30th January 2026
FJS/FINS Friday Newsletter 30.01.26
One of the main learning areas that both schools are focusing on for improvement, is writing.
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30th January 2026
One of the main learning areas that both schools are focusing on for improvement, is writing.
23rd January 2026
Accelerated reader continues to raise standards. Over 18,000,000 million words read and over 2500 books read, incredible! We also have our first AR Word Millionaires of the year – Well done to Cosima & Sophie from Year6!
9th January 2026
I would like to extend a very warm welcome back to all our families after the Christmas break and wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
18th July 2025
As the year draws to a close, it has been a pleasure to sit back and reflect on not only the fantastic progress the children have made, both academically and socially but also the wonderful experiences they have had, which I hope has given them enthusiasm for learning and a positive attitude ready to transition to the next year group.
11th July 2025
Another week over already – Monday to Friday seems to go so quick at the moment. It was lovely to see all the children in their new classes on Tuesday, I am sure there were some nerves, however, there were lots of smiles and relaxed children during the day.
20th June 2025
It was lovely to see all the parents and carers at FJS over the last couple of days for the sports mornings – I am so glad we did them in the morning. We are looking forward to welcoming the new Yr3 parents (mainly our current Yr2 parents) at FJS, for a meeting on Tuesday evening. This is an opportunity to visit the site, see the rooms we will be using for Yr3 and hear a little bit of information about FJS in the hall at 5pm.
13th June 2025
As we come to the end of another lively and productive week at school, we want to share some of the recent highlights and thank you for your continued support. Our Year 4 pupils had a brilliant time at Hautbois Outdoor Activity Centre. They tackled climbing walls, bushcraft and low ropes with enthusiasm and great courage. Staff were particularly impressed with their behaviour, teamwork and bravery—what a fantastic experience for all involved!
6th June 2025
It is that time of year when parents and children start to think about who their teacher might be next year. However, this can distract on the remaining 6 ½ weeks of this year – a significant number of weeks in the whole school year. We will let you know the week before the transition day, which is Tuesday 8th July. I can, however, tell you that we have looked at the classes across the two schools and they seem quite well balanced and are working well for the vast majority of pupils. Therefore, we have decided not to remix any year groups moving into 2025/6.
23rd May 2025
Today is the end of what feels like the shortest half term ever. Hopefully you are all aware we are closed next week, and the schools will reopen on Monday 2nd June at normal times. When we return, the Y4’s will be doing their Times-Table screening check – so a bit of ‘fun’ practice over the break would be useful. In the same way, Y1 parents, please keep up the Phonics practice too.
16th May 2025
As we reach the end of a very important week, I want to take a moment to say how incredibly proud we are of our Year 6 pupils. They have shown tremendous resilience and determination throughout their SATs, tackling each paper with focus and confidence, and we couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them.
9th May 2025
Firstly, I would like to say how proud we are of the Super-Singers at FJS who went to perform at the VE Day event organised in the church gardens yesterday. It is important that this younger generation understands the significance of the end of WW2, even though it was 80 years ago. I grew up hearing stories about the war from my grandparents, but these first-hand recollections are quickly disappearing.
2nd May 2025
Firstly, a reminder that school class photos were taken this week. The children looked great, and we can't wait to share the photos with you once they are ready. We have also been lucky with some beautiful weather, and the children have made the most of it, enjoying outdoor learning activities and playtimes in the sunshine.
25th April 2025
Welcome back after the Easter break – I hope you had a good one and didn’t over- indulge in chocolate too much. This is a very short half term, with a long May Day weekend within it – it will feel strange. However, important things are happening.
4th April 2025
Thank you for this term, it has been long but has strangely flown by. The children are tired, they have given it their all and we are immensely proud of their efforts. Hopefully, the next two weeks will give everyone the opportunity to relax and unwind ready for the summer term.
28th March 2025
Five years ago, both of our schools were beginning ‘Lockdown 1’. It has been sobering this week to reflect on what both society and schools were expected to do in the pandemic. The children now in Y6 were then in Y1 and our children in Reception were either a few months old or possible born during the Lockdown.
14th March 2025
Spring is almost here, which means we are more than halfway through this school year. Staff are trying to fill gaps and support progress from nursery to Y6. However, they can’t do this alone - they need your ongoing support for your children’s learning.
28th February 2025
What an exciting week we have had this week. Reception had a visit from a ‘big red tractor’, Y1 went to the fire station and got o climb aboard an engine, Y2 went to Wells to visit the RNLI and today the second half of Y5 have gone to the racecourse to see how maths is all around us. I was very proud that we received an email from the RNLI saying how amazing the children were – knowledgeable, asking good questions, interested and very well behaved.
14th February 2025
I will keep it short and sweet for the end of half term, just a few dates for your dairy for next term at FJS. We hope you all have a great half term break. School will be open at the normal time on Monday 24th February.
11th February 2025
Next week, on Tuesday 11th February, it is once again 'Safer Internet Awareness Day' across the UK. The theme for this year is "Too good to be true?" - which has a focus around scams and disinformation online.
31st January 2025
Remember to keep reading with you children, I know finding time is tough but it makes the world of difference to us at school and more importantly, to your children’s life chances. Read over breakfast, read in the car (if you can) and try to spend ten minutes daily engaged in a book. Your children should be reading and bringing home their AR books daily.
24th January 2025
This week, it has been lovely to start to get around the schools and classrooms again. Unfortunately, I injured my back after a slip on some ice at the start of the month. It has made moving around difficult and painful, for the last two weeks - and I have been very reliant on the wonderful staff at both schools.
17th January 2025
The end of the first full week back in the learning zone. Lots of fabulous learning and behaviours. Children have been helpful around school, exhibiting wonderful manners and being ‘the best they can be’.
10th January 2025
May I wish you all a belated Happy New Year – although, as we head into mid-January already, it all seems a long time ago now!
20th December 2024
As we draw to a close for this term, I want to thank you all for your support. Not just for coming to the wonderful Christmas performances over the last week, but for getting your children to school, helping with homework and reading, and supporting the events organised by HELPS and Friends. When we work closely in partnership the impact on your children is greater.
13th December 2024
This will be the final newsletter from me for 2024. It’s been an excellent year here at FJS, we’ve had the inevitable ups and downs but also, several wonderful events to end the year on and I wanted to use this letter to say well-done and thank you
6th December 2024
What an amazing turn out on Saturday 30th November for the town’s Christmas Light ‘switch on’ and the huge number of children on the stage singing along to the Christmas songs. Thank you to parents and carers for bringing the children and supporting them.
29th November 2024
The children in year 6 have had some mock SATs practice this week and have been relaxed and dedicated. The rest of the children have also been testing and have responded admirably.
22nd November 2024
Currently the attendance percentages at both of our schools are sitting just above 95%. This is pleasing and would be judged as ‘good’ by OFSTED and the DfE. It is also slightly higher than we were achieving at this time last year.
15th November 2024
The end of another good week at FJS, they are flying by, soon the holiday season will be upon us. I’ve seen plenty of kindness, learning and creativity. Well done. On Monday, the school observed 2 minutes silence as part as part of Remembrance Day.
8th November 2024
This time of year is an exciting time. I am sure many of you went ‘trick or treating’ with your children during half term, we have just had ‘Bonfire Night’ which this year seems to be stretching over two weekends and before you know it, we will be up to our necks in Christmas – the shops already are!
24th October 2024
The end of an extremely hard and long half term. We have faced adversity as a school community, but the togetherness shown to be the ‘Best we can be’ has shone through.
11th October 2024
The end of another super week at FJS, the weeks are flying by. I’ve seen kindness, learning and a bucket load of creativity. I popped down to year 3 this week and looked at their English books. They blew me away!
4th October 2024
Following further investigations from building professionals, Synergy Multi-Academy Trust has now instructed a contractor to start remedy work on our ceilings at FJS. The work required is to remove the structurally unsafe material and repair these areas.
20th September 2024
I am pleased that the reception children and the new nursery children seem to have settled well into school life – it is amazing how quick most of them adapt.
6th September 2024
Firstly, I would like to welcome Miss Key to our Federation, she will be teaching a class in Y5 at FJS.
19th July 2024
We are very near the end of the school year, a year that has been successful for both schools. At the very start of the year, we had the positive OFSTED inspections at both schools and to end we have seen much improved outcomes.
5th July 2024
Over the last couple of weeks, we have managed to have all three sports days across both schools, on the days and times we planned them. Every event was wonderful!
28th June 2024
Another massive thank you to all who came to the sports festivals, on Thursday and Friday last week. They were so successful; the children were happy and the weather shone.
21st June 2024
We have come to that point in the summer term when everyone starts thinking about the next school year. This always presents a challenge as we still have 4 weeks, 10% of the current school year to go.
14th June 2024
The children have been brilliant this week. Accelerated Reader is thriving and we are on our way to beat last year’s totals. Keep reading folks!
7th June 2024
Two children from both Fakenham Junior and Fakenham Infant and Nursery attended the D-Day events in the town’s marketplace to read the National D-Day poem for schools.
17th May 2024
This week has seen the Y6s at FJS sitting their SATs – they have been wonderful, trying their hardest and although finding some parts tricky, they have shown good resilience.
10th May 2024
Fakenham Junior School is ready to enter the annual Fakenham ‘Duck Race’ which takes place on Sunday the 16th of June.
3rd May 2024
It is amazing how quickly time moves forward – we are now in May and already three weeks through the term.
19th April 2024
Welcome to the summer term – not that the weather has been told it should arrive!
27th March 2024
A quick letter to say ‘Thank You’ for all your ongoing support and generosity. It has been a successful term full of great moments. I wanted to share our approximate total of £400, across both schools, raised for ‘Red Nose Day’. Thank you to everyone that got involved and to Miss Marshall for organising events at school.
22nd March 2024
I hope you are all well as we head to the last few days of the second term. I don’t know where the time has gone since Christmas, although it is nice to know we are heading towards, hopefully warmer, and less wet weather (to be honest, who knows in the UK!).
15th March 2024
The end of another excellent week, a week in which we had year 3’s writing wonderful newspaper reports on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii.
8th March 2024
Such a short half term, but so much happening! This week we have celebrated World Book Day, on Thursday at FINS and Friday at FJS. Whilst dressing up is fun for most it is important that we do not lose the focus of what it is all about - books and reading.
1st March 2024
The end of a fabulous week and we find ourselves in March already! Crikey! Celebration assembly was evidence of all the amazing things going on in school this week.
16th February 2024
We will keep it short and sweet for the end of half term, just a few dates for your diary for next term – which will also be short, only 4 and a half weeks!
9th February 2024
The end of a good week, a calm and focused week in which we had a ‘Safer Internet Day’ assembly delivered expertly by Mrs Birkenhead, some fabulous writing through Biographies and great work around conversion of mathematical measurements.
2nd February 2024
Next week, on Tuesday, it is the annual ‘Safer Internet Awareness Day’ across the UK. Our schools will be highlighting this day with the children, reminding them of the core elements of being safe online and what to do if they are worried or concerned.
24th January 2024
12th January 2024
The end of another great week at school, it feels like we’ve been back for a while, the jingle bells seem an age ago.
20th December 2023
We have got to the end of this long, and at times very testing term. We have lots to be proud of, most importantly the children in our schools – but it is nice that OFSTED recognised the ‘good’ schools in our Federation.
15th December 2023
My last letter of the year, boy has it flown! I’ll keep it small and sweet like a spoonful of Christmas pudding with a dollop of custard on top!
8th December 2023
The excitement of Christmas is building – I am sure many of you have naughty elves causing chaos in your homes and lots of doors on advent calendars being opened.
1st December 2023
Tis the season to be jolly…fa la la la laa, la la la laa! So, all of a sudden December is upon us and the Christmas spirit is all go at FJS.
24th November 2023
It was wonderful to be able to share the Fakenham Infant and Nursery School OFSTED report with FINS parents last week.
17th November 2023
The children are forever astounding us with their resilience and attitude towards their learning. Our ambitious curriculum is challenging but the children are enjoying it and meeting it head on. Well done!
10th November 2023
The children and staff are continuing to work very hard, so that ‘together we can - be the best we can be’. Just before half term, the staff at FINS (and some from FJS) had a day refreshing our Read Write Inc.
3rd November 2023
It has been a lovely first week back at FJS, even though the weather would disagree! The children have really stepped up and made a real effort to be ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’.
1st November 2023
This consultation will run from 1st November 2023 until 13th December 2023 (6 weeks).
19th October 2023
Amazingly, we have come to the end of the first half term of the year – it has been a busy one! We have spent a lot of time hosting OFSTED; however, it was lovely to share the ‘good’ FJS report with parents and I look forward to sharing the report for FINS when we receive it after the break.
13th October 2023
The children are continuing to work hard, showing resilience in what they do and being polite and courteous.
29th September 2023
It is the end of September! In one breath I can’t believe that the first month of the school year is completed, however, considering the intense start to the term at both schools, I also can’t believe it is only the end of September.
22nd September 2023
My first letter of the new term, and what a wonderful and intense start it has been! Of course, we had OFSTED visit us last week, but the real news this week is how the children at FJS have continued in the same manner as when the inspectors were in.
15th September 2023
It has been a big week for the Junior School. We hosted our visitors from OFSTED on Wednesday and Thursday so they could check we are being ‘the best we can be’.
8th September 2023
Firstly, welcome back – it was great to see lots of you yesterday and the vast majority of children. I do hope you had a good summer although, despite the hot weather this week, it does feel like a distant memory already.
14th July 2023
Thank you for coming to our lovely school this week for our Learning Reviews evenings and Year 6 Open Classroom event. It was fantastic to see you all, and to see your children showing off their learning.