Latest News - 7th November 2025
School Travel and Local Traffic
We are currently reviewing travel arrangements to and from school due to expected changes in local traffic. The opening of Winslow Station, proposed parking restrictions and new housing developments are likely to increase congestion around George Pass Avenue and Buckingham Road - ensuring safe access remains a priority.
We are asking all parents and carers to complete our School Travel Survey to help us understand how students currently travel and to support our planning.
Please complete the School Travel Survey here
Thank you for your continued cooperation.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Launches 2025-26
We’re delighted to announce the launch of this year’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programmes at Sir Thomas Fremantle School. The DofE Award is an exciting opportunity for students to build confidence, develop new skills, make friends, and take on memorable challenges that last a lifetime.
🥉 Bronze Award – Year 9
Year 9 students can now begin their DofE journey by signing up for the Bronze Award. They’ll take part in a range of activities across the Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition sections, with full support from school staff.
🥈 Silver Award – Year 10
Students who completed (or are close to completing) their Bronze Award can now progress to the Silver Award. They can begin Silver while finishing any remaining Bronze sections — but should complete these as soon as possible to remain eligible for the upcoming DofE Awards Presentation Evening on Thursday 22nd January 2026.
Full details for both programmes, including sign-up information, have been emailed to parents and carers.
Please check your inboxes and visit our DofE page on the school website for more information
https://www.sirthomasfremantle.org/dofe
If you have any specific questions, please contact dofe@sirthomasfremantle.org
2026 Leavers Hoodies - Now Available To Order!
These special hoodies are a great way for our Year 11 students to celebrate their time at Sir Thomas Fremantle School and create a lasting keepsake of their secondary school journey.
Each hoodie will feature the school logo embroidered on the front and a large leavers design on the back, including the names of all students in the year group.
Following feedback from students, there will be two opportunities to order this year:
Order 1: Place your order by Saturday 15 November 2025 for delivery week beginning Monday 15 December 2025.
Order 2: Place your order by Monday 26 January 2026 for delivery week beginning Monday 23 February 2026.
How to order: Click here to visit the online shop - choose your size and colour, and pay securely online. Optional personalisation is also available.
Friends of Sir Thomas Fremantle School (FoSTFS)
Thank you to everyone who has helped to establish the Friends of Sir Thomas Fremantle School (FoSTFS) fundraising group. This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen community links and create lasting benefits for the students of Sir Thomas Fremantle School.
At the initial meeting, attendees discussed two main areas of focus:
Grants and sponsorships - approaching organisations such as Rotary, the Freemasons, the National Lottery, HS2, Tesco, and other local or corporate sponsors.
Community events - enjoyable and inclusive activities that bring people together while raising funds for the benefit of students.
The first Annual General Meeting will take place at Sir Thomas Fremantle School on Monday 10th November 2025 at 7.30pm, when trustees will be elected and governing documents adopted.
If you would like to get involved - please complete this form: FoSTFS – Get Involved Form
Thank you so much to everyone who has already offered their time, ideas, and enthusiasm to get FoSTFS off the ground. Your support is deeply appreciated and will make a real difference to our students and school community.
Nut Free School Reminder
A reminder that our school is a nut-free environment. We have several students with severe nut allergies, and even small traces of nuts can cause a serious reaction. Please ensure that no nuts or nut products are brought into school in packed lunches, snacks, or home-baked items.
Please reinforce this message with your child and remind them to be considerate when buying snacks on the way to school.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping all our students safe.
Support Our Future Football Stars!
At STFS we’re passionate about giving our students every opportunity to shine — both in the classroom and on the pitch. But right now, our football teams are facing a big challenge: we need football goals and team kits.
Our pupils show much determination and love for the game. They are currently training without full size football goals and without the pride of pulling on a school kit. We don’t want this to be a barrier to enjoying the sport they love, developing their skills, and building the confidence that comes from being part of a team. That’s where you come in. We are reaching out to our wonderful local community for sponsorships and donations to help us purchase:
Full-size football goals
A set of school football kits for both our boys and girls teams
How you can help:
Make a donation (no matter how small, every bit helps!)
Become a sponsor and have your business logo proudly displayed on our kits
Spread the word to others who may be able to support
To get involved, please contact abi.haynes@sirthomasfremantle.org or visit our gofundme page to make a donation
Thank you for helping us invest in the next generation — both on and off the pitch!
Contacting the Right Person – Help Us Help You Faster!
We know how important it is for parents and carers to get timely responses to queries and concerns. While our main office inbox is always monitored and messages will be passed on, contacting the relevant staff member directly can often lead to a quicker response.
To make things easier:
🔹 Check our guide on who to contact depending on your concern:
👉 Who to Talk to If You Have a Concern
🔹 Find staff email addresses in our Staff Directory:
👉 Staff Directory
🔹 Reporting a Student Absence?
Please email absence@sirthomasfremantle.org directly.
We recommend saving this address in your contacts to make reporting quick and easy.
A quick reminder: our teaching staff spend their days in the classroom with students, so they may not be able to respond to emails immediately. We have a 48-hour response policy and aim to reply to all enquiries within this timeframe - though it’s often much quicker.
Thank you for helping us streamline communication — it really does make a difference.
Uniform Donations Required
Stock levels in our Preloved Uniform Shop is a little bit low at the moment, so please think of us if you’re having a clear out and have items of uniform that your child has outgrown.
Any donations will be gratefully received at the school reception.
All proceeds go directly to the students via the Student Council.
Canteen Menu for week beginning 10th November
All the menus are available to view at sirthomasfremantle.org/school-meals
Lunchtime Clubs in the Butterfly Room
These sessions offer a calm, welcoming space for pupils to relax, socialise and take part in a range of creative and wellbeing activities. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to unwind or want to try something new with friends, there’s something for everyone. Please see the timetable below for details of what’s on each day.
PE Clubs
You can view all of our after-school clubs and book a place for your child through the Arbor Parent App. Please note that students cannot attend after-school clubs unless permission has been given via Arbor.
For lunch clubs, students should sign up directly with the club lead.
EmpowerU: Building a Healthy Mind and Future is a life skills programme supporting young people’s mental health through self-care, resilience, inclusivity, digital safety, and healthier habits.
The EmpowerU programme takes a holistic approach to youth mental health, fostering emotional intelligence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. It provides tools for well-being and healthier life choices in a safe, supportive space.
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.