Our Weekly Newsletter Connecting School and Home
Headmaster’s Message
This week we held our annual awards evening where we celebrated success in academic subjects sport and the arts. Our special guest was World 1500 metres champion, Jake Wightman who presented the awards and took part in a Q&A session with our own middle distance athlete, Mr Wilson. Jake talked about his journey into athletics, the sacrifices needed to compete at the highest level and what it is like being coached by his dad.
Our Year 11 and 13 students have been undertaking their first set of mock exams this week as they prepare for GCSEs and A Levels. There will be a final set of mocks in January before the real thing in May and June. There are surprisingly few school weeks left for these boys and every lesson and study period counts.
On Monday, Year 7 students in Dickens and Liddell House are invited to join in some team building activities during their enrichment slot – 4.10 to 5.00pm We hope that as many boys as possible will be able to attend. Boys from Brunel and Wilberforce House will be together on Monday 2nd October.
On Monday evening, 25th September, the Friends of FBS will be holding a welcome event and their annual general meeting in the dining hall at 6.30pm. The Friends of FBS do fantastic work organising events, raising funds and working with the entire parent community. We rely on volunteers to be Trustees and take the lead in making things happen. There are committee vacancies to be filled on Monday so if you are able to donate your time to the school, please do get in touch friends@fulhamboysschool.org.
Next Thursday we have our open evening for new joiners in September 2024. On these evenings we ask some of our boys to be ambassadors for the school in departments as well as official tour guides for the evening and we will be sending out permission requests to parents so please keep a lookout.
Don’t forget that next Friday, 29th September is a staff training day and school is closed to students who can enjoy a well earned rest.
Wishing you a pleasant weekend.
David Smith
Headmaster
From The FBS Foundation
The FBS Foundation Room Sponsorship Scheme
Just a reminder that The FBS Foundation is starting the academic year with a new and exciting opportunity for companies to increase their exposure whilst providing the crucial additional funds needed by the school to provide an outstanding education for every student.
FBS invites companies to make a donation to the FBS Foundation and in return the school will recognise that generosity through the naming of a room. Along with a plaque outside the room (see photo), companies taking part in this scheme will be further recognised on the school’s sponsorship board (see photo) located prominently in the entrance hall.
Donations to the FBS Foundation (registered charity number 1197150) are tax deductible.
Every penny donated to The Fulham Boys School Foundation goes directly to the school for educational improvement.
If you, or someone you know, is associated with a company which might like to get involved, please contact me at j.thomas@fulhamboysschool.org.uk
Room signs are professionally printed onto hard-wearing perspex. Minimum donation for company recognition is £1000 p.a. for three years.
Recognition on specialist rooms/areas such the canteen and laboratories can be discussed.
Best wishes,
Julian Thomas
CEO, The Fulham Boys School Trust
j.thomas@fulhamboysschool.org.uk
From The Friends of FBS
A reminder that The Friends Welcome drinks and AGM will take place in the FBS Dining Hall next Monday 25th September at 6:30pm. 2023-2024 planning will be discussed and there will also be a uniform sale if we have enough stock.
A brief reminder below on some of the points from last week’s entry.
Save The Date
FBS Christmas Fair on Saturday 2nd December
Other Important News
Friends Roles Vacancy
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
School Reception
Our school reception is a very busy environment and we ask that parents please avoid coming to the school reception unless you have a pre-arranged appointment with a member of staff, you are collecting your son during the school day for an appointment or there is an emergency. Our Heads of House and Form Tutors are also teachers so are not able to come to reception to speak to parents unless pre-arranged.
Our reception staff are unable to hand deliver forgotten PE kits or equipment, or pass on phone messages to students. If you do have a message to pass on to your son please email info@fulhamboysschool.org.uk and this message will then be sent to your son, or alternatively you can email your son on his school email address.
If you need to contact school with regards to your son’s education or welfare please do so by email to your son’s subject teacher or form tutor in the first instance. A full staff list is available on the school website.
If you are reporting an absence, please email absence@fulhamboysschool.org.
If you have any queries with regards to lost property please email info@fulhamboysschool.org.uk.
Pick Up/Drop Off Road Safety
Parents are requested not to drop off or pick up their sons by stopping in Heckfield Place outside the school gates. Both sides of the road have double yellow lines for safety reasons to protect all of our boys arriving at or leaving school. If you do need to come to school by car, please drop off your son in a nearby street such as Darlan Road opposite the fire station.
School Lunch Payments
School lunch charges are billed weekly to your ParentPay account. The weekly cost is £16.50. Please ensure that your son’s account is kept in credit to avoid the need for debt reminders. There is an ‘auto top up’ function in ParentPay which or you can set up an alert via email when there is a low balance enabling you to add funds. If you believe that you are entitled to Free School Meals, you can check your eligibility online – free school meals application – it takes a few minutes to complete.
Awards Evening Photos
If your son was presented with an award at the recent Awards Evening and you would like to have a copy of the photos he had with Jake Wightman and Mr Smith, please email communications@fulhamboysschool.org.uk to receive these. Please state your son’s name in the email.
Opening Evening – Thursday 28th September/INSET Day – Friday 29th September
Next Thursday 28th September, it is our Open Evening. There will be no enrichment or detentions on this day for boys.
Also a reminder, on Friday 29th September, there is a staff inset day. There will be no school for boys on this day.
Live Wrestling Spectacular Event – Thursday 23rd November – Save The Date!
The FBS Foundation is proud to present an evening of professional wrestling right here at FBS. Starring The Ebony Hercules, fresh from the pro wrestling circuit in the USA, plus many more. It will be an incredible evening, which includes a number of surprise appearances, so save the date now to make sure you don’t miss out.
Year 7 Enrichment Events
Please note that an email was sent to all Year 7 parents yesterday (21st September) regarding upcoming enrichment afternoon events for Year 7. Please see the content from the email below.
“We are planning to run some team-building events for Year 7 over the course of the academic year. We are aware that moving to secondary school is a big step for them and, in response to feedback from previous years, will be running some fun events (with an enterprising element) to help them get to know other boys in their year who are not necessarily in their form or class.
These sessions will take place during the Enrichment slot (16:10-17:00), and will be for two houses at a time. The first event will be on Monday 25th September for boys in Dickens and Liddell and the second will be on Monday 2nd October and will be for boys in Brunel and Wilberforce.
We strongly encourage all Year 7 boys to attend on the days that are relevant for their house. They should meet at Room 127 at 16:10. If they normally do another Enrichment session on a Monday they should miss this.”
If you have any questions regarding any of the above, please email Miss Northway (Head of Wilberforce House) on e.northway@fulhamboysschool.org.uk.
Year 7 Lucid Tests – Monday 9th October
Year 7 will be tested to screen for Specific Learning Difficulties on Monday 9th October during period 8. The test is online so please ensure your son has his chromebook charger and headphones with him on this day. This test will take approximately an hour and will start at 3.30pm, so expect your son to finish school at 4.30pm, unless they have an enrichment session until 5pm.
Year 7 Headmaster’s Coffee Morning – Wednesday 11th October 9am
The Year 7 Headmaster’s Coffee morning will take place on Wednesday 11th October, starting at 9am. This is a chance for Year 7 parents to join Mr Smith and raise any questions or queries regarding the school. Refreshments will be provided during the morning. If you would like to register, please complete this Headmaster’s Coffee Morning Google form.
Lads and Dads – Rugby World Cup Edition – Wednesday 18th October 6pm Start
We are excited to host our first Lads and Dads Evening of the year on Wednesday 18th October. Lads and Dads is an opportunity for boys to engage in fun activities with a male role model, be that a father, older brother, grandparent or any other family member or friend. Following the success of our Guinness World Records, Where’s Wally and Taskmaster events from last year, our first event this year will be based on the current Rugby World Cup. Absolutely no rugby knowledge or expertise is necessary! The evening will run from 6-8 pm, with refreshments served at the start. Boys are welcome to remain in the Library after school. Please register for this event via ParentPay.
Lads and Dads – Rugby World Cup Edition – Wednesday 18th October 6pm Start
We are excited to host our first Lads and Dads Evening of the year on Wednesday 18th October. Lads and Dads is an opportunity for boys to engage in fun activities with a male role model, be that a father, older brother, grandparent or any other family member or friend. Following the success of our Guinness World Records, Where’s Wally and Taskmaster events from last year, our first event this year will be based on the current Rugby World Cup. Absolutely no rugby knowledge or expertise is necessary! The evening will run from 6-8 pm, with refreshments served at the start. Boys are welcome to remain in the Library after school. Please register for this event via ParentPay.
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Parents of boys who have registered for them to undertake their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award were emailed this week (20th September) with further information. A reminder that payment for the deposit for the bronze Duke of Edinburgh programme is now on ParentPay titled ‘2023 to 2024 Year 9 Bronze’. Boys must attend an onboarding session at 5.30pm on Tuesday the 26th September. Parents are welcome to attend as well.
Headmaster’s Detentions
Due to sports afternoon on a Friday, Year 9 will not be able to attend Headmaster’s Detention after school. Therefore, any Year 9 student who receives a HM detention will sit the detention the following Monday for 1 hour and complete the extra 15 minutes on a Tuesday afternoon.
Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening – Tuesday 26th September 7pm
Parents of boys who took part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award were emailed yesterday (21st September) with details of the upcoming Awards Evening taking place next Tuesday 26th September. Welcome drinks will be served from 7pm and the awards will begin at 7:30pm.
If you and your son (and possibly more guests) are planning on attending the Awards Evening, please complete this Google form. If your son is unsure whether he has finished his award and will qualify for collection of his certificate, please ask him to email Miss Pond.
It promises to be a fantastic evening and we look forward to hopefully seeing you there.
Year 11 Mock Exams
Please see this Year 11 Mock Exam Timetable document to see the second week of timetabled Year 11 Mock Exams. Mocks finish on Thursday 28th September. A reminder that students are expected to be in school all day over the exam period. Exams start at 8:30am and so students must be in school by 8:25am at the latest. When they are not in exams, they will be in timetabled lessons. When students have finished their afternoon exams, they will be allowed to go home if students have 100% attendance throughout the exam weeks and have followed all examination behaviour expectations.
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 will not have PSHCE, Sports afternoon, co-curricular, progression or enrichment sessions in these two exam weeks. If you have any further questions please email: exams@fulhamboysschool.
Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening – Tuesday 26th September 7pm
Parents of boys who took part in the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award were emailed yesterday (21st September) with details of the upcoming Awards Evening taking place next Tuesday 26th September. Welcome drinks will be served from 7pm and the awards will begin at 7:30pm.
If you and your son (and possibly more guests) are planning on attending the Awards Evening, please complete this Google form. If your son is unsure whether he has finished his award and will qualify for collection of his certificate, please ask him to email Miss Pond.
It promises to be a fantastic evening and we look forward to hopefully seeing you there.
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Information Evening – Tuesday 3rd October 5:30pm
All Year 12 boys have today been emailed a Google form if they would like to register interest in completing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. If boys choose to register, please note there is an information evening on Tuesday 3rd October for boys to attend which they have been informed of. Parents are also welcome to attend if they wish. The meeting will run from 5:30pm – 6:30pm.
There is no news pertinent to Year 13 this week.
Viewing Sports Fixtures/Results and Live Updates
A reminder to keep an eye on our Sports website (SOCS) for future fixtures, results and live updates. Here you will see our Sports Calendar, Team Sheets, details of fixtures (meet/kick-off times, pick up/return times, maps), results, 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).
Music Lesson Opportunities at The Fulham Boys School – Orchestra and Choir Added
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.
Please note there are also opportunities for orchestra and choir rehearsals during enrichment sessions. The orchestra ad can be seen here and the choir ad can be seen here.
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
Gym Sessions + Pilates & Flexibility Sessions at The Fulham Boys School
Please see this poster which showcases sessions that a Year 9 parent is running in the school gym. If you are having trouble accessing the QR code, please also see the link here. Please contact Eric on the number given in the poster if you were to have any further questions. What is also important to note is that 10% of all money goes back to The Fulham Boys School.
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 25th September | Friends Welcome Drinks and AGM – 6:30pm |
| Tuesday 26th September | DofE Onboarding Bronze 5:30pm – DofE Awards 7pm |
| Friday 29th September | Staff INSET Day (No School for Students) |
| Tuesday 3rd October | Gold DofE Information Evening – 5:30pm |
| Wednesday 11th October | Year 7 Headmaster’s Coffee Morning – 9am |
| Thursday 12th October | Year 10 Parent Consultation (Online) |
| Wednesday 18th October | Year 7 & 8 Lads and Dads Rugby World Cup Edition – 6pm |
