The School
| Local Authority: | City of Bristol |
|---|---|
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Number of Pupils: | 983 |
| Head Teacher: | Ms C Mangham |
| Chair of Governors: | Mr Alan Palmer |
Promo Video
This promotional video was made by Fairfield students Sasha White and Wanda Beard as a BTEC media project.
Ethos and Values
The School will provide a challenging and stimulating education which responds to the needs of all students and ensures that each individual has the opportunity to achieve his/her potential.
The School will promote and celebrate its unique ethos and identity through a commitment to equal opportunities and the development of the School as a high quality learning centre for all members of its community.
The School will provide the opportunity for students to develop a sense of responsibility and strong values to assist them in becoming outstanding citizens.
We believe that all students should be courteous and prepared for learning; respect the rights of others and their surroundings and engage fully in their own learning.
Teaching and Learning
Our students' progress and achievement are at the centre of all that we do. We are committed to raising students' academic achievement to ensure they can reach their potential. We recognise and celebrate success in all areas of the school. At Fairfield High School we aim to enable students to value, enjoy, be engaged and excited by their learning.
We aim to develop students' understanding, creativity and knowledge as well as promote their emotional, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We encourage students to develop initiative, become independent learners, and take responsibility for their own learning.
When we devise our curriculum we recognise that for learning to be exciting it has to be appropriate to the needs of the students and challenging. Our students are individuals, all motivated and stimulated in different ways; our curriculum recognises this and provides students with the skills, knowledge and understanding to fulfil their true potential. We believe in ensuring that students acquire core skills early in their education so that they can use them to achieve more than they thought possible. There exists many 'pathways' and options and as students progress through the School the choice of courses and accreditation broadens.
Enrichment
We believe in offering considerable opportunities out of the classroom to enable students to enjoy their learning and potential. We offer a wide range of activities at lunchtime and after school, ranging from outstanding sports teams to GCSE support to knitting club. All students are encouraged to participate in these and also to play an important role in developing their school and the local community through the School Council. The Student Voice is valued and it is through the Council that there is consultation over important developments within the School. The School Council also works with the Fairfield Parents' Network to allocate funds raised by the parents and represents the Student Voice in city-wide consultation activities and youth parliaments.
The students are very involved in many charitable fund raising activities which reflect their understanding of the wider world community.
Achievement
By celebrating success we encourage students to work hard to achieve more than they would ever think possible. At Fairfield High School we are very proud of our students' achievements and we continue to develop our facilities and the curriculum we offer to ensure this success continues. We have embedded achievement into our culture and regularly highlight student success whether it occurs in the School or in the community.
- In September 2002 Fairfield High School was awarded Beacon status for gaining excellent results when compared with schools in a similar context and we have continued to 'add value' to the achievements of our students year on year.
- We have high student participation in a wide range of extracurricular activities.
- We can point to an excellent record of success in Physical Education competitions with high participation in School teams.
- We have well-developed programmes that encourage creativity, action and service to the School and local, national and international community.
- We have an excellent partnership with primary schools and post-16 providers which ensures students reach their potential.
- We are recognised for our excellent work with students for whom English is an additional language.
Individual Support & Care
At Fairfield we take pride in the support we give the students in our care. We are a caring and supportive community in which everyone is valued and treated with respect. We foster students' self-esteem and selfconfidence. We ensure that we have absolut equality of opportunity. We monitor student progress carefully and throughout their time at school every student receives support and guidance.
Every student has a Form Tutor and the role of the Form Tutor is extremely important. The Form Tutor, Achievement Co-ordinators/Head of Year and Achievement Managers are there to ensure that every student is working to his or her full potential in a safe and supportive environment. This team is further supported by the Learning Support Team, a team of Learning Support Assistants, Learning Mentors, School Attendance Officer,and Connexions Officers.
There is a strong induction programme in place to ensure a smooth transition between primary and secondary school. Our programme of induction includes -
- Staff visits to primary schools
- Joint workshops and projects
- Induction activities in Term 6
- New Parents' evening in June
- A guidance programme
- Year 8 students trained as peer mentors
We are also very proud to have the secondary phase of Elmfield School for the Deaf sharing our site as a school within a school. There is availability for up to 40 students who join Fairfield High School for some lessons. All Fairfield students and staff are given Deafness Awareness Training and the opportunity to learn basic British Sign Language.
Partnership with Parents/Carers
Students' success at school is only possible with the full support of parents. We aim to work in very close partnership with parents and fully appreciate the encouragement and support we receive from them. There are key channels of communication between home and school through student planners, the website and School Newsletters. There is regular reporting throughout the year and Parents' Evenings each year when parents can discuss their children's progress with individual teachers.
The Fairfield Parents' Network aims to develop more extended relationships between staff and parents, to encourage activities which support the school and advance the learning experience of the students and to offer extra financial support to the school. Any parent can become a member of the Parents' Network.
Our Behaviour Code
We believe that all students should be courteous and prepared for learning; respect the rights of others and their surroundings and engage fully in their own learning.
We expect every member of the school community to follow this code. We ensure that students understand the reasons for our Fairfield Code. We set high standards of behaviour for everyone in the school community. We aim to create a safe and supportive school environment where students can develop and thrive. Our behaviour policy promotes this. We believe uniform and appearance are important.
Wearing the correct uniform and being neat and tidy in appearance shows that students are proud to belong to Fairfield High School and have respect for themselves. High standards of dress help students focus on high standards in other areas of school life. Parents support the school by making sure their children maintain high standards of appearance.
A Specialist School in Performing and Visual Arts
We have an outstanding reputation for high quality dramatic performances and our new specialist status will enable the School to become the Arts Hub for our area of Bristol, and give students a fantastic opportunity to perform and exhibit their talents. The School is also working collaboratively with the Watershed to develop the new Diploma in Media and the Performing Arts extending opportunities further for students.
Research shows that students who regularly partake in a form of performing or visual arts are more confident, creative and have a stronger self belief which assists them in achieving their potential.