Reaching high for the best for your child

We are very proud to report to you that we have had a wonderful outcome to our Ofsted inspection of October 2012.

The inspectors were very impressed with everything that the school has achieved over recent years and could see the impact in terms of rising standards of achievement across the school.

Most of the teaching seen during the inspection was good, with many examples of outstanding practice. The behaviour of the children was, as always, good and inspectors remarked on how safe the children felt at school.

The leadership of the school was praised for working so hard to improve teaching and achievement - but we know it is a team effort and this positive result is something of which every single member of the school community should be proud!

Read the full report here!

On Tuesday June 12th Fairlands Cooking club welcomed 19 children and 16 adults from a local Rainbows group and church in Stevenage Old Town to a "Summer smoothie and dip evening". We had recently won a grant to buy 4 blenders and were eager to put them to use as soon as possible.

We split into 4 groups and each group prepared a healthy summer smoothie (even though we haven't seen much summer weather) and a dip after watching a demonstration. The session flew by with the sounds of blenders whizzing away and children safely chopping their fresh fruit and vegetables. The classroom we were working in smelt of strawberries, cherries, kiwis, lemon and a fairly strong whiff of garlic was in the air too! At the end of the session everyone was then able to sample some of each group's work and they all left with smiling faces and full goodie bags and cups to feast on when they got home.

We would like to pass on our thanks to Jade in Year 6 who did a fantastic job as a welcome host at the beginning and an even better job during the session helping the young children when needed. We would also like to say thanks to Mrs Glenister who was an absolute star at the end of the session helping us to clear up and return everything back to normal for the next day.

Since September 2011, approximately 8 members from each year group and lots of parents and carers have had the opportunity to attend cooking club sessions and they have all been a huge success. Cooking Club will return in the autumn term and we will be working our way through each year group again. We will be ending the academic year with a community event for the whole school and details will be announced shortly.

Having received our accreditation for the Let's Get Cooking Scheme last year, cooking club returned two weeks ago and is once again a hit with those attending after school on Wednesdays!

Eight children from Years 5 and 6 are involved in the current batch of five sessions and will be whipping up a storm in our cooking area. After only two weeks they are showing great talent with one possible future Jamie Oliver amongst the group! They have already cooked "Spicy Chicken Fajitas" which tasted fantastic and made the teachers working late very hungry with the wonderful smells! In addition to Fajitas, the children have cooked Baked Apples using seasonal fruit accompanied with a Hot Fruit Drink. The fruit filled session was another success with children enjoying their hot drinks before braving the dark, cold evening.

Over the next few weeks they will also be baking shortbread, making Christmas mincemeat and learning how to prepare a Sausage and Bean Hotpot so they can give their adults an evening off kitchen duties. At the beginning of December, the children will be showcasing their new found skills at the KS1 Christmas Performances where they will be demonstrating their safe chopping techniques along with preparing and serving shortbread and hot fruity drinks. The club members will be designing the posters to advertise their goods aswell as handling the money during the performances. All of this and washing up too - they're going to be busy!

Cooking Club will be offered to children in Years 3 and 4 at the start of the spring term 2012, to Year 2 children in the second half of spring term and to Year 1 children in the second half of the summer Term.

Sixty years ago, in January 1951, Fairlands was born!

We plan to celebrate our sixtieth birthday in style - the children will be having a 'Celebration Day' on 26th September 2011 and will be working to create a fantastic exhibition entitled 'Fairlands through the Decades'!

Then, from 2.30pm - 4.30pm on Tuesday 27th September 2011, we will be inviting former pupils, staff, governors and friends to join us for a 50's Style Tea Party. Children will be available to show our guests around the school on guided tours and visitors will also be invited to come and look around the exhibition the children have made.

We would love you to come and join us for our Tea Party! Invitations are available from the school office 01438 351053 or admin@fairlands.herts.sch.uk