Fairfield High School for Girls

Dear Headteacher and Governing Body

One of my most enjoyable duties as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector is to celebrate the success of those judged to be outstanding when they were inspected.  Please accept my warmest congratulations on achieving this very high standard of practice.

The judgement of outstanding means that you are exceptional and significant elements of your work are exemplary.  I do not underestimate the considerable hard work, expertise and commitment it takes to achieve outstanding provider status.

The full list of outstanding providers will be published on Ofsted's website in November 2013 to coincide with the launch of my Annual Report.

To help you share and promote your success, I enclose a certificate in recognition of your outstanding achievement, as well as a CD-ROM with the official Ofsted 'outstanding' logo for use on your stationery and other publicity materials.

Finally, in addition to my congratulations, my thanks for all you are doing to raise standards and improve lives.

Yours sincerely
Sir Michael Wilshaw
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector

I am delighted to share the news that Ofsted inspectors have found us to be outstanding (the top grade) in all areas. 

For further details, please see the link to the full Ofsted report under 'Standards'.

I would like to thank pupils, staff, parents and governors for their contribution to this fantastic achievement.

John Hedley - Headteacher
February 2013

Dear Mr Hedley

2012 Secondary School Performance Tables

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the excellent GCSE performance of your pupils in 2012.

There are many ways to assess school performance.  On this occasion we have looked at the performance of pupils in five GCSEs: English and Mathematics, and the pupil's three best other GCSEs.

Your results show that you are amongst the 100 top performing schools in terms of the progress that your pupils on free school meals make between Key Stage 2 results, and their GCSEs in English and Maths.  As you may know, I personally place particular importance on the role that schools can play in supporting social mobility by ensuring that all pupils, whatever their background, are successful.  Your school is exceptionally effective in educating pupils on free school meals, and I commend you for everything that you are doing in this area.

I would like to congratulate your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and success and thank you for your leadership in continuing the drive towards high standards of educational achievement.

Yours sincerely

David Laws MP
Minister of State for Schools
Department for Education

One of the best schools in Britain for improving students' results.

"A Tameside school is among the best in Britain for improving students' results.  Fairfield High School for Girls has once again topped Tameside's secondary school league table after 78% of its students got 5 or more A*-C GCSEs including Maths and English last summer.
The Droylsden School is also the best in Greater Manchester and the third best in the whole of the North West when looking at 'Value Added' scores.
This indicator looks at how students perform when they leave school against how they're expected to perform based on their results before they start.
The high score means that the girls' school is one of the best in Britain at helping its students go above and beyond expectations during their time at the school.
Headteacher John Hedley said: "The success is down to thousands of tiny things that all get added up, including the outstanding teaching that the staff at Fairfield deliver and personalising the learning to every pupil.  I also want to add that it's parents and carers for their support and the hard work of the girls.  We can improve and that's by not being complacent, working with every single pupil and tailoring the curriculum to each individual pupil".
The news of Fairfield's continuing success came as the Government released the official GCSE league tables for England.  The results show that Tameside's schools are continuing to improve with the borough GCSE average edging closer to the national average".

The Advertiser - Thursday 31st January 2013

Mr Hedley is delighted to announce that Fairfield pupils continue to make outstanding progress. 

The 2012 Value Added calculation is the best ever and shows 5 years of continuous improvement.

This year Fairfield is in the top 3% for all secondary schools in the country.

Fairfield High School for Girls has achieved the best ever results in the history of the school with 99.5% 5 or more A* - C grades and 78% 5 or more A* - C grades, including GCSE English and Mathematics.

This represents five years of continuous improvement and builds on the national success the school achieved last year.

There was also a significant jump in top grades, with a 9% increase in the percentage of girls gaining 5 or more A* and A grades.

Five girls obtained 12 top A* and A grades: Rebecca Lai, Chloe Jones, Erin Valentine, Sarah Hogan and Anna Hart.  Rebecca and Chloe achieved 10 A* grades and Erin, Sarah and Anna got 7 A*s.

Mr Hedley, Headteacher, said he was absolutely delighted with the results – not just the headline percentages, but with the outstanding progress the girls have made.  As a Year group, they arrived with attainment levels equal to the national average.  They leave with results way above the average.

Mr Hedley congratulated the girls on their achievement and thanked staff and parents for all that they had done to support them.

Mr Hedley added that he was also very proud of the school’s other achievements this year that included finishing top of Tameside’s Olympic Sports table and picking up two other awards – The Inclusion Quality Mark for supporting equal opportunity for all by valuing the learning, views, well-being and achievements of every young person and the Inspiring  IAG Gold Award for excellent work in Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.

After outstanding performances in 6 sports, Fairfield has taken first place with a points score significantly higher than all schools.

Mr Hedley congratulates all the girls who took part and the staff who supported them.

Fairfield High School for Girls commended for rapidly improving GCSE results.

Fairfield High School for Girls has received national recognition for achieving some of the fastest improving GCSE results in the country.  Fairfield High School for Girls qualified as one of the top 10% of schools in England by improving its GCSE results year-on-year from 2008 to 2011 by at least 19 percentage points overall.

Every school in the country has been ranked according to how much progress they made in improving their GCSE results in 2011 in new rankings released by SSAT - the representative body for schools.

Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said:

"Fairfield High School for Girls should be congratulated for their stunning achievement in improving their GCSE results.  Fairfield High School for Girls has proved itself to be one of the best schools in the country at improving GCSE outcomes for their students.  There is plenty that other schools could learn from Fairfield's success.  These results are testament to the commitment and hard work of the students, teachers and leadership team at Fairfield High School for Girls and a vindication of their belief in high expectations, good teaching and ambition for every young person.  Successful schools like Fairfield understand the value of data, such as these progress measures, in helping to ensure all young people perform to the very best of their ability.  The progress measures show how schools make a difference and raise achievement above expectations."

Following a rigorous assessment process, Fairfield High School for Girls has been awarded the Gold Award for Inspiring IAG.

This is the highest level Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Quality Award.

The Gold Award assessment report commented on Fairfield's highest levels of achievement, lowest percentage of NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and the highest percentage of girls going into Further Education in Tameside.

The report went on to say how the school worked hard to raise aspirations and enable girls to reach their full potential and it praised the work of the new, full-time Progression Advisor and Learning Mentors who supported vulnerable pupils.

The 2012 Year 9 Progression Evening presentation files are now available to download from the Important Information section of the Fairfield Gateway, which can be accessed via the Gateway homepage.

Dear Mr Hedley

2011 Secondary (KS4) School Performance Tables

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the excellent achievement of your pupils at Key Stage 4 as published on 26 January in the 2011 Key Stage 4 Performance Tables.

Your results show that you are amongst the 100 top performing schools based on sustained improvement in each year from 2008 to 2011.

I would like to congratulate your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and success and to thank you for your leadership in continuing the drive towards the highest standards of educational achievement.

With best wishes
Nick Gibb MP
Minister of State for Schools
Department for Education

Tameside's Top Performing Schools Revealed In This Year's League Tables - Tameside Advertiser January 2012

Tameside's top performing schools have been revealed in this year's league tables.

Once again, four schools dominated the top spots with consistently good GCSE grades year on year.

This year, the borough's top performing school across the board was Fairfield High School for Girls in Droylsden which saw 77% of its pupils leaving with 5 or more good GCSEs or equivalent qualifications including Mathematics and English.

The girls' school was also top when the 'value added' score - which illustrates the progress made by students - was taken into account, and joint top with Audenshaw School in the English Baccalaureate - where pupils must get A*-C passes in English, Maths, two Science subjects, a Modern Language, and either History or Geography.

Coming a close second behind Fairfield was St Thomas More in Denton, where 71% of its students left with the 'magic five'.

In third place was West Hill in Stalybridge with 68% followed by Audenshaw School with 67% and Mossley Hollins with 64%.

Headteacher at Fairfield, John Hedley, said: "The 77% of girls leaving with five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C, including Maths and English, is down to the outstanding efforts of the girls with the support of staff and parents.  You might say that if you've got good pupils you will get good results, but we're extremely proud of the progress the girls are making.  It's not just about raw results and the progress the girls have made is shown in the 'value added' score.  Our message has always been that anything is possible and the girls can go on to do whatever they want.  We want to push the girls to their limits and beyond and I think these results show that we're doing that."

After the best GCSE results in the history of the school, the highly successful Year 11 returned for one last time to collect their certificates and receive a wide range of awards for effort and achievement.

Guest speaker, Mrs Jayne Broddle, Corporate Responsibility Manager, for Brother UK Ltd, was an inspirational guest speaker.

After the presentations in the Church, girls, parents, governors and staff returned to the school for refreshments and conversation about the last 5 years.

Fairfield High School for Girls:
Outstanding Examination Results Yet Again!

Girls of Fairfield High School have surpassed themselves yet again by achieving the best GCSE results ever recorded in the history of the school, even better than the record breaking results last year. This year, 99% of girls matched last year’s fantastic results, gaining in excess of five GCSE grades at A*-C. The percentage of girls gaining the crucial five A*- C grades including both  English and Maths sits at an outstanding 77.3%, representing an impressive 6.3% increase on last year. There have also been outstanding results within the top grades with a 6% increase in girls with 5 or more GCSEs at A and A*.

Success at Fairfield is firmly rooted within its traditional but forward thinking ethos of learning within a caring and supportive environment. High expectation and clear, personalised learning pathways characterise the approach to study at Fairfield. All girls are treated as individuals with responsibility for their own learning and this is tracked and targeted in co-operation with their teachers. Lessons are carefully tailored to address the needs of all learners in personalised, focused class room environments using the latest resources (including ICT) to facilitate progress.

Mr. Hedley, Head teacher would like to express his congratulations to all pupils on their outstanding achievement this year and to offer his sincere thanks to all staff and parents who have worked so hard to support them. Well done to all concerned, especially our pupils!

Schools performing well are inspected less often than other schools.  This term, Her Majesty's Inspectors looked at various sources of information about us, including academic performance and attendance.  Our academic performance is outstanding and, this year, attendance is much improved.  I am particularly grateful for the support that parents and carers have provided in these areas.

The Interim Assessment of Her Majesty's Inspectors has confirmed that our high performance has been sustained and that a full inspection will be deferred until at least the summer term of 2012.

I am delighted to announce that the Secretary of State for Education has agreed to our conversion to an Academy from 1st April 2011.

We will continue to be known as Fairfield High School for Girls and will use the freedoms and flexibility that Academy status offers to consolidate and build on our current success.

Mr J R Hedley
Headteacher

The Governing Body met on 1st March 2011 to confirm our desire to convert from a Foundation School to an Academy on 1st April 2011.

We now await final confirmation from the Secretary of State for Education.

Mr J R Hedley
Headteacher

Dear Parents/Carers

Changes to the School Calendar 2010-2011

I would be grateful if you would make a note of the following:

1.     The summer term will now end on Friday 15th July 2011 (not Tuesday 19th July 2011).

2.     There will not be a Staff Training Day on Monday 4th July.  Pupils should attend school as normal.

The above arrangements are to accommodate an additional school holiday that Parliament has granted because of the Royal Wedding.

Governors also felt that by moving the Staff Training Day, pupils could finish on Friday 15th July, giving families another full week in July to take holidays.

I am sorry that I have not been able to give you these changes earlier, but we were unable to make a move until Parliament had approved the additional holiday.

Should you have any questions about the above changes, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Yours sincerely
Mr J R Hedley
Headteacher

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is delighted to recognise and celebrate Fairfield's achievement in the 2010 examinations in the following categories:

High Attainment 

• 5+ A*-C results including English and Maths.
• 2+ A*-C results in Science.
• 1+ A*-C results in Modern Foreign Languages.

Adding Value

• Outstanding value-added score.

The official consultation period is now over and I am pleased to report that no issues have been raised that might lead me to advise Governors that we should not go ahead.

In fact, I am more convinced than ever that the conversion will bring real benefits to the school and enable us to maintain and develop the best possible care, support and education for our girls.

May I thank everyone for their valuable contributions to the consultation.  When concerns were raised about a possible name change, the Governing Body was very happy to respond by making it clear that the school will continue to be known as “Fairfield High School for Girls”.

The Governing Body will meet on 1st March 2011 to make the final decision about Academy Status, with a proposed conversion date of 1st April 2011.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Mr J R Hedley
Headteacher
3rd February 2011

"Results joy....Pupils at Fairfield have achieved some of the best results in the borough".  Year 11 student Holly Armstrong is pictured with teacher Miss Bates and other Year 11 Maths students.

"Tameside's three highest achieving schools are Fairfield, Audenshaw and St Thomas More".

"99% of pupils at Fairfield left with five A* to C grades in any subject, ahead of Audenshaw's 93% and Mossley Hollins 91%".

"Fairfield Head John Hedley said: It's been down to a lot of hard work, not just from the girls but the staff who support them.  It's also about the support, care and guidance that every pupil gets".

The Advertiser - 13th January 2011

Reporter Dan Sims writes about "reaping the rewards of Academy status" after Fairfield, as a good and outstanding school, has been invited by Education Minister Michael Gove to apply.

Headteacher Mr Hedley has launched a period of consultation with interested parties, including parents.

Droylsden and East Manchester Reporter - 7th January 2011

Dear Parents/Carers

The Secretary of State for Education has invited all schools designated as ‘outstanding’ or ‘good with outstanding features’ to apply to become Academies. Fairfield has been included in this invitation.
Consequently, the situation was discussed at a meeting of the Governing Body on 6th December 2010 and a resolution to apply for academy status was passed.

The Senior Leadership Team and the Governing Body believe that Academy status can offer the school opportunities to consolidate and build on its current success as a Foundation School, providing an even better all-round experience for its pupils. Governors are keen to stress, however, that this proposed change will not alter the character and operation of Fairfield.  There will be no change to our admissions policy, the pay and conditions of staff or staffing structure. We will continue to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum designed to serve the needs of all our pupils.

The main benefit of gaining Academy status is that it will allow us to receive our funding directly from the Department for Education, giving us more freedom to allocate funds to our own priorities and to obtain best value for our money. The school will continue to work in partnership with parents and outside agencies, including partner primary schools and the post 16 establishments in order to share good practice and to smooth pupil transition from one phase to the next.

As you are aware, Fairfield is a Foundation School which means that the Governing Body owns the school’s assets and employs the staff.  The difference will be that all assets will be transferred to an Academy trust controlled and run by our current Governing Body.

We will have a period of consultation from 11th January to 25th January 2011 to give parents and other interested parties opportunities to ask questions, raise concerns and seek clarification.  This can be done in writing to me, by email to admin@fairfieldhigh.tameside.sch.uk or by telephone.  We will endeavour to reply to you all and will share questions and responses on the Gateway.

Governors and I will offer two drop in sessions for you to discuss the proposal and ask questions in person – on Thursday 13th January 2011 at 5.00pm in the Sports Hall Community Room and Tuesday 25th January 2011 at 6.00pm in the main school building.

DfE Academy information is available at www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies

Finally, I would like to thank you for your continuing support of the school and I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and a healthy and enjoyable New Year.

Yours sincerely
Mr J R Hedley
Headteacher

On 6th December 2010, the Governing Body passed a resolution to apply for Academy status.

The Senior Leadership Team and the Governing Body believe that Academy status can offer the school opportunities to consolidate and build on its current success as a Foundation School, providing an even better all-round experience for its pupils.

In January 2011, a period of consultation with interested parties will commence, when the school will explain and discuss plans, answering any questions or concerns.

A message from Mr Hedley - Headteacher

I wish to inform you of some exciting new developments within school.  We have recently bought into the 'Keep Kids Safe' communication system and we are putting the final touches to our Parent Gateway.

'Keep Kids Safe' allows our school to send important messages to you instantly via text, voice or email.  It can be used in a variety of ways, including reminding you about Parents' Evenings, informing you of emergency school closures and keeping you informed about events, trips etc.

The Parent Gateway will help you to be able to keep up to date with your daughter's progress throughout her time at Fairfield, accessing live information about attendance, attainment, behaviour and much more.

However, in order for you to be able to enjoy the benefits of these systems, we need to be certain that all your personal details are correct.  I would be grateful if you could ensure that you have checked and amended a data collection sheet.  Please let us know immediately of any changes to contact details in the future.

Thank you in advance for your support of these measures, which I believe will significantly improve home-school communication.