Latest News - 11th Sept 2026
A Great First Full Week
It has been a busy and positive first full week back at STFS, and it has been great to see students settling quickly into their routines and getting back into learning.
I have been particularly impressed with our new Year 7 students. Starting secondary school is a big step, with new teachers, new subjects, new routines and a much bigger school to navigate. They have made a fantastic start and are already becoming very much part of the STFS community.
Thank you to our older students too, who have helped to make our new Year 7s feel welcome and have set a positive example around the school.
Celebrating Our KS3 Students
On Wednesday evening, we were delighted to finally welcome students and their families to our KS3 Celebration Evening, which had originally been planned for July but unfortunately had to be postponed due to the extreme heat.
The evening gave us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of students across Years 7, 8 and 9 during the last academic year. Awards recognised not only academic achievement and progress, but also the effort, resilience and wider contribution our students make to school life.
It was fantastic to see so many students recognised and to have the opportunity to celebrate their successes together with their families. We are incredibly proud of what they achieved last year and, importantly, of the young people they are becoming.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, particularly for returning for the rearranged date, and to the staff who helped make the evening such a special celebration.
RISE to the Challenge
This week, I have met with each year group in assembly to welcome students back and talk about the year ahead.
At the heart of those assemblies were our RISE values – Resilience, Integrity, Success and Empathy – and what those values look like in practice. They are not simply words that we display around the school; they should be reflected in the choices we make, the way we treat one another and the standards we set for ourselves.
I also reinforced my expectations of students in the classroom, around the school and when they are out in our local community. In lessons, our focus is on creating classrooms where everyone can learn without disruption and where students take pride in their work and aim to achieve their best. Around school, we expect students to be calm, respectful and polite, to look after our environment and to wear their uniform with pride.
Those expectations extend beyond the school gates. When our students are wearing the STFS badge, they represent our school in the wider community, and I want them to do so with the same respect, integrity and consideration for others that we expect in school.
Every Day Matters
Attendance was another important part of my assemblies this week.
Being in school regularly really does matter. Every day and every lesson missed represents learning that is difficult to replace, and over time absence can have a significant impact on a student's progress and achievement.
Good attendance is not only about academic achievement. Being in school consistently helps students to establish routines, maintain friendships, take part in the wider life of the school and feel connected to their school community.
We know that there will, of course, be occasions when a student is genuinely too unwell to attend. However, we would ask families to support us by making excellent attendance a priority wherever possible and by arranging routine appointments outside the school day.
Taking to the Skies
Eight of our cadets had a rather different school day this week when they had the fantastic opportunity to take part in a flying day at RAF Benson.
Experiences like this give students the chance to step outside their usual routines, challenge themselves and develop their confidence, as well as providing an insight into opportunities they may not otherwise encounter.
We are very proud of the students who took part and hope they enjoyed what will undoubtedly have been a memorable experience.
This Year's School Production
Our Drama Department is delighted to announce that this year's school production will be Arden City by Timberlake Wertenbaker, a vibrant and imaginative reworking of Shakespeare's As You Like It.
Auditions will begin next week and are open to all students, whether they are experienced performers or thinking about stepping onto the stage for the first time. No preparation is needed – all audition materials and guidance will be provided on the day.
The main auditions will take place on Wednesday after school in Wynne, from 3.13pm to 4.30pm, with callbacks taking place on Thursday. Students who would like to audition should add their name to the sign-up sheet outside Bussell classroom.
School productions are always a fantastic opportunity for students to build confidence, make new friends and be part of something beyond the classroom. We are looking forward to seeing this year's production come to life and hope lots of students will get involved.
Looking Ahead
After such a positive start, our focus now is on building on it. The routines and habits established in these first few weeks can make an enormous difference to the year ahead, and I have encouraged our students to make the most of the opportunities available to them, work hard and support one another.
Thank you to families for your continued support. It has been a fantastic first full week, with plenty already to celebrate, and I look forward to another busy and successful week at STFS.
Francis Murphy
Headteacher
Subject Spotlight - PE
This week in PE we have been setting students into groups and outlining routines and expectations. Our Winter Sports programme starts next week, students will be taking part in a variety of sports including football, handball, badminton and rugby. An email has been sent out to parents sharing our Curriculum map. This will help with students knowing what sports they will be doing and what kit they should bring in.
Our Extra-Curricular programme also starts next week. If your child would like to attend a sports club, please sign them up on Arbor.
This year we are excited to introduce inter–tutor competitions. This half term it will be basketball. The event will take place in the last week of the half term and gives our students the opportunity to play against other tutor groups and earn points for their House.
Thanks to everyone's fundraising efforts last year and sponsorship from the FA, we have now purchase 4 11 aside football goals for the playing field. This will not only enhance our lessons but also improve extra-curricular opportunities in hosting ‘home games’ for the upcoming season.
GCSE PE students in Yr 10 and 11 have the option to purchase a GCSE PE t-shirt and/or revision guide which will be of great help in revising for upcoming exams. Letters to parents with further information will be sent shortly.
Finally, during our end of year assembly Brunel were crowned Sports Day Champions, well done to everyone who took part and competed.
Sports day Results:
1st Brunel = 685
2nd Peake = 683
3rd Boudica = 662
4th Mercury = 612
5th Christie = 609
6th Seacole = 484
Abi Haynes
Head of PE
School Meal Menus
The current menus are available below, showing the range of meals and options available to students over the coming weeks. Please take a look through the menus with your child so they know what will be available each day. The current menus can always be found on our website and displayed in the canteen.
Important Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026
The Government has introduced significant changes to the Free School Meals (FSM) scheme from September 2026.
The previous transitional protection arrangements have now ended. Previously, many students who became eligible for free school meals remained entitled until the end of their phase of education, even if their family's circumstances changed. This is no longer the case.
There are now two categories of free school meal entitlement:
Targeted Free School Meals – includes free school meals, Pupil Premium funding for schools and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) vouchers (where available).
Expanded Free School Meals – includes free school meals only.
To ensure every eligible student receives the correct entitlement under the new arrangements, we are asking all families to complete a new eligibility check, even if your child currently receives free school meals.
If you do not submit a new application, your child's current free school meal entitlement will end on 31 August 2026 and they will not receive free school meals from the start of the 2026–2027 academic year until a successful application has been made.
Please note:
Buckinghamshire Council will automatically review eligibility each year.
A separate application is required for each child.
If your child currently receives free school meals at their primary school, you must submit a new application when they join Sir Thomas Fremantle School.
Please complete the eligibility check using the link below to ensure your child continues to receive any support they are entitled to.
Click here to complete the Free School Meal application form.
New Arbor Parent App
We know that many parents and carers have found aspects of the current Arbor Parent App frustrating at times, and we've been pleased to hear that Arbor has announced a complete redevelopment of the app.
The new version is expected to launch in Spring 2027, with a focus on improving the overall parent experience, making it easier to access information and navigate the features that families use most.
We'll be keeping a close eye on developments over the coming months and look forward to seeing the improvements when they're released. As soon as the new app becomes available, we'll share further information and let you know if there are any new features or changes you'll need to be aware of.
We're hopeful this will make using Arbor a much smoother experience for everyone.
Raise funds when you shop online
Friends of Sir Thomas Fremantle School (FOSTFS), our PTA, have set up Easyfundraising as a simple way for families to help raise funds to support the school, at no extra cost to you.
Easyfundraising works with hundreds of well-known retailers. When you start your shopping through their website or app, the retailer donates a percentage of what you spend to FOSTFS, who then use these funds to benefit the school. You pay the same price you would normally pay.
Extra bonus for February
For a limited time, Easyfundraising is offering an additional £2 donation for every new person who signs up in February and selects Friends of Sir Thomas Fremantle School as their chosen cause. This bonus is paid on top of anything raised through shopping, making this a great time to get involved and encourage friends and family to sign up too.
Where it has the biggest impact
Easyfundraising can be used for everyday shopping, but the largest donations come from higher-value purchases. With holiday booking season underway, this is a particularly effective time to get involved.
Examples of high-value purchases include:
Holidays, flights and hotels
Insurance renewals such as home, car or travel
Mobile phone upgrades or new contracts
Laptops, tablets and other technology
Furniture, white goods or home improvement items
Broadband, TV or energy provider switches
Before you buy
If you’re about to make a purchase, please take a moment to check Easyfundraising first. It only takes a few seconds and can make a meaningful difference to the funds raised by FOSTFS for the school.
Thank you for supporting Friends of Sir Thomas Fremantle and helping to enhance opportunities for our students through such a simple action.
The services and events advertised in this newsletter are not all endorsed by the school. We are simply passing on information that may be of interest to our school community. Parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise their own discretion when considering these opportunities.
Upcoming Key Dates
Can You Help Our Preloved Uniform Shop?
As another Year 11 cohort prepares to move on to their next adventure, many families may find themselves with school uniform that is no longer needed.
We would be very grateful for any donations of clean, good-quality uniform items for our preloved uniform shop. Your donation could make a real difference to another family and help ensure that affordable uniform remains available to all students.
Donations can be dropped off at school reception at any time.
All proceeds from the Preloved Uniform Shop are reinvested directly into student-led projects and initiatives through the Student Council.
Thank you for your support.
