FBA Weekly Update

At FBA, we believe that every student deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and valued. Whether they are learning in the classroom, participating in extra curricular activities, or spending time with friends, we want you to know that there are caring adults ready to support your daughter. If they ever feel unsure, stressed, or need someone to talk to, they can reach out to a member of the safeguarding team, any teacher or trusted adult in the school. If students do not feel confident to talk to someone face to face, they can always use the Student Worry page on the school website.

All the key dates for the year can be found on the school website at:

https://fbaok.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Key-Dates-for-Parents-2025-2026.pdf

Please find below some of the key dates for the second half term

• Thursday 20th November - Year 11 mocks end
• Thursday 20th November - 6th form Open Evening
• Monday 24th - Thursday 27th November - GCSE Art exam
• Monday 24th - Friday 28th November - Year 13 mock exams
• Thursday 27th November - Year 10 Parents' Evening
• Tuesday 2nd - Friday 5th December - A-level Art exam
• Wednesday 3rd December - Christmas Concert
• Thursday 4th December - Careers Fair
• Monday 8th December - Year 7 & 8 Celebration Evening online
• Wednesday 10th December - Year 8 Parents' Evening
• Monday 15th December - Year 10 & 11 Celebration Evening online
• Tuesday 16th December - Year 9 Celebration Evening online
• Tuesday 16th December - Christmas lunch
• Wednesday 17th December - 6th form panto and Year 8 Talent Show
• Thursday 18th December - Last day of term (early finish)
• Friday 19th December - Disaggregated INSET day

Well done to the Year 11 students for completing the first week of mock examinations. Please find below the timetable for week 2.

Frances Bardsley Academy is excited to announce the Ramadan Iftaar Celebration Event organised by parents! We warmly invite all Muslim parents and carers from the Frances Bardsley Academy community to join our event planning team. Your input, creativity, and cultural insights will be invaluable in making the inaugural Iftaar event a beautiful and memorable event for all our students and their families.

If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/xvssaEcVBx

We are pleased to share that the official Frances Bardsley Academy LinkedIn page is now live, along with a dedicated Alumni Group for former students and staff.

• School Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-frances-bardsley-academy-for-girls/
• Alumni Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/15687120/

The page will be used to share school updates, career opportunities, and alumni stories, while the private group will help past and current members of our community stay connected, celebrate achievements, and network professionally.

The Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Department brought the vibrant traditions of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) to life last week, creating a wonderful cultural experience for our students!

A Feast for the Eyes and the Soul

• Year 7 Cultural Class: Our Year 7 students in their cultural classes learned all about the history, meaning, and beautiful customs of this significant Mexican celebration.
• Altar de Muertos: The MFL corridor was illuminated by a spectacular, traditional Altar de Muertos (Altar of the Dead), featuring marigold flowers, papel picado, food offerings, and candles. This helped the whole school community understand the significance of honouring loved ones.

🎨 Art Competition Winners! 🏆

A huge thank you and congratulations to everyone who participated in our Day of the Dead Colouring Competition! The quality of artwork was outstanding.

We are delighted to celebrate the following three students for their amazing artistic talent and creativity:

• Kathy L. - 7L
• Nicolle M. - 7L
• Charlie A. - 7E

Over the next two weeks, some of your daughter's usual PSHCEE lessons will be replaced by a workshop called Girls on Board, delivered by our trained staff. A timetable has been shared with your daughter in their student bulletin.

About Girls on Board:

Girls on Board is a nationally recognised programme that helps girls understand and navigate the complexities of friendships. It encourages empathy, resilience, and independence by giving students the tools to manage better the social dynamics that can sometimes feel challenging. More information about the programme can be found on their website: https://www.girlsonboard.co.uk/about/ and in the attachment.

This workshop will provide valuable insight and support for the girls as they develop their confidence and navigate friendships throughout the school years and beyond.

Thank you for your continued support.

Date & Time: Monday 17th November at 4pm

Microsoft Teams Link: Join workshop now!

Can’t make this date? There are also sessions open to the public on Monday 24th November at 1pm & 5pm. To sign up, visit https://www.eastlondonwaste.gov.uk/

As it is mock week for our Year 11s, and Year 13 mocks next week, it is important to think about how to manage exam stress in healthy, practical ways. Here are simple tips your daughters can use.

1. Eat steady-energy foods (and don’t skip breakfast!) - start the day with a protein-rich breakfast. Options like eggs, Greek yoghurt, oat-based breakfasts, or wholegrain toast with a high-protein topping help keep you full for longer and release energy slowly, which prevents sudden dips in concentration during exams or revision

2. Move your body for 10–15 minutes - A short walk, some stretching, or even star jumps can release tension and boost your focus.

3. Try “study breaks with movement” - Every hour, stand up, roll your shoulders, stretch your back or do a quick lap of your room. This keeps your body awake and your mind refreshed.

4. Practise slow breathing - A 1–2 minute breathing exercise (inhale for 4, exhale for 6) can help reset your nervous system and make stress feel more manageable.

5. Protect your sleep hours - As tempting as it is to pull an all-nighter, sleep is one of the biggest factors in exam performance. Aim for 7–9 hours a night and keep your sleep time “protected” — no revision once you reach your cut-off time.

Cognitive science research shows that the brain learns and recalls information best in the morning (around 9am–12pm) when focus and working memory are naturally higher. So, it is far better to sleep properly and revise during your most productive hours than stay up late and feel exhausted the next day.

Our inspirational woman of the week is nominated anonymously. A British-Bangladeshi entrepreneur from East London, Khanum overcame homelessness and single motherhood at an early age to found the luxury slow-fashion brand Khanum’s. Her work blends South Asian heritage with modern design, earning features in Vogue Arabia. She inspires young women worldwide by showing that resilience (she re-enrolled in education following the birth of her child at nineteen years old) and creativity can transform hardship into success. Through her ethical, inclusive approach, she champions empowerment and representation in fashion. Her Vogue presence cements her as a global symbol of strength and style.

Last week, a group of 35 Year 9 students accompanied by Miss Richardson, Miss Reid and Mr Turrell travelled to Ypres in Belgium to meet up with students and teachers from our German partner school, Marienschule.

We set off at 6:00am and travelled via the Eurotunnel and travelled through France to Belgium. On Day 1, they visited Essex Farm cemetery run by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Langemark German Cemetery. They also visited the Passchendaele Museum to experience what life was like in the trenches.

On the evening of the 10th of November, the students from both schools went to the Menin Gate to attend a very moving ceremony of remembrance. A police band, fire brigade band and Scottish military band played music and they observed the 2 minutes silence with hundreds of other people.

On Tuesday 11th, we were invited as special guests to attend the memorial service at the Hooge Crater cemetery. The FBA and Marienschule students had worked together to write poems to remember the fallen and to promote peace and understanding. Students from both schools read out the poems to a crowd of over 100 people. A Poppy wreath was laid by Mr Turrell and Ms Schäfer

(Headteacher at Marienschule) to remember the soldiers that fell in battle from England and Germany and to symbolise the friendship between our schools and nations.

This is such an important project and partnership for our schools and students. We are so very proud of the students – they were amazing ambassadors for FBA.

Poppies are crimson read like the blood that was shed

Poppies between crosses that mark our place of remembrance

Singing high in the sky, heard gunshots below

So now we know we were loved and cherished

And now we lie in peace

Shorty days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow

In the future we bring peace, nothing more nothing less.

It has been a busy week on the farm, with the weather staying unusually mild. Our newest addition to the FBA farm family, Gigi the Silkie has laid her first little white egg; she was very pleased with herself, and sat on it for hours! The colour of a chicken’s eggs are determined by their genetics; for example, Ameraucanas lay blue eggs, and like Silkie's, Leghorns produce white eggs. Globally chickens outnumber every other bird species, with 25 billion worldwide – that is four times the number of humans. Chickens, like us and other mammals also have REM (rapid eye movement) during one of their sleep phases, which suggest that they dream. They are intelligent, and have a great memory, and can recognise multiple faces, so our five chickens will be familiar with students who regularly visit the farm! Come and see our chickens; you will find them free-ranging the farm, strutting and scratching about, foraging for food.

Opening times are every day Monday to Friday at break and lunchtimes, and after school on Thursdays until 4pm - all students and staff are welcome!

And finally, we wanted to remind parents and carers that all children under 16 and students aged 16 - 18 in full time education are entitled to free NHS eye tests and an optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses. We know that sometimes students can struggle to access the learning in the classroom because they cannot see the board or read text clearly.

There are a number of signs your child may need an eye test:

• Straining their eyes or tilting their head to see better
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Losing their place while reading, or using a finger to guide their eyes
• Sensitivity to light and/or excessive tearing
• Falling behind in school
• Complaining of headaches or tired eyes
• The presence of a ‘turn’ in the eye or a misdirection of the eyes
• Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close
• Avoiding activities which require near vision, such as reading or homework, or distance vision, such as participating in sports or other recreational activities
• Closing one eye to read, watch TV or see better
• Avoiding using a computer or tablet because it hurts their eyes
• A ‘white reflex’ in photographs. This is similar in appearance to red‑eye, except it’s white. It is extremely serious – if you notice it, you should seek medical attention immediately.

(Thanks to Specsavers for this information)

You can find out more at: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/ and information can be found on the websites of opticians.