Our Weekly Newsletter Connecting School and Home
Headmaster’s Message
David Smith
Headmaster
From The FBS Foundation
Julian, the FBS Foundation’s CEO, is away this week so he left a gap between his excellent updates for me to fill. It’s a great opportunity for me to share a few thoughts.
My son successfully completed his GSCEs at FBS this year and so started sixth form last week. All sixth form parents were invited to an information evening at the school on Wednesday as there are so many new things for us to get our heads around. I was really impressed with what we learned about how sixth form is structured, what the boys can expect (and what is expected of them!) and the incredible level of support, pastoral and academic, that they will get along the way – not just in preparing the for exams, but also for University.
We’ve all seen how great the results were at GCSE and A Level this year – but one thing that stood out for me, was that 96% of A level boys were offered a University place of their choosing. That is a truly remarkable achievement and a huge credit to Ms Clegg and her sixth form team.
At the drinks reception afterwards, the pride in the school and the passion for bringing the best out in our boys was clear in all of the teachers I spoke to, and in particular in David Smith, the Headmaster.
It refreshed my confidence that my son is in the best school he could be in. For any new boys and families joining this year, be that year 7 or sixth form, or any other year group, firstly a warm welcome, and secondly, please take this as some reassurance that I believe you have made the right choice.
FBS promises, and FBS delivers, a pioneering education to boys from all walks of life.
Given my role, it won’t surprise you that I have to stress the fact that none of this can happen without our pioneering funding model – the generous financial support of parents, charitable foundations and business.
We raised c. £400,000 for the school last year but the requirement for funding is permanent and growing so we need as many people donating as possible. We are also always open to fundraising ideas and particularly, introductions to other potential sources of funding (businesses, philanthropists, institutions etc.) so please get in touch with me or Julian Thomas (j.thomas@fulhamboysschool.org.uk) and we would be delighted to discuss them with you.
For anyone who can afford it, we ask for a monthly donation of £125 per boy per month. Many parents choose to donate more, to cover the cost of boys whose families cannot afford to give, but any and every donation is welcome. Everything is treated completely confidentially.
If you need to set up a regular donation, please follow the link to our donations page or email or Mark Harris (m.harris@fulhamboysschool.org.uk) to adjust an existing donation. You can also make a one-off donation.
I look forward to supporting the continuing success of FBS, and I invite you all to play your part.
Brendan Gilmore
Chair – The Fulham Boys School Foundation
b.gilmore@fulhamboysschool.org.uk
From The Friends of FBS
We hope everyone had a great summer. Please see our first post of the year below.
A reminder to those who may not know about The Friends of FBS; all parents and carers of current pupils of The Fulham Boys School are automatically members of the Friends of Fulham Boys School. We would love every one of you to get involved, at whatever level suits you. It’s massive fun to join in with our FBS community, and it’s another thing that helps to make our school “more than just a school”. If you would like to be involved with The Friends of FBS, please email friends@fulhamboysschool.org.
Please see some dates for the diary below
The position of Chair or Co-Chair of Friends is up for grabs. After a fun year in the role, Millie and Lynn have to step down as both are now back in full time work. There will be a transition period for the new Chair which will include support in running the Christmas fair. There is also a fabulous support team (including Millie and Lynn) who will continue to support this role.
Events Support
Friends are always looking for additional help with each event – The Christmas Fair, The Spring Social and The Summer Party – We need YOU.
Bar Team
Each term Friends are asked to help the school run a bar – (approx 2-3 a term) during various events from Drama Evenings to Parents Evenings, amongst others. Can you support us?
Uniform
We need help with sales and sorting – 3 sales a year.
As mentioned, if you would like to be involved with The Friends of FBS and help out in any way at all, please email friends@fulhamboysschool.org.
Many thanks,
The Friends of FBS
Meet the Tutors Evening Year 7 – 11 Follow Up
Sixth Form Information Evening – Follow Up
Thank you to all parents that attended the recent sixth form information evening that took place this past Wednesday. Hopefully the evening was helpful in providing an initial overview of the sixth form set up. Please see the sixth form information slides here if you would like to view the slides that were shown during the evening.
Annual Awards Evening – Tuesday 19th September (Guest Speaker Announced!)
Enrichment Choices
BRIK Estate Agents – Estate Agent Board Campaign
Sports Afternoons
Sports Afternoons
Sports Afternoons
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Headmaster’s Detentions
Sports Afternoons
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Year 11 Mock Exams
Sports Afternoons
Silver Duke of Edinburgh
Sixth Form Information Evening – Follow Up
Please see the sixth form information slides here if you would like to view the slides that were shown during the evening, particularly if your son is new to Year 12.
Year 13 Mock Exams
Please see this Year 13 Mock Exam Timetable document in preparation for the Year 13 Mock Exams that begin next week on Monday 18th September, finishing on Monday 25th September.
Students are not expected to be in school over the exam period unless they study the following subjects: BTEC Sport, Digital iMedia. Exams start at 8:30am and so students must be in school by 8:25am at the latest. Students and parents are to treat these exam weeks as if it is the summer examinations and so must send in a GP appointment/ sick note for each day a student misses an exam. Students may not be able to sit the exam on another day and this may impact their UCAS predicted grades. If you have any further questions please email: exams@fulhamboysschool.
Round Up of the Week
We’ve had plenty of fixtures this week to kick start the rugby season. Many of our teams have been in action and a summary of the weeks’ results can be seen below.
- Tuesday – U13B v Emmanuel – 35-25 (WIN)
- Wednesday – First XV v Emmanuel – 75-7 ((WIN)
- Thursday – U15 A v Emmanuel – 12-48 (LOSS)
- Thursday – U15 B- v Emmanuel 27-40 (LOSS)
Well done to all boys involved in these games and good luck to our U16 team who are playing Ewell Castle School tomorrow.
Viewing Sports Fixtures and Live Updates
A reminder to keep an eye on our Sports website (SOCS) for future fixtures and live updates. Here you will see our Sports Calendar, Team Sheets, details of fixtures (meet/kick-off times, pick up/return times, maps) further information and ‘live’ updates. Please note, whilst we expect all scheduled fixtures to go ahead, they are subject to last minute cancellation, change of venue and/or time. SOCS is a ‘live’ website so all current information will be reflected there. Click this link for further tips on using SOCS
Team Sheets are normally published 2 days before a fixture. All selected boys in Year 7, 8 and 9, and their parents, will receive an email confirmation of the fixture.
For Year 10, 11 and 1st team fixtures, only the players will receive an email reminder about fixtures. (NB Where the fixture is on a Saturday parents will be also be emailed, to ensure maximum turnout).
Spanish Trip Leaving Time Reminder
A reminder to parents of boys that are on the upcoming Spanish trip for Year 8 – 10; boys need to be at school no later than 12:30am on Thursday 21st September ready for departure. Please email Miss Hoskin (l.hoskin@fulhamboysschool.org.uk) if you were to have any further questions regarding the trip. Slides from the information evening were sent out to parents of boys on the trip on Tuesday 12th September. Please also see these for further information.
Music Lesson Opportunities at The Fulham Boys School
There are a variety of instrument lessons that take place at the school during the week. A choice of the instruments that are on offer can be found by viewing this document. If your son would be interested in participating in lessons for a particular instrument, please contact Mrs Howes (j.howes@fulhamboysschool.org.uk) or Mr Chawla (r.chawla@fulhamboysschool.org,uk). Alternatively, boys are also welcome to speak to either Mrs Howes or Mr Chawla during school and the necessary information can then be provided from there.
LAMDA Sessions at The Fulham Boys School
Please see this brief note from Rachel Knowles, who is our LAMDA teacher at the school. LAMDA encompasses many aspects of performance as well as many other fundamental aspects of drama. If your son may be interested in participating in LAMDA, please contact Rachel for more information. rachel-k@live.co.uk
The Fulham Boys School Room Sponsorship Scheme
Would your company like to increase its exposure whilst also helping to raise the standard of education for every student at the school? Take a look at our new room sponsorship scheme.
| Monday 18th September |
Year 11 Mock Exams Begin Year 13 Mock Exams Begin |
| Tuesday 19th September | Awards Evening (Drinks and Canapes from 6:30pm) |
| Thursday 21st September | Spanish Trip to Barcelona Departs (Returns Sunday 24th September) |
| Monday 25th September | Friends Welcome Drinks and AGM – 6:30pm |
| Tuesday 26th September | DofE Onboarding Bronze – DofE Awards |
| Friday 29th September | Staff INSET Day (No School for Students) |
