High Expectations, Every Day
Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed a restful half-term break and that our students have returned refreshed and ready for another busy half term.
All year group assemblies this week have been reinforcing our school expectations and the importance of taking pride in themselves, their learning and our school community.
The assemblies covered everything from behaviour, uniform and personal appearance to punctuality, bringing the correct equipment and making positive choices throughout the school day. The message was simple: high standards matter, and every student has a responsibility to meet them.
Before half term, Mrs Elmes wrote to all parents and carers setting out these expectations in detail. It was a fairly lengthy email, but it contains important information, and I would encourage everyone to take a few minutes to revisit it now that students are back in school.
Our expectations aren't about rules for the sake of rules. They're about creating a calm, respectful and purposeful environment where every student can thrive. By reinforcing the same messages at home and in school, we can help students develop the habits, independence and sense of responsibility that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Silver DofE – Could Your Child Go Three Days Without Their Phone?
For the first time, our Silver Duke of Edinburgh students will be heading to the Peak District National Park for their expeditions next year. It's a fantastic opportunity for our Year 10 students to challenge themselves, develop independence and make memories that will last a lifetime. They don't need to have completed Bronze to take part, and the deadline to sign up is Friday 20th November.
However, something students have told us has given us cause for concern. Some are reluctant to take part simply because they won't be able to use their smartphones during the expedition.
We know how much phones and social media are part of young people's lives, but it is worrying to think that three days without a smartphone could be enough to put them off such a valuable experience. Students aren't completely cut off – each group carries a basic mobile phone for emergencies, and the expeditions are fully supported and supervised.
We would really encourage parents and carers to have a conversation with their children about this. Being able to disconnect, enjoy the company of others and embrace new experiences without a screen is an important life skill. It would be such a shame for any student to miss out on this opportunity because of their phone.
Full details, including expedition dates, costs and how to sign up, have been emailed to Year 10 families. We hope you'll encourage your child to take on the challenge – both the expedition itself and three days without their smartphone!
Admissions Consultation – Have Your Say
A reminder that our consultation on proposed changes to the school's admissions arrangements for September 2028 is now open.
The proposals include the introduction of a defined catchment area as part of our oversubscription criteria, following recommendations from Buckinghamshire Council. This would help provide greater clarity for families about how places are allocated, whilst continuing to allow families living outside the catchment area to apply for a place at STFS.
We would encourage parents, carers and members of our wider community to take a look at the proposals and share their views.
The consultation closes on Friday 27th November 2026, so there is still plenty of time to have your say.
Full details, including the proposed arrangements and information about how to respond, are available on our school website here.
Lockdown Practice – Being Prepared for the Unexpected
We often talk to our students about being prepared for the unexpected, and on Tuesday we put that into practice with a whole-school lockdown drill.
We're all familiar with fire drills, but there are other situations where the safest thing to do is to stay inside, rather than head outside. A lockdown could be needed for a variety of reasons, from an incident in the local community to a potential threat on or near the school site.
The important thing is that everyone knows what to do, can follow instructions and remain calm. Our students did exactly that on Tuesday, responding sensibly and maturely throughout.
It's one of those things we very much hope we'll never need to put into practice for real, but knowing that our students and staff are prepared is an important part of keeping our school community safe.
It's been lovely to welcome everyone back after half term, and we've certainly hit the ground running with another busy week at STFS!
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday for another busy week.
Francis Murphy
Headteacher
Year 11 – Exploring Post-16 Options
As our Year 11 students begin to consider their next steps after GCSEs, now is an important time to explore the different post-16 opportunities available to them.
With open events taking place at sixth forms, colleges and specialist providers over the coming weeks, we have put together a comprehensive guide to help students and families research their options and plan ahead.
The guide includes details of local post-16 providers, the qualifications and courses they offer, upcoming open event dates, application deadlines and useful links to websites and prospectuses.
We would encourage students to visit a range of providers, even if they already have a particular destination in mind. Open events are a great opportunity to explore the facilities, speak to staff and current students, and get a feel for where they might like to continue their education.
Please do check individual providers' websites for the latest information, as some dates are still to be confirmed and certain events may require advance booking.
We hope this guide will be a useful starting point in helping our Year 11 students make informed decisions about their next steps.
Supporting students with their next steps
Alongside these open events, we are welcoming representatives from a number of local sixth forms and colleges into STFS throughout the autumn term. They will be speaking to our Year 11 students about the opportunities available and answering questions, with opportunities for individual conversations. Visits include The Royal Latin School, Cedars Upper School, Waddesdon School, The Lord Grey Academy and Moulton College.
Our individual careers guidance meetings are ongoing, with every Year 11 student having the opportunity to meet with our external careers adviser, Karen Malone. These one-to-one meetings provide personalised, impartial advice to help students explore their interests, understand the different pathways available and make informed decisions about their future. It is important that students attend their scheduled appointments.
If you have any questions about post-16 options or careers guidance, please contact Miss Burns, our Careers and Enrichment Lead, at Molly.Burns@sirthomasfremantle.org.
Sports News
The Year 7 Basketball team were eager and fully prepared to play their first fixture of the season against Cottesloe. Unfortunately, the match had to be postponed after Cottesloe's transport experienced a breakdown, preventing the team from travelling to the game.
While it was disappointing not to get the season underway, the players showed a fantastic attitude and made the most of the session. The time was used productively to continue developing key skills, improve teamwork and work on match preparation ahead of the rearranged fixture.
The squad remains excited for the challenge ahead and is looking forward to finally getting their season started when the rescheduled game takes place. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by the players during training are excellent signs for the season ahead.
Sports Ambassadors Ready for an Exciting Year Ahead
This week, our newly appointed Sports Ambassadors came together for their first meeting to discuss plans and opportunities for the year ahead.
The ambassadors will play a key role in supporting and promoting sport across the school, helping to organise and lead a range of events including Inter-Tutor competitions, the Colour Run, Primary Sports Festivals and Sports Day.
Their enthusiasm, ideas and leadership will be invaluable in encouraging participation and creating enjoyable sporting opportunities for all students. With a busy and exciting calendar of events planned, we look forward to working closely with them and seeing the positive impact they will have throughout the year.
Have Your Say – Buckinghamshire's Education Strategy 2027–2032
Buckinghamshire Council is inviting parents, carers and the wider community to share their views on its proposed Education Places Sufficiency Strategy 2027–2032.
The strategy sets out how the Council plans to ensure there are enough school places, childcare opportunities and suitable provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Buckinghamshire over the next five years.
Your feedback will help shape future education provision in the county, ensuring it meets the needs of local families and growing communities.
The consultation is open until 13 December 2026, and parents and carers are encouraged to have their say.
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.
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.
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.
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.