FBA Weekly Update
15th September 2025
Last week, we proudly hosted our annual Speech Night, one of the most prestigious events in the school calendar. It was a pleasure to welcome back our Sixth Form Alumni and some Year 11 Prize winners to celebrate their achievements and present them with a range of awards.
A particular highlight of the evening was the awarding of the Frances Barley Scholarship Award, which this year was presented to two outstanding students.
Congratulations to Jessica, who is now studying Medicine at the University of Exeter (picture below), and to Denisa, who is pursuing Biology at the University of Oxford.
We are incredibly proud of all our alumni and wish them continued success in their academic journeys.
We also have the pleasure to welcome back one of our former student who shares with us their journey since leaving FBA and give students some advice as they embark for their next journey.
This year we welcomed back Esther Olorunsomo
Esther is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager working in the aviation sector, where she leads on initiatives that drive fairness, representation and meaningful change. A proud alumna of Frances Bardsley Academy (2008-2015), Esther served as a Senior Prefect and developed a passion for History and Law—subjects that shaped her path long after school.
After completing Sixth Form, Esther studied Law at university, graduating with a 2:1 in 2018. While at university she represented her fellow students, was selected to visit Parliament as one of the country’s top student leaders and gained valuable experience through placements at the Crown Prosecution Service, Network Rail and the London Borough of Havering.
At just 23, Esther became a primary school governor—reflecting her long-standing commitment to community, education and social justice. She has been shortlisted and nominated for her work in both professional and voluntary spaces and continues to use her voice to challenge inequality and champion change.
A changemaker at heart, Esther is passionate about equality and believes deeply in the power of representation, especially for young women. She credits her time at Frances Bardsley as a formative period that helped shape her values and ambitions. Alongside her professional work, she is currently training to become a netball umpire—and encourages every student to embrace their own unique journey with boldness and purpose.
Jessica
Denisa
Esther
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 first half term
Wednesday 17th September - Year 7 & 11 school photos
Thursday 18th September - Prospective Parents' Evening (17:00 - 20:00)
Friday 19th September - Late start 9:30
Monday 22nd September - Year 7 Welcome Evening for parents/ carers (18:00)
Tuesday 23rd September - Year 8, 9, 10, 6th form school photos
Wednesday 24th September - Year 12 Welcome Evening for parents/ carers (18:00)
Thursday 25th September - Personal Development Day 1
Thursday 2nd October - Sports Awards evening
Friday 3rd October - School Birthday (119 years). Early finish for staff training
Monday 6th October - Year 12 Settling In assessments start
Thursday 16th October - Year 11 Step Up to Sixth Form Day (Taster Day)
Wednesday 22nd October - Year 11 Parents' Evening
Thursday 23rd October - Black History Month event
Friday 24th October - Last day of half term 1
My Child At School App MCA
Bromcom has faced national challenges with their connection last week. We have been reassured that connection is back to normal. We appreciate your patience with the My Child At School App and we attached the letter we sent last week explaining how to long on the app.
Our website has a 'translate' feature which allows you to translate all the information and documents into the language of your choice.
This week’s tip comes from Chloe, your Year 9 sports captain: Make smoothies at home instead of buying them!
Smoothies are a quick and tasty way to boost your energy and get more vitamins into your day! They’re especially great at break or after school when you need a healthy pick-me-up.
✅ Try blending a banana with milk for potassium and slow-release energy.
✅ Add a handful of frozen berries for vitamin C and antioxidants.
✅ Include a spoon of oats or yoghurt to keep you fuller for longer.
Tip: Avoid shop-bought smoothies with added sugar! Making your own at home means you control what goes in and can keep it fresh and healthy!
Inspirational Woman of the Week
Our inspirational woman of the week is Rupi Kaur as nominated by Angelie N in 11F. Kaur is a Canadian poet, writer, and illustrator known for her short, powerful poems that explore themes of love, trauma, healing, femininity, and identity. She first gained attention by sharing her poetry and illustrations on Instagram.
Her work resonates with young women because it addresses vulnerability, resilience, and self-empowerment in an accessible, relatable style. As a South Asian woman in the literary world, she has broken barriers and brought marginalised voices into mainstream publishing. Through her art, she encourages women to embrace their strength, speak their truths, and heal openly
Career of the month September “Careers in Information Technology”
IT (Information Technology) is all about using computers and technology to solve problems, create things, and help people work smarter. It plays a part in nearly every job today, from healthcare and education to gaming and entertainment. There are loads of exciting careers in IT for people who enjoy solving problems, being creative, or working with computers.
· Data Analyst
Data analysts look at numbers and information to spot trends and answer questions. For example, they might help a company understand what products people are buying the most. You’ll need to be good with maths and enjoy working with graphs, spreadsheets or data tools. Studying maths, IT or statistics is a good place to start.
· AI or Machine Learning Specialist
AI specialists help computers learn how to do things like recognise faces, suggest videos or drive cars. They use maths, data and coding to “train” computers to make decisions. This career is great if you’re interested in how technology can act smart. You’ll need to study computer science or data science, and be strong in maths and logic.
What Skills Do You Need to Work in IT?
To work in IT, you need to be good at solving problems, thinking logically and working well with others. Many people study subjects like Computer Science, Maths, ICT or Digital Technology. You can also get into IT through college courses, apprenticeships or online learning. The great thing is there’s more than one way in, and lots of free tools online to help you start learning today.
It has been a busy week on the farm, and our animals are feeling very loved and cared for by students! Our young Pgymy goats Alvin, Theodore and Simon are settling well into their new paddock, and as they are now six months old they are on a full diet of grass, hay and concentrate feed - they need a varied diet to aid healthy growth and development.
Goats are ruminants rather than monogastric, which means they have four stomach compartments; the reticulum, the rumen, the omasum and the abomasum. The rumen is the largest of a goat's four stomach chambers and it is filled with microorganisms that are responsible for breaking down the roughage (plant material) that has been ingested. Four stomach compartments might sound like quite a lot, however goats are far from having the highest number; the Etruscan shrew has eight hundred!
The FBA farm is open every day at break and lunch, and after school on Thursdays until 4pm; all are welcome to come and help look after our animals and birds, or simply to visit and spend some time outdoors.
As we head into the week ahead, we want to take a moment to celebrate what makes our school community so special.
We are proud to be a place where every student and every family is welcomed, respected, and seen. In a world where headlines and social media can often feel divisive, we remain committed to unity, understanding, and the shared goal of helping all our children thrive.
Thank you for being part of a diverse community that values kindness, inclusion, and the strength we find in each other.
Let’s keep building that together—every day.