The school’s ethos

We are an independent, co-educational day school for children aged from 3-11. The school is a member of the Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) and was inspected by Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in September 2006. ISI accreditation indicates that the quality of the school is regularly monitored and assessed. A summary of our ISI report is available on this website.

We aim to provide a broad, liberal education closely informed by the National Curriculum and based on Christian principles.

We encourage each child to maximise his or her potential and fully develop their individual aptitudes. We do this through creating a family ethos in which children feel happy, secure and valued. In this way, they learn to be part of a community, appreciating and understanding their own and others’ needs and strengths.

“At all ages, pupils develop outstanding spiritual, moral and social awareness.”

“The ethos of the school is one of quiet gentleness, where pupils come to work and play with a happy confidence.” (ISI report, September 2006)

Lunchtimes are a social occasion and strengthen the community feeling within the school. All of the children enjoy a hot lunch each day; food is purchased from local suppliers and freshly prepared on the premises. Fresh fruit and yoghurt are served daily as alternatives to the main dessert, vegetarian options are available daily and fresh water is freely available at all times of the day.

Our family ethos encourages enjoyable learning within a secure and purposeful working environment with firm, friendly discipline based on consideration for others.

“Relationships between teachers and pupils throughout the school are very good, so that behaviour is of a high standard, while being relaxed and friendly.” (ISI report, September 2006)

A fundamental aspect of this ethos is our commitment to small classes, often of 18, but never more than 20; every child is known by all staff, whether teaching or non-teaching.

“A hallmark of the ethos of the school is the care and concern to be seen between pupils and between teachers and pupils.” (ISI report, September 2006)

Our aim is to develop in each pupil:

• Self-esteem
• Self-worth
• Self-confidence
• Self-reliance
• Self-motivation
• Self-discipline
• An awareness of the needs and strengths of self and others
• A caring and sharing attitude to others
• Full academic potential
• Personal strengths
• A desire for the pursuit of excellence in all areas.

“Pupils learn, from an early age, the difference between right and wrong, but the teaching goes much further and instils values of kindness, consideration for others, responsibility for others and self-confidence, so that the school functions as a calm and tolerant society.”(ISI report, September 2006).

Fairfield’s motto encapsulates its ethos: I AM, I CAN, I OUGHT, I WILL.

Commitment to equal opportunities enhances the life of our School. Fairfield School is firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff are required to undertake a criminal record check via the CRB at the enhanced level and the majority of our parent volunteers are also vetted.