Fairfax Sixth Form
School context
Fairfax is a large secondary academy based in Sutton Coldfield.
There are over 1,600 on roll, with a large high-achieving Sixth Form. Fairfax is a mixed gender, non-secular intake, with 21% of student on roll eligible for the pupil premium and 9% currently receiving a free school meal, which are both slightly the national average. English is the first language for 95% of students, with a small number of students who do not speak English fluently. Fairfax is an inclusive school, 9% of students are classified as having Special Education Needs, 2% of students have a statement of special educational needs (SEN) or education, health and care (EHC) plan. Fairfax has a high level of stability and pupils staying in education or employment at KS4 and KS5 are both above the national average.
Students who join Fairfax Sixth Form are completing a two year course culminating in A Level examinations. In addition, we offer a number of BTEC qualifications.
Upon application, our students chose three subjects at A Level and/or BTEC that they complete by the end of Year 13 .
The closure of schools nationally during the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the learning taking place. The school continued to set lessons in accordance with the timetable and these were provided in a variety of ways online, through narrated PowerPoints, regular online marking and feedback discussions with students. In the final weeks of Year 12, the students returned to school for face-to-face lessons with the subject specialists in order to prepare for the challenges in resuming classroom teaching in September 2021.
