Education Newsletter - February 2024

FAIR WAYS
SCHOOL
February 2024
Welcome to the third edition of our school newsletter.
Christmas feels like a distant memory as we have been so busy at school this half term. The
students at Swanwick have had the opportunity to explore the project theme of ‘Around the
world’ which has seen students cooking different foods, visiting some interesting places and
learning some traditions and practices.
Across the whole school we are into the run up for exams and the students have been working
hard towards and recording their English speaking and listening exams, which so far have
been incredible. Students are also busy finishing off their subject syllabuses for the upcoming
exam season. As well as all of the hard work the students have been putting in, we have also
had a lot of fun developing an allotment, a new bush craft area, planning our new library and
some wonderful trips out of school. Students have also been busy applying for colleges and
attending college interviews in preparation for their next steps.
We have been so impressed with how hard students have worked this term and I wanted to
just remind you how important attendance is, so thank you for really working with us to
ensure that your child is in school every day. Missed days at school have such an impact on
their next steps and we know that you want the very best for your child, as do we.
We hope you have a good half term and we look forward to seeing your child back at school on
Wednesday 21st February at 9.15am.
Vic Adams
Head Teacher

SWANWICK
Our project theme this term has been
“Around the World” and students have been
busy! Some of the activities include: cooking
country’s traditional dishes in catering,
listening to music in different languages,
visiting museums, visiting supermarkets,
making flags in craft lessons and many more
exciting things.
AROUND
THE
WORLD
PROJECT
Trip to the fishmongers
Visit to the new italian supermarket
New Forest wildlife park

ENGLISH
In English this term students have been continuing with their creative
writing journey in the form of a diary entry from their travels from around
the world. We been learning all about descriptive writing and how two
different kinds of newspapers (broadsheet and tabloid) report on the same
piece of news.

CULTURAL CAPITAL
One student visited the Royal Victoria Country Park Military hospital and
looked at different countries were affected by the Crimean War and how
this contributed to infectious diseases at the hospital.
Two students visited Beaulieu National
Motor Museum where they had a ride
on the monorail, a trip on the bus and
had a private screening of the top gear
film!
BEAULIEU MOTOR MUSEUM
Another student visited Portchester
castle and had a walk around the
grounds.
PORTCHESTER CASTLE

SPORT
This term we have covered a range of different sports
including bouldering, gym, rifle shooting, archery, golf
and boxing. A real highlight has been the group
sessions at Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy
where students from Swanwick and Fort Wallington
have trained together showing sports leadership skills
to help and coach each other in many sessions. The
coaches have also been putting the groups through
their paces by working with each student individually
on the pads and improving overall fitness with
skipping and HIIT.
Gym
Boxing
In the gym, one student has moved onto learning the correct technique for a deadlift.
They have followed instructions well each week to be able to perform this lift safely
with excellent form throughout. They are now leading most of the session with
knowledge they have learnt since September and have a good understanding of
terms like time under tension, working to failure and isolated movements.
Archery
Rifle shooting Archery Bouldering
Another student has
built on previous
experience from
bouldering by being
able to identify a
selection of different
grips including a pinch,
edge and sloper. As
well as identifying
these grips, they can
now hold them with
the correct technique
and be able to scale
the more difficult
yellow and blue walls.

HUMANITIES
In humanities, we have begun a new project
at the school helping students to connect
with the world and in particular nature. We
have the allotment project and students are
helping to build, construct and assemble this
in time for next month when we will begin to
sow seeds.
Students have been working on
their around the world project,
planning a trip around the world
choosing destinations of places
they want to stop at,
researching local culture and
cuisine, exploring what it takes
to plan a trip and where you can
look to help you do so.
CAN YOU
NAME THESE
COUNTRIES
FLAGS?

LIGHT THE SOUTH
LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT
Swanwick School has been selected to take part in the Light the South
Lighthouse project. Light the South is a huge interactive sculpture trail
taking over Southampton and Cowes this summer.
We will receive the Lighthouse after February half term and we plan to
get to work straightaway in our art lessons by firstly planning the
proposed design of the Lighthouse and then ultimately working with
the students to get their designs onto our Lighthouse. Our Little
Lighthouse is an integral part of the trail, shining a light on your
children’s creativity and imagination.
Our Little Light, and 39 others will accompany their bigger siblings and together will create a
family-friendly trail of discovery for visitors and residents to enjoy and explore.

LIGHT THE SOUTH
LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT
One aim of the trail is to try and raise as much money as
possible for Southampton Hospitals Charity. Southampton
Hospitals Charity helps to enhance the world class care and
treatment of patients at University Hospital Southampton and
Southampton Children’s Hospital, which is the fundraising focus
for Light the South.
From 13 July 2024, 40 magnificent 2.5m tall lighthouse sculptures, which will
be designed by local artists, will be displayed through the streets and public
spaces of Southampton and Cowes.
At the end of the trail in early October, we will receive our
Lighthouse back to school where we will be able to display it
for all to see.
We look forward to updating you further
on this wonderful project in the next
couple of months.

CREATIVE ARTS
Music has been flowing throughout Swanwick
as students continue learning to play their
instruments. We have had a go at African
drumming as part of our Around the World
project, and very kindly had some percussion
instruments donated to the school which the
students have been enjoying playing.
One student likes visiting Fort Wallington’s
music room each week where he is working on
his own song, creating the music and writing
the lyrics.

ART
Students have been learning different
printing processes and connecting their work
to different styles from ‘Around the World’
To the side is an example of a Mono Print and
below are two images showing Press Print
Another student has been focussing on
improving his drawing skills, and has made
fantastic progress!
Students have been experimenting with
different painting techniques using non
conventional methods to paint.

CATERING
The kitchen has been busy this term with students cooking dishes from
around the world. Students have also visited international supermarkets to
get inspiration for their meals.
Cheese & bacon turn overs
Calamari rings
Spicy beef strips
Puff pastry samosas
Chicken katsu curry

SCIENCE
In science this
term we have
been slime mould
mapping for our
therapeutic
project this term,
we pick a country
round the world
and use the mould
to map out world
wide public
transport and the
quickest most
efficient route.
We have also been learning about infectious disease and how they
spread, we used a uv liquid to replicate a sneeze.

MATHS
In maths on the nurture pathway, we have been exploring different currencies
around the world, finding out where we would get the best exchange rate for
our British pounds . We have also explored time zones, temperatures and
populations, we have discovered that Death Valley is the hottest place on earth
with an average daily temperature 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the coldest place is
the Eastern Antarctic Plateau with temperatures hovering around -137 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Our resident Bearded Dragon “Beardy” has been a little grumpy recently but one of
the students bought some new things to brighten up his vivarium. Look how happy
he is!

ICT
Students have been enjoying using the newly refurbished ICT room which
now has a dedicated gaming computer, along with a gaming chair.
PSHE
In PSHE this term we have been looking at gender identity, discussing different
genders during our identity and relationship lessons.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO SIMON LONG
WHO VERY KINDLY DONATED THIS
PIANO TO THE SCHOOL. SIMON IS A
PROFESSIONAL OPERA SINGER AND
TEACHES ONE OF OUR STUDENTS TO
SING.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH
FAIR WAYS BY
FOLLOWING US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
CAN YOU GUESS WHICH
MEMBER OF STAFF THIS IS?

FORT WALLINGTON
This year was the return of the Fair Ways staff awards, these are grouped into
sections/departments, and every employee is given the opportunity to vote for
their Team Member of the Year as well as nominate someone for the Special
Recognition Award.
At Fort Wallington Deputy Head Thomas Backaller won the site team member of
the year for the outstanding work that he puts in daily not only for the students
but also for the staff. To really highlight what an amazing job Tom does at Fort
Wallington and for Fair Ways he received the special recognition award which
was presented by Mac McHugh Chief Executive Officer and Gareth Webb
Managing Director
Here at Fort Wallington we also welcome three new members of staff Lucy H,
Lucy W and Martin have started with us in the new year quickly settling in
building brilliant relationships and getting stuck in with the students.

BOXING AWARD
Students have continued working very hard on their progress towards
the GB Boxing Awards.
SMSC
As part of SMSC - National storytelling week students have written down design ideas for
'Cheese Dreams' our new school library caravan. They will be creating book themed
decorations in the coming months within creative studies lessons. We have been looking at
different themes such as the Chinese new year, Martin Luther king and National story
telling week.

CULTURAL CAPITAL
This term has seen the students visiting a
variety of different places and taking on
new experiences as part of their Cultural
Capital lessons.

SPORT
Students in sport this half term have been
focusing more on practical sessions looking at
both individual and team sports. These sessions
are being used to support their level 1 and level 2
qualifications in sport, fitness and active leisure.

ICT

GROUP HISTORY
One student requested to look into Witchcraft and Jack the Ripper, which
finished off by looking at punishments from the past and punishments of the
present! All students have worked really well throughout group history this half
term & the fun will continue next half term!
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
In health and social care, we have been looking at grief and loss this half
term. Students have looked at different theories of grief, the impacts of
grief and loss and how somebody's beliefs, religion or culture might affect
the way that they grieve.

CHILDCARE
This half term in Childcare we have been learning about jobs in early years settings.
One of our students has created some lovely posters and a job advert to present what
they have found out about the different job roles in early years. One student has also
identified that their future career goal is to work at Fair Ways, as they felt that it
helped turn their life around, and that is what they would like to do for others.
MATHS
In maths this half term we have been looking at applying the rules of operations,
namely "BIDMAS". Can you solve the following problem?
5 + 3² x (8 + 2)
We have also been focusing on properties of shapes and formulae by calculating area
and volume of objects. Some YPs have been using maths in everyday situations like
decorating a room or building a car.
For World Braille
day on 4th
January, we
explored using
the braille dots as
a mathematical
code to solve. Can
you write your
name and birth
year using the
braille dots as a
written code?

ENGLISH
The students have currently been working towards their Functional Skills
qualifications and have been focusing on writing tasks this half term. They have
produced examples of formal writing such as a letter of complaint, as well as writing
for specific audiences.
There has been continual focus on SPaG tasks throughout the half term, to ensure
students are prepared for exams. Most lessons start with SPaG activities to ensure
this element of understanding is consistently improved.

CREATIVE ARTS
This half term we have been concentrating on creativity linked to careers, maths and
English.
GCSE students are preparing for their externally assessed assignment for GCSE and refining
their portfolio work.
Silver award students have been researching arts-based careers and have organised a visit
to the Kings Theatre to take part in a workshop with their lighting technician. They have also
been planning a group project that will help them develop leadership skills.
Bronze award students have been planning and organising creative skills share activities.
Gateway students are exploring art forms within creative industries and have started
making their own linocut designs for printmaking.

CAREERS
Another busy half term in the Careers department this half term, the focus is very much on
attending College interviews, if this is the route the student wishes to take when they move
on to their next steps for September 2024. These students will start their transitions to
college in the Summer term. For the other students that do not wish to further their studies
at college, we have been focusing on interview skills and preparing them for an interview as
this is a key life skill.
We have a number of students that attend a regular work experience placement once a
week. Fort Wallington have placements at Hampshire Transport Management (HTM) Bishops
Waltham, Venture Motorcycles in Totton, Fareham Dog Daycare.
Next half term some students have the opportunity to attend an Army event at Thorney
Island, where they will get a chance to experience the army life and what being part of the
British Army involves. We have a guest speaker in to discuss career pathways in the security
industry as well as working with Mitie.
We have also heard some positive news from students who left us last academic year who are
currently thriving in their new settings, with one particular student working as a grounds
keeper looking to extend this in working within farm related work.

OUTDOOR/DOFE
In Outdoor Education this term, we are very proud of a group of our students who
have managed to complete their John Muir award. This award is completed by
exploring wild areas in the local community, creating beach art, and completing
conservation activities.
Between the students and staff, the Fort Wallington
bushcraft area and mobile classroom have made
significant progress this term.

CONSTRUCTION
This term in the Construction workshop Helen set up a group lesson for the young people to
identify hazards around the workshop. They managed to spot missing guards, blocked escape
routes, dangerous step ladders to name but a few!
We have been working our way through a ‘Health & Safety Project’ this term, which
included A ‘Spot the Risks’, Hazards and fact-finding lesson. Our students made links
with real life situations including our school and workplaces.
WORKING HARD OR HARDLY WORKING?

KEY DATES -