every friendship and every school experience.

19 children. One whole school year. 100% attendance. An amazing achievement!

Finally...

Thank you to all our pupils, families, staff, governors, volunteers and friends of Fairlight for your continued support throughout the year.

Whether you've helped with reading, attended a school event, cheered on Sports Day, supported a school trip, joined a gardening session, volunteered your time or simply worked with us to help children thrive, you have all played your part.

So, as we head into the summer holidays, we hope you find plenty of sunshine (preferably the real sort rather than Brighton's occasional three-hour appearances!), time to relax, and opportunities to make wonderful memories with family and friends.

Enjoy the summer break, stay safe and look after one another.

Thank you for an amazing year.

From all of us at Fairlight, have a fantastic summer, and we'll see you in September for another exciting season.

Up the Albion.

 

SUMMER TERM WEEK 13

 

NEARLY THERE

 

Well, here we are!

Just Monday and Tuesday to go next week before the summer holidays begin in earnest.

A quick reminder to all families that Wednesday is an INSET Day, so school will be closed to pupils as our staff team focuses on training and final preparations for the new academic year.

It has been an incredibly busy and memorable week at Fairlight.

We've enjoyed fantastic Year 6 performances, emotional Leavers' Assemblies, celebratory Celebration Assemblies, successful Transition Days, and so much more besides.

It has been one of those weeks that perfectly reflects everything that makes our school community so special – achievement, growth, laughter, friendship and a few proud tears along the way.

 

Despite the finish line being firmly in sight, there is still plenty to do before we can put our feet up.

The next few days will be a hive of activity as classrooms are moved and reorganised, resources packed and unpacked, and preparations begin for September.

We'll also be welcoming contractors as some of our planned summer improvement works get underway, helping us get the school ready for another exciting year ahead.

There will be one final update next week where we'll have the opportunity to properly reflect on the year, say some important goodbyes, celebrate a few farewells, and share the complete staffing structure for September.

And finally, I am rather pleased to report that I have managed to get through this entire introduction without mentioning the football…

…oh. Never mind.

UP THE ALBION- and for those who saw the Year 6 show- I am still waiting for my call to come and do a "job on the right" next season.