The Bridge – Friday 8th September

Our Weekly Newsletter Connecting School and Home

Headmaster’s Message

It was wonderful to welcome new and existing students to the school this week for the start of the new school year. I was delighted to meet our new Year 7 boys as well as some 30 external students joining Year 12 along with our existing FBS boys. It can be an anxious time for students and staff but there were many smiling faces this week in the late summer sunshine. On Thursday, we had our first whole school assembly of the year and the boys were in fine singing voice.
 
The first few weeks of term are very busy as we get used to new routines for the school year. Parents will have seen new things on their son’s timetable as well as some familiar ones. This year, the extended day offer covers – sports afternoon, co-curricular, Progress and enrichment. In Progress sessions, boys follow a principally academic curriculum which changes each half term. Sessions are assigned by the school. Enrichment sessions are aligned to traditional after school clubs and may run across year groups. Some of these will be compulsory – e.g. 1st team rugby gym session, others may be selected by boys. Co-curricular sessions are chosen by boys in Years 9-11 whereas boys in Years 7 and 8 will be allocated sessions on the timetable. Sports Afternoons this term are held at Hurlingham Park and run from 1:45 to 3:45 Monday to Friday.
 
Next Wednesday, 13th September, we have an opportunity for all parents to meet their son’s form tutors and members of the senior team. We will be running concurrent events for parents of boys in Years 7-11 and for sixth form parents. Both events start at 6pm. Please see the whole school news section for your full details. Boys are not required to attend these sessions.
 
I am delighted to announce that our special guest at our annual Awards Evening on Tuesday 19th September is the British World Champion 1500m runner Jake Wightman. Jake took gold at the world championships in Oregon in 2022, in a time of 3 minutes 29 seconds – the first British man to win a medal at this distance since 1984. Jake will help us present the awards and will also take part in a Q&A session with FBS’ very own middle distance champion, Mr Wilson. If you have not yet reserved your free tickets to the event, you can do so now via the booking form.
 
Have a pleasant weekend.

David Smith

Headmaster

From The FBS Foundation

Introducing The FBS Foundation Room Sponsorship Scheme

It is wonderful to welcome both new and old students back to FBS after what I hope has been an enjoyable summer holiday for all.

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 Fulham Boys School 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.

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. Enquiries regarding recognition on specialist rooms/areas such the dining hall and laboratories are welcomed.

Best wishes,

Julian Thomas

CEO, The Fulham Boys School Trust

j.thomas@fulhamboysschool.org.uk

Whole School News

Meet the Tutors Evening Year 7 to 11 – Wednesday 13th September

Next Wednesday, September 13th, we will be holding our Meet the Tutors evening where parents have the opportunity to meet your son’s form tutor. We will also be holding a short presentation where we will explain aspects of teaching for English, Maths and Science as well as how we set target grades for boys. The evening is aimed principally at parents of Year 7 students and those joining the school this September in other year groups. However, all parents are welcome to attend the event. The evening begins promptly at 6pm with presentations in Ray’s Hall and form tutor sessions at 6:30pm.

Sixth Form Information Evening – Wednesday 13th September

Sixth Form information will run from 6pm – 8pm on Wednesday 13th September.  Please see the Year 12 and Year 13 sections of The Bridge for further information on what the evening entails for each year group.

Annual Awards Evening – Tuesday 19th September (Guest Speaker Announced!)

We are very excited that our annual awards evening is coming up in September. This important event will be taking place on Tuesday 19th September at 7pm. This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the exceptional achievements of our young men as well as celebrate the successes of the school as a whole. There will be a small art exhibition, musical performances, a bar and canapes, a chance to meet the new staff including our new Director of Sport and our special guest speaker for the evening, Jake Wightman, who won a gold medal at the 2022 World Championships in the 1500m. 
 
Those boys who have been nominated for an award will receive an official invitation and these parents will have a reserved seat.  We would like as many of our school community to attend as possible but seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis as the capacity of our school hall is limited. If you would like to attend please complete this short Google form. We hope to see as many of you there as possible. 

Enrichment Choices

Boys in Years 7 to 11 were given the opportunity in form time this morning to choose an Enrichment session for this half-term. You can find the list of sessions here. The Sixth Form have also been informed about them. 
 
We are conscious that the Enrichment programme is brand new for everyone in the school and we will be making adaptations as we go through the year. We have also produced some Frequently Asked Questions here. 
 
If you have any further questions or any urgent changes need to be made to your son’s choices, please email Sam Brown, Deputy Headteacher (s.brown@fulhamboysschool.org.uk).

BRIK Estate Agents – Estate Agent Board Campaign

We are delighted to announce BRIK Estate Agents as our shirt sponsors for the new Rugby 1st XV kit for the 2023-24 season. Based in Parsons Green, BRIK is one of London’s fastest growing and most talked about agencies. BRIK are running a board campaign from mid-September to mid-October where they will promote their sponsorship of FBS with estate agent boards across the local area. This is where you come in! If you are a Fulham resident and would be happy for BRIK to put a estate agency board at your property for 4 weeks up to 16th October 2023, please email your details to communications@fulhamboysschool.org.uk and we will do the rest!
Year 7 News

Sports Afternoons

Sports afternoons are held at Hurlingham Park this term (Postcode: SW6 3DP). Sessions run from 1:45 to 3:45pm and boys are dismissed directly from Hurlingham Park. Boys should wear FBS red and blue PE shirts, FBS shorts and red and blue socks. Gum shields and appropriate boots are essential.

PE Kit

For timetabled PE lessons, boys need to wear their white House polo tops, FBS shorts, white socks and trainers. FBS white socks are available from Sogan’s but are not compulsory, however boys still need to wear white socks.

CAT Testing 

On Wednesday 13th September, all Year 7 students will undertake CAT tests during their co-curricular slot.
 

Year 8 News

Sports Afternoons

Sports afternoons are held at Hurlingham Park this term (Postcode: SW6 3DP). Sessions run from 1:45 to 3:45pm and boys are dismissed directly from Hurlingham Park. Boys should wear FBS red and blue PE shirts, FBS shorts and red and blue socks. Gum shields and appropriate boots are essential.
Year 9 News

Sports Afternoons

Sports afternoons are held at Hurlingham Park this term (Postcode: SW6 3DP). Sessions run from 1:45 to 3:45pm and boys are dismissed directly from Hurlingham Park. Boys should wear FBS red and blue PE shirts, FBS shorts and red and blue socks. Gum shields and appropriate boots are essential.

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

The payment for the deposit for the bronze Duke of Edinburgh programme is now on ParentPay titled ‘2023 to 2024 Year 9 Bronze’. If you haven’t already please fill out the Google form that was sent out in the original interest letter in the summer term. Boys must attend an onboarding session at 5.30pm on Tuesday the 26th September. Parents are welcome to come 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.
 
Year 10 News

Sports Afternoons

Sports afternoons are held at Hurlingham Park this term (Postcode: SW6 3DP). Sessions run from 1:45 to 3:45pm and boys are dismissed directly from Hurlingham Park. Boys should wear FBS red and blue PE shirts, FBS shorts and red and blue socks. Gum shields and appropriate boots are essential.

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

Boys who have not completed all three of their sections on edofe need to get assessor reports sorted for these so that they may be awarded their bronze DofE. For any further questions please email: sportsadmin@fulhamboysschool.org.uk. All students and the parents of boys who have completed all of the programme’s sections and had their award signed off are invited to a Duke of Edinburgh awards ceremony on Tuesday 26th September in Ray’s Hall from 7pm – 8:30pm to see boys collect their certificates.

Year 11 News

Year 11 Mock Exams

Please see this Year 11 Mock Exam Timetable document in preparation for the Year 11 Mock Exams that begin on Monday 18th September, finishing on Thursday 28th September. 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.org.uk. 

Sports Afternoons

Sports afternoons are held at Hurlingham Park this term (Postcode: SW6 3DP). Sessions run from 1:45 to 3:45pm and boys are dismissed directly from Hurlingham Park. Boys should wear FBS red and blue PE shirts, FBS shorts and red and blue socks. Gum shields and appropriate boots are essential.

Silver Duke of Edinburgh

Boys who have not completed all three of their sections on edofe need to get assessor reports sorted for these so that they may be awarded their silver DofE. Some boys who were direct entrants at the silver level may still need time to finish their remaining section. For any further questions please email: sportsadmin@fulhamboysschool.org.uk. All students and the parents of boys who have completed all of the programme’s sections and had their award signed off are invited to a Duke of Edinburgh awards ceremony on Tuesday 26th September in Ray’s Hall from 7pm – 8:30pm to see boys collect their certificates.
Year 12 News

Sixth Form Information Evening – Wednesday 13th September

On Wednesday 13th of September we have a Sixth Form information evening. The evening starts at 6pm and will end around 8pm. This evening is designed for parents of Year 12 students to get a better understanding of the FBS Sixth Form and what your son will be involved in over the next two years. It will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions to the Sixth Form Team directly.

It would be great to see as many of you there as possible. 

Year 13 News

Sixth Form Information Evening – Wednesday 13th September

On Wednesday 13th of September we have a Sixth Form information evening. The evening starts at 6pm and will end around 8pm. For Year 13 parents, this is a time if you have any further questions about UCAS applications or their Post 18 opportunities. 
 
It would be great to see as many of you there as possible. 

Year 13 Mock Exams 

Please see this Year 13 Mock Exam Timetable document in preparation for the Year 13 Mock Exams that begin 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.org.uk or v.matthews@fulhamboysschool.org.uk. If your son studies BTEC Sport or Digital iMedia but also has an exam, they are to contact Ms Matthews about having time to study for their exam.

Other Important Information

Spanish Trip Information Evening – Monday 11th September

Parents of boys on the upcoming Spanish Trip were emailed details of an information evening taking place next Monday 11th September. The evening will commence from 6pm and will take place in the Drama Studio. Please see the letter here that was sent to parents. If you are unable to attend, please contact Ms Hoskin on l.hoskin@fulhamboysschool.org.uk.

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.

Quick Dates For The Diary
Monday 11th September

Spanish Trip Information Evening – Drama Studio 6pm
Wednesday 13th September

Year 7 – 11 Meet the Tutor Evening – 6pm 

Year 12 & 13 Parent Information Evening – 6pm

Year 7 CAT Tests
Monday 18th September

Year 11 Mock Exams Begin

Year 13 Mock Exams Begin
Tuesday 19th September Awards Evening – 7pm 
Thursday 21st September Spanish Trip to Barcelona Departs (Returns Sunday 24th September)
Tuesday 26th September DofE Onboarding Bronze – DofE Awards
Friday 29th  September Staff INSET Day (No School for Students)
Useful Links

Term Dates

FBS Platforms For Parents

Sports Fixtures Calendar

Sogans Uniform Shop

Ways you can support FBS

Contact Information