FBA Weekly Update
13th October 2025
The Role of Our Governors – Our Critical Friends
As headteachers, we want to take a moment to highlight and celebrate the vital work of our school governors. Often working behind the scenes, governors play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of the school, ensuring accountability, and supporting our vision for continual improvement.
Our governors are volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to help ensure the very best for our students. They are not involved in the day-to-day running of the school, but they act as what we often call "critical friends": supportive, yet challenging when needed, always asking the right questions to help us reflect, grow, and stay focused on our core purpose – delivering high-quality education for every child.
They bring a wealth of experience from a range of backgrounds, and their commitment to the school is deeply appreciated. Whether it’s through monitoring progress, supporting leadership, or engaging with our wider school community, their role is indispensable.
On behalf of the staff and students, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to our governing committee . Their dedication often goes unseen, but their impact is felt across every corner of our school.
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
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
Brain Dump
This year, we are launching the 'She Is Studious' programme with Year 7. The aim is to help our students develop the habits and skills they need to become effective, independent learners. There will be five strategies throughout the year, which we will be share with your daughter:
- Brain Dump
- Mind-Map
- Chunking
- Look-Say-Cover-Write-Check (L-S-C-W-C)
- Memory Place
The first strategy is Brain Dump. Your daughter was introduced to Brain Dump last week in form time and will be practising this both in class and for homework. We have attached the PowerPoint Presentation and template to this email.
Below is a summary of how it works so that you can support them at home.
What is a Brain Dump?
A Brain Dump is a simple yet powerful way to revise and remember information. Here’s how it works:
- Recall – Students write down everything they can remember about a topic from memory (without using their notes).
- Expand – They add more details, definitions, and examples, often using a different coloured pen.
- Correct & Reflect – They check against their notes, correct mistakes, and highlight areas they need to revise further.
This method helps students strengthen their memory, identify gaps, and build excellent revision materials for future use.
How You Can Support at Home
- Ask to see their brain dumps: Encourage your child to explain what they wrote and show you the different colours they used for recall, expansion, and corrections.
- Praise the process, not just the result: The green pen corrections are especially valuable because they show where your child is learning the most.
- Encourage regular practice: Brain dumps can be applied in any subject, from History to Math to Science.
- Create a quiet space for them to practise without distractions.
Please refer to the link presentation below
Looking to Hire Our Facilities?
We are pleased to offer selected spaces across the school for hire. We have a number of spaces that are ideal for community groups, clubs, or private events. Our rooms, sports hall, and outdoor areas are available at competitive rates and under flexible terms.
To check availability and make a booking, please visit our lettings portal at: https://bookings.edu-lettings.org/romford/edu-frances-bardsley-academy. If you have specific requests or would like more information (e.g. capacity, equipment, access times), feel free to contact EDU , they will be happy to assist.
Positivity Journaling (KRACER link: She is REFLECTIVE)
Health & Fitness Tip – The Power of Cardio!
Cardio (short for cardiovascular exercise) is any activity that raises your heart rate and gets you breathing faster, keeping your heart, lungs, and body strong. From skipping and dancing to brisk walking or a quick game of football, cardio helps boost your energy, focus, and mood.
Did you know?
The NHS recommends that teenagers aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day – that’s around 7 hours per week or 30 hours each month! Regular movement keeps your heart healthy and your mind sharp. Read more about the NHS guidelines by clicking here.
Challenge yourself this week: pick one form of cardio per day to do something that gets your heart racing – even walking to school or dancing to your favourite song counts! 🎶
Inspirational Woman of the Week
Our inspirational woman of the week is as nominated by Elsa in 11S. Huda Heidi Kattan is an Iraqi-American entrepreneur, makeup artist, and the founder of the global beauty brand Huda Beauty. She started as a beauty blogger and turned her passion into one of the world’s most successful cosmetics companies. Despite facing early challenges and scepticism, she built her brand through creativity, authenticity, and hard work. Huda uses her platform to promote confidence, self-expression, and empowerment among women. Her journey inspires women to pursue their dreams fearlessly and turn their passions into thriving businesses.
Creative arts jobs are all about using your imagination to make things that people enjoy or learn from. This could be music, painting, acting, designing clothes or making movies. If you love being creative and sharing your ideas, these jobs let you turn your passion into a career. Many creative jobs need practice, teamwork, and learning new skills, so there are lots of different ways to get started.
Actors play characters in theatre shows, films, TV programmes or radio plays. They learn scripts and practice acting to make their characters feel real and interesting. Actors need to show emotions clearly and work well with others on stage or on set. For example, an actor could play a superhero in a film or a role in a school play. It is a job that needs confidence, creativity and hard work because auditions can be tough and the work is not always steady.
Set designers create the backgrounds and spaces where plays or films happen. They decide what a room or street looks like, choosing colours, furniture and props to match the story. For example, a set designer might build a castle for a Shakespeare play or create a city street for a TV drama. They work closely with directors and costume designers to make sure everything fits together. It is a mix of art, craft and teamwork.
How to Get into the Jobs
Drama or Performing Arts at school can help actors learn their craft. Many actors also attend drama schools or youth theatre groups to get experience. Set designers often study art, design or technology subjects and then go on to university courses in theatre or production design. Work experience and internships in theatres or TV studios are valuable too.
It has been another productive week on the FBA Farm, with many students enjoying sessions on the farm with our animals.
Our five rabbits, Smog, Fluffy, Patch, Bear and Honey are some of our most popular residents, and they love students spending time with them. Rabbits are pretty amazing animals; they are classified as lagomorphs, and are herbivores.
Baby rabbits are known as ‘kits’, males are ‘bucks’ and females are ‘does’. Rabbits are very social animals, and do not like to live alone. In the wild, they live in groups in a series of tunnels that they dig underground, known as a warren.
Our rabbits here on the farm have a large enclosure, giving them lots of space to explore and run as well as skipping in the air, known as ‘binkying’ when they are happy. In order to live together harmoniously, rabbits need to bond. They form bonds for life, and once they are bonded they should not be separated, as this causes them psychological trauma. Bonded rabbits feel safe and happy with each other; they share food, play together, groom each other and snuggle up when sleeping.
Come and meet our rabbits, as well as our ponies, goats, guinea-pigs, chickens and ducks.
The farm is open every break time and lunchtime Monday-Friday, and after school until 4pm on Thursdays - all welcome.
