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No sooner do we kick start a new school year, than the Careers Team head straight into our first events! Year 13 students will be preparing for our ‘Meet the Professionals’ afternoon in October which provides an opportunity for informal conversation with a range of visitors from all manner of backgrounds. At the other end of the spectrum, Year 7 are starting their new FAME Programme designed to open students’ and parents’ minds to the vast world of future careers. We began with our launch assembly with Career North last week and lead into our ‘Careers, Coffee and Cake’ for parents on Wednesday 18 September. Please head to the school website for details of our wider careers programme. Parents and family members can also find out how to get involved and support the events, in a professional capacity, themselves.

On Thursday 11 September, FHS was delighted to welcome the National Youth Theatre.  GCSE and A Level Drama students were treated to a fabulous performance by the NYT in the school Drama Studio. They performed ‘Lost Boys’, a play written by award-winning Formby playwright Luke Barnes, about growing up in a new northern town, exploring how where you are from and gender identity affects who you are, who you become and your mental health. The students thoroughly enjoyed this professional and powerful performance and a lucky group of Year 11 students also had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with members of the cast.

Congratulations to all FHS students who received their GCSE results this morning after a long summer break no doubt full of anticipation! There were lots of nervous faces as the envelopes were handed out but many of these were then filled with happy smiles as they read the content. As widely reported in national media the GCSE examinations have increased significantly in rigour over recent years and this year was no exception. We are delighted that our students have worked hard and risen to that challenge with great energy and determination.

The hard work that students put in over the last two years has certainly paid off with 84% of all GCSEs being grade 4 (old grade C) or above. 16 students successfully achieved grade 7 or above (old A/A* grades) in at least eight subjects with eight students having the accolade of achieving grade 7 or above in all subjects. A welcome addition this year was the Higher Project Qualification, an independent research project that is graded according to GCSE criteria, that was introduced for the most able. The students who followed this programme achieved great success with two thirds gaining the highest grade.

Headteacher, Dominic Mackenzie, commented “I don’t think anyone should underestimate the challenge of GCSE and that the only route to success is hard work. The group of students who have received their results today are testament to this. Through diligence, engagement and commitment they have secured terrific results that will pave the way to very bright futures. Well done, one and all!”

Mrs Fiona Grieveson, Chair of Governors, said “Governors are very aware of the challenges these students have faced amidst the many national changes and they should feel extremely proud of their results this year. As always it has been a real pleasure and source of great pride to be here this morning to see the joy and relief on the faces of our students. I would also like to offer the Governors’ continued thanks to all the staff for their hard work in preparing the students so thoroughly for their examinations.”