FBA Update

We know we talked about International Women’s Day (IWD)/ Week at FBA in our last newsletter but for us, leaders of FBA, custodians of Frances Bardsley's mission, we really feel that we have a duty and a voice to try to change the future of girls for the better.

And our mission is even more important today because, despite progress, gender inequality remains a major issue worldwide. So as we reflect on all the amazing activities that took place here last week, we must continue to reflect as to why days such as IWD are crucial for our world:

Gender Equality is Still Unachieved

Women continue to face disparities in wages, leadership opportunities, and access to education and healthcare. The global gender pay gap still exists, and many women work in undervalued and underpaid sectors.

Increased Gender-Based Violence

Reports of domestic violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination remain alarmingly high. IWD shines a spotlight on these issues and calls for action.

Women’s Rights Are Under Threat

In some regions, women’s reproductive rights, political participation, and access to education are being rolled back. IWD is a reminder that progress is not guaranteed and must be defended.

Representation & Leadership Gaps

Although more women are entering leadership positions, they are still underrepresented in politics, business, and tech. IWD encourages breaking barriers and supporting women’s empowerment.

Intersectionality Matters

Women of different backgrounds—especially those from marginalised communities—face unique struggles. IWD highlights the importance of inclusivity and intersectional feminism.

The Power of Collective Action

IWD is not just about celebrating achievements; it’s about rallying for change. It brings global attention to women’s rights and inspires collective action toward a more equitable future.

Collectively we can ignite change and it is vital that we remind our students that they are going to become the global changemakers of the future. #thefutureisfemale

Wednesday 12th March & Thursday 13th March - Matilda, The Musical (7pm)

Tuesday 18th March - Year 7 and Year 8 Celebration Evening (online)

Thursday 20th March - Year 7 Parents' Evening (online)

Wednesday 26th March - Year 9 Celebration Evening (online)

Thursday 27th March - Year 11 Academic Review Evening

Tuesday 1st April - Year 10 & 11 Celebration Evening (online)

We are incredibly proud of Crystal, who continues to excel both in her A-level studies and her passion for dance. Studying Chemistry, Biology, and Health and Social Care, she demonstrates outstanding dedication by balancing her academic work with an impressive dance career.

Last weekend, Crystal showcased her talent on Dancing on Ice alongside Diversity, a testament to her hard work and commitment. Having danced with Diversity since she was seven years old, Crystal describes it as a second home, saying, “Dance is a calming influence for me. The people there are so welcoming, and it truly feels like a community.”

Crystal trains at The Diversity Studios every Saturday and rehearses twice a week in the lead-up to performances. She truly embodies our K-RACER values of creativity and resilience, and we look forward to seeing all she achieves in the future!

Parents and staff, we need YOU! The PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) plays a vital role in supporting our school, students, and staff. By joining, you’ll have the opportunity to:

✅ Be a voice for students and families
✅ Help plan events and fundraisers
✅ Support teachers and school programs
✅ Build a stronger school community

No matter your schedule, there’s a way to get involved—big or small! Join us today and be part of something great.

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for FBA through Easy Fundraising?

There are over 8,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.

All you need to do is:

1. Click here and join for free.

2. Every time you shop online, go to Easy Fundraising first, find the site you want and start shopping.

3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to FBA - at no extra cost to you whatsoever!

There are no catches or hidden charges and we will be really grateful for your donations.

We are working with students to finalize a wish list on how we will use the fund and we will publish the wish list very soon.

Thank you for your support.

We know that many Muslim members of our school community are fasting and we recognise and respect how important Ramadan is for our Muslim students and the wider community. We have the following steps in place to support students at this time.

• We encourage students who are fasting during Ramadan to let the School know so we can support them if needed. One way you can let us know this is by completing the form below if your child is fasting.

• Students who receive Free School Meals will be offered supermarket vouchers as an alternative during Ramadan. Please complete the form above to let us know if this is something your child would like to take up.

• The Prayer Room is be available during lunchtime for students who would like to pray at this time.

• The PE department are aware that students may need to reduce the level of their activity in these classes when they are fasting. Students are encouraged to speak to their teacher where relevant and a letter was sent home at the beginning of the month.

• Some students have let us know that they will not listen to music for entertainment or distraction during Ramadan. During Ramadan, all lessons and learning in School continue as usual. Music as part of the curriculum, learning and school life will continue as this is part of education, not for entertainment or distraction.

• The School can authorise a one day absence for religious observance at Eid. If your child will be absent from school for Eid please put this in writing to your child’s form tutor or Progress Manager / Head of Year in advance.

• We’ll be reminding students in school that it’s important to maintain a healthy balanced diet when fasting to avoid dehydration and maintain energy levels throughout the day. This website has some useful information.

We wish all our families of Muslim faith a Ramadan of goodness, prayer and peace.

We are incredibly excited about the upcoming performances of Matilda The Musical on Wednesday and Thursday this week. The students have been working really hard over the past few months and we can't wait to see Miss Trunchbull in action!

Tickets are still available via ParentPay. The show starts at 7pm

We understand that Science and Maths can sometimes be challenging, and a little extra support can make all the difference.

That’s why a dedicated Year 10 student has kindly offered to run revision sessions for any Year 7, 8, or 9 students who would like help with a particular topic.

These sessions will be offered on a first come, first served basis and will take staggered end-of-school times into account. This is a great opportunity to receive tailored support from a fellow student who has recently studied these topics and can explain them in a clear and relatable way.

If you are finding a concept difficult or just want a bit of extra practice, we encourage you to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

Where: F29 When: Tuesdays after school

This week we are launching The Revision Planner: 57 days for Year 11 and we will share with you all revision techniques from Alex Quigley each week.

Quizzing: Good old-fashioned quizzing is an ideal vehicle to get students self-testing, which is proven to be a robust revision strategy, so that students can calibrate their knowledge and remembering. There are various types of quizzes, of course, such as short answer quizzing, multiple choice quizzes (MCQs) – see this handy guide for devising MCQs – or a hybrid of the two, with different question types suiting different purposes. Crucially, students need guidance for which type of quizzes and when. They need to know the trade-off for creating their own quizzes (‘make and take’) or using online quiz platforms.

See SMHW/Google Classroom or Quizlet for quizzes See template for learning definitions of keywords ..\..\..\Revision\PiXL Unlock template.pptx

This week’s health and fitness tip comes from Eva S in Year 7, who is part of the Resilient Health and Wellbeing Committee.

The Power of Eating Colourful Foods

Eating healthy can be hard for a lot of people, but it might be easier than you think. A great way to improve your diet is by eating a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables. Seeing your meals as a mix of vibrant colours can make eating healthier feel exciting rather than a chore. Research suggests that visually appealing food can boost enjoyment and even make meals feel more satisfying!

Each colour often provides different unique health benefits:

· Red (strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers) – rich in antioxidants that support heart health.

· Orange & Yellow (carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes) – packed with vitamin C and beta-carotene, great for your immune system and vision.

· Green (broccoli, spinach, kiwis) – full of iron and folate, which help with energy and brain function.

· Blue & Purple (blueberries, aubergines, purple cabbage) – high in antioxidants that support memory and reduce inflammation.

· White & Brown (mushrooms, garlic, bananas) – can help with digestion and boost your immune system.

Health Challenge of the Week:

Try eating a different coloured fruit or vegetable each day! Notice if you feel more energised or focused by the end of the week. You can also encourage friends or family members to give it a go too!

Well done to the Year 7, 8 and 9 Students who participated in the International Women's Day Art workshop.

Your creativity has shone through the windows of the Appleby Gallery and we encourage all students and staff to take a moment to look up to see the artwork on your way into school.

It is a reflection of the incredible talent within our school community.

On Thursday last week we celebrated World Book Day. As ever, the students in Years 7 and 8 had some very creative and wonderful outfits. The staff got in the swing of things too with a special mention to Mr Gibson for his caterpillar costume.

Thank you to the English Department and Ms Johnson (School Librarian) for organising such fun events.

Our students took part in on Wednesday 5th March.

Both of our A & B teams that were selected to compete on Wednesday have worked really hard over the last couple of months to compete against 20 other schools across multiple events.

We are pleased to share that our A team have qualified for a place in the Year 7 Indoor final which will be a total of 24 girls teams competing from across London, Essex and Kent.

The following girls taking that will be competing in the final on the Wednesday 26th March are as follows, and we are very proud of their achievement:

A Team

Amelia C 7F Daisy E 7O Alessia L 7S

Amy F 7E Holly M 7O Lucy T 7W

We are very grateful to Miss Van Der Pool for creating engaging and inspiring STEM activities that complement our Science curriculum next week for British Science Week .

From FBA Genetics Escape Room to changing chameleon Science Experiment, We hope that a lot of students will sign up for an activity after school.

Our animals have all enjoyed some sunshine in the past week; spring is finally on its way! Each year, spring begins on the day of the vernal equinox; twelve hours of daylight, twelve hours of night; this year this will be the 20th March, although for meteorologists, spring starts on 1st March, and runs until 31st May.

The warmest spring on record was 2011, the coldest was 1962, while 1947 saw the wettest spring recorded and the sunniest spring was 1948. Sense of smell is often more acute in spring, as there is usually more moisture in the air.

Talking to your child about complex mental health and wellbeing issues is rarely easy. That’s why our clinical team put together these resources for parents. We hope you find them useful.

https://connect.kooth.com/for-families

This week we are also sharing a guide ' supporting your child during difficult times'

https://share.filerobot.com/Kooth%2520Digital%2520Health/fpdrrgrfb/s99d9PF2CIURZ86Xe1QzqRLnfp

The day was created as a way to compensate for the hour people lose because of the time change. But this is one holiday that most people can get behind.

Short Period of Sleep

A nap is a short period of sleep usually taken during the day. Studies have shown that one or more short naps during the day can help increase productivity and alertness. It is believed that many successful people in history napped often. Some of these people were Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon.

Many Short Naps a Day

Many animals are polyphasic sleepers. This means that they take multiple naps during the day. Until the invention of electricity and affordable artificial lighting, humans slept in at least two long stretches during the night. They first slept for about 4 hours, called first sleep. They then woke up for a few hours during which they smoked, visited their friends, and ran other errands. They would then go back to sleep for what is now called the second sleep. This pattern of sleeping went out of fashion by the 17th century, as more and more people began to afford ways to artificially light up their homes after dark and in the early mornings.

Did You Know…

…that a NASA study among pilots and astronauts found that short naps can increase performance by 34% and alertness by 54%?