A Reminder of Our School Expectations
This week, Mrs Elmes wrote to all parents and carers with an important reminder about our school expectations as we prepare for the new half term.
We appreciate that it was quite a detailed email, but the information is important, and we would encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read it in full if they haven't already done so.
The message covers several key areas, including:
Uniform and appearance – including blazers, footwear, hoodies, jewellery, piercings and hairstyles.
Equipment and readiness to learn – ensuring students arrive each day with everything they need, including a fully charged Laptop/Chromebook and charger.
Behaviour and learning – following instructions, showing respect and taking responsibility for choices.
Attendance and punctuality – arriving on site by 8.25am, ready for lessons to begin at 8.30am.
Healthy choices – including our expectations around snacks, fizzy drinks and energy drinks.
Toilet use during lessons – making use of breaktimes wherever possible to minimise disruption to learning.
Please do take the time to find Mrs Elmes' email and read the full information, particularly with the new half term approaching.
Our expectations are there for a reason. We want every student to feel safe, take pride in their school and be able to learn without unnecessary disruption. Consistency between home and school makes a real difference, and we appreciate your support in helping students arrive each day ready to make the most of their learning.
Digital Citizenship and Online Safety – Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Smart
If a future employer or college looked at your online profile today, what would they learn about you? It's an interesting question, and one that Mr Jones, our Head of Computing, asked students to consider during this week's assembly on digital citizenship and online safety.
For our young people, being online is simply part of everyday life. Whether it's Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp or online gaming, they're constantly communicating, sharing and making decisions, often without giving much thought to the consequences.
The assembly looked at some situations that will be very familiar to our students. What happens when someone shares a screenshot from a private group chat? Should you accept a friend request from someone you don't really know? And just because something seems funny in the moment, does that mean it's a good idea to post it?
We also explored the idea of a digital footprint and the fact that deleting something doesn't necessarily mean it's gone. Particularly for our older students, who are beginning to think about college applications, apprenticeships and employment, it's worth considering the impression their online activity might leave.
One of the key messages was that being behind a screen doesn't change our responsibility for how we treat other people. The kindness, respect and integrity we expect in school should extend to group chats, social media and gaming too.
We certainly don't want students to be frightened of the online world. There are enormous benefits to technology, and it's an important part of their lives. What we do want is for them to recognise when something isn't right, think before they act and feel confident asking for help.
We would encourage all parents and carers to be aware of what their children are doing online, the platforms they're using and who they're interacting with. Regular conversations about online behaviour, privacy and making sensible choices can really help reinforce the messages we're sharing in school and ensure that young people understand the importance of staying safe and treating others with respect.
As Mr Jones reminded students, it comes down to three things: Be Safe. Be Kind. Be Smart.
Parent Governor Election – Results
Following our recent Parent Governor election, I am delighted to announce that Martin Smith has been elected as our new Parent Governor.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, and particularly to all four candidates who put themselves forward. We were genuinely impressed by the experience, enthusiasm and commitment that each candidate could bring to our school community.
In fact, we were so impressed that we have invited the other candidates to join our Governing Board as co-opted governors, subject to the usual appointment process. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring an even wider range of skills, experience and perspectives to the Board, and it's lovely to see such enthusiasm from parents who want to contribute to the future of our school.
Our governors play an important role in supporting and challenging the school, and we look forward to welcoming Martin in his elected role and hopefully some more new faces to the Board very soon!
Year 8 – Hooked: Vaping and Nicotine Addiction
This week, our Year 8 students took part in Hooked, an engaging and thought-provoking workshop delivered by Performance in Education, exploring the realities of vaping, smoking and nicotine addiction.
Using powerful drama and relatable scenarios, the workshop challenged students to think about the influence of peer pressure, the risks associated with vaping and how decisions made in the moment can have longer-term consequences.
Developed with guidance from NHS and public health specialists, Hooked goes beyond simply telling young people about the dangers. It encourages them to question attitudes, recognise how easily habits can develop and feel more confident making informed decisions for themselves.
With vaping becoming an increasingly visible issue among young people, opportunities like this are an important part of helping our students understand the risks, challenge misconceptions and develop the confidence to make positive choices.
Astro Pitch – Back in Action!
Some fantastic news to finish the half term! Our Astro pitch repairs and renovation have been completed ahead of schedule, thanks to the team working hard throughout the weekend to get everything finished.
We're absolutely delighted to have this fantastic facility ready to welcome students back after half term, and it's wonderful to see the pitch looking so good again.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this happen, and to our students, staff and wider community for their patience whilst the work has been carried out.
And on that positive note, we've reached the end of our first half term of the school year! It's certainly been a busy few weeks, and I think everyone is ready for a well-earned break.
Please remember the messages shared in this week's online safety assembly. With students likely to be spending more time on their devices over the break, it's important to take an interest in what they're doing online and keep those conversations going at home. There's plenty of useful advice and guidance for parents on the NSPCC website.
I hope everyone has a lovely half-term break, with a chance to relax, recharge and enjoy some time together. We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday 2nd November at 8.30am, ready for another busy half term!
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.
First Inter-House Basketball Competition:
Our first Inter-House Basketball Competition was a fantastic success, with a high level of participation and enthusiasm from students across all year groups. The event provided an excellent opportunity for students to represent their houses, develop teamwork skills, and engage in healthy competition.
The standard of play was impressive throughout the competition, with students demonstrating great sportsmanship, determination, and house spirit. A special thank you goes to our Sports Ambassadors, who played a key role in the success of the event. They assisted with organisation, scoring, officiating, and encouraging participants throughout the competition, demonstrating excellent leadership and responsibility.
Overall, the event was a great celebration of participation, teamwork, and school community, and we look forward to building on its success with future inter-house competitions.
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.