FBA Weekly Update

Last Friday, students took part in the long-standing tradition of celebrating the school’s birthday. This is an important event in the school calendar as it allows the students to reflect on the amazing vision of our founder Frances Bardsley, and the tenacity she showed to realise her vision.

Once again, we were joined by Father R S P Hingley, one of the school governors, who provided an entertaining and thoughtful assembly to Years 7, 8 and 9. He talked about how we should judge people, not based on their outward appearance but based on what is on the inside. We can neither confirm or deny that we ate cat food to highlight this point.

We would like to say thank you Miss Thurston for organising the day. We would like to pass on our gratitude to Diya Patel, Ramisha Choudhury and Faith Wicks for their role in the assemblies and for the Sixth Form House prefects for supervising the House Cake competition. A big thank you also goes to the Year 11 prefects for decorating the school and distributing the Mars Bars.

Once again, we were amazed by the creativity and talent of the students when it comes to making and decorating cakes, and designing wonderful Birthday Cards .

We are delighted to announce the winners of the House Cake competition were:

The overall winner of the Birthday Card competition was Mahi Basra - well done!

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

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

We have been contacted by a few parents regarding the dates for the next academic year. We are currently agreeing these with the Trust and we will publish them on the school website and in the news letter by the end of this half term.

Well done to Year 11 for the 100% attendance at last week's Period 6. This week is a Walking Talking mock for either Science or Religious Studies.

Congratulations to Layla, Scarlett and Serena in 9B who were the selected winners for their wonderful presentation on PDD and also to Kia, Natasha, Anastasia in 9L as nominated by Miss Popoola.

Year 12 A-level Maths students are taking part in the Senior Maths challenge on Thursday 8th October. Good luck to all those taking part.

Blazer Requirement: It is expected that all students wear their blazers upon entering and exiting each classroom. The blazer is a key component of our school uniform and symbolises our collective identity. Blazers should be worn at all times during these transitions between lesson to uphold the standards we set as a school.

Hoodie: We have noticed an increasing number of students opting to wear FBA branded hoodies in place of the official school jumper or blazer. Hoodies are not part of uniform and therefore are not a substitute for a blazer or jumper.

It is a reality that young people are pressured to share pictures of themselves and this has happened to some of our students. Having a photo shared especially a nude photo can feel scary, and it can leave one feeling worried or even ashamed.

Report Remove is safe, easy and free – all you need to do is follow these steps:

• choose your age range
• create a Childline account so we can send you updates on your report
• report your image or video to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
• talk to a Childline counsellor if you want any extra support, or access support on the Childline website
• check your Childline locker a few days after your report to see if you need to add any more information and to see updates on your report
• report any issues with this process by sending an email from your Childline locker with the subject 'Report Remove' and as much information about the problem as you can.

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.

The latest exhibition in the Appleby Gallery has its private view on the 6th October. We are delighted to be showcasing the work of the wonderful Liz Aitkin and we hope our students enjoy viewing her work.

Last week, the PE Department held the annual Sports Awards evening. There was a change to the venue to allow our tremendously talented students to showcase their skills in gymnastics, netball and trampolining.

We were joined by a Guest Speaker, Kate Cowley who is a former student at FBA.

Kate enjoyed a successful career as a heptathlete,

Sports colours were given to a large number of students as well as recognising our Sports Leaders and Sports Prefects.

The prize winners for Outstanding Performer & Contribution to the PE Department were

There were two prize winners:

Amy M has represented the school during her five years in sports such as Athletics, Cross Country, Netball and Handball. She was part of the Handball squad that made it through to the regional finals back in 2023. Amy is a member of Havering Athletic Club and has been competing in the multi-events where she represented Essex the past two years at the English Schools Athletic Championships.

Holly D has represented the school during her five years in sports such as Football, Athletics, Cross Country, Rounders and Handball. She was part of the Handball squad that made it through to the regional finals back in 2023. Holly plays football for her local team and she has represented Essex for the past two seasons.

Congratulations to all prize and award winners. Thank you to all those that attended.

We would like to thank the PE Department for the significant contribution they make to the life of the school with the opportunities they provide for your daughters.

Did you know that writing down positive thoughts can boost both mental health and physical wellbeing? Positivity journaling is a simple habit where you spend a few minutes each day reflecting on what you are grateful for, proud of, or moments that made you smile.

Benefits of positivity journaling include:

• Reducing stress and improving mood
• Helping you sleep better
• Building resilience and motivation
• Encouraging a healthy, balanced mindset

How to start:

1. Each evening, write down 3 things you are grateful for.
2. Reflect on one challenge you overcame today.
3. End with a short affirmation like “I am capable and improving every day.”

Even just 5 minutes a day can make a big difference, give it a try this week!

Our inspirational woman of the week is Smiriti Mandhana as nominated by Amrit in 9S. Mandhana is an Indian international cricketer and one of the leading women’s batswomen in the world. She has broken records with her elegant and aggressive batting style, becoming a role model in a male-dominated sport.

Her journey from a small town in India to international cricket showcases determination, discipline, and hard work. She inspires young women to pursue their passions fearlessly and challenge societal norms. Beyond cricket, her success encourages girls to dream big and believe in their abilities.

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.

• Graphic Designers create pictures and layouts that you see everywhere - on websites, magazines, posters, and even product boxes. They choose colours, fonts and images that catch your eye and help explain ideas quickly. For example, a graphic designer might design a poster for a music festival or a logo for a new sports team. They use computers and special programs like Photoshop to bring their ideas to life. It is a mix of art and technology, and designers often work with clients to make sure the design fits what is needed.
• Illustrators draw pictures for books, magazines, adverts or even video games. Some draw by hand with pencils and paint, others use computers. For example, an illustrator might create colourful images for a children’s storybook or design characters for a cartoon. Being good at telling stories through pictures and having a unique style helps illustrators stand out. It can be a fun job if you love drawing and want to see your artwork in print or online.

How to Get into the Jobs

Taking subjects like Art, Design or Digital Media at school helps you learn the skills you need. After GCSEs, many people do a foundation course in art and design before going to university to study illustration or graphic design. Apprenticeships in design studios or marketing companies are also great ways to learn while you work.

This week, we lost one of our oldest members of the FBA farm family, as Starlight the chicken died. Starlight had outlived her life expectancy by at least two years, enjoying a happy and long life here. Despite her diminutive size, she was essentially the grand dame of the farm, where she loved to forage and roam. She loved life and all the attention and love she got from all the students who knew and spent time with her. She loved mothering all the other chickens, always sitting on their eggs, hoping one would hatch; this photo is of her with the Thunder the chick, who she adopted, reared and adored; she was the most attentive, happy mother hen that ever lived! She will be missed by everyone who knew her.

We will be holding a Starlight memorial for all students who knew and loved her this Thursday 9th October at 3.15pm at the farm.

Last week, it was announced that the new Archbishop of Canterbury will be Dame Sarah Mullally. This is a historic moment, as for the first time the position will be held by a woman.

Dame Sarah Mullally is the former NHS chief nurse and was appointed as the first female Bishop of London in 2018.

Although technically, King Charles III is the head of the Church of England, the person holding the role of Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and is the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

As a school, we are affiliated to The Church of England and the appointment of Dame Sarah is another chance to share with our students a woman breaking new ground and leading on a national and global stage.