Fairlands Middle School

Academy in Cheddar, Somerset, England

Fairlands Middle School

Address

Masons Way

Cheddar

Somerset

BS27 3PG

England

Coordinates| 51°16′30″N 2°46′16″W﻿ / ﻿51.2751°N 2.7712°W﻿ / 51.2751; -2.7712
Information
Type| Academy
Middle-deemed-secondary
Motto| Caring and Inspirational
Established| 1976[1]
Local authority| Somerset County Council
Trust| Wessex Learning Trust
Department for Education URN| 147825 Tables
Ofsted| Reports
Headteacher| Rebecca Bennet
Gender| Coeducational
Age| 9 to 13
Enrolment| 493[2] in 2023
Website| http://www.fairlands.somerset.sch.uk

Fairlands Middle School is a coeducational middle school with roughly 522 pupils aged between 9 and 13 in 2012,[3][4] located in Cheddar, Somerset, England. The school, which was established in 1976,[1] is a middle-deemed-secondary school, meaning that it takes pupils of secondary school age while providing both Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 education. Fairlands is part of the Cheddar Valley Community Learning Partnership,[5] a three-tier education system which comprises nine first schools, two middle schools and one secondary school.[1] Pupils enter Fairlands from first schools in Cheddar and the nearby villages of Draycott, Shipham and Axbridge. In year 9 pupils move to The Kings of Wessex Academy, also in Cheddar.

## History

[edit]

The 1976 Education Act abolished the tripartite education system of grammar and secondary modern schools in England and Wales. Up to this point, the area was served by The Kings of Wessex School secondary modern and Sexey's Grammar School in Blackford near Wedmore.[6] In 1976, the three-tier Cheddar Valley Community Learning Partnership was established, creating a system of first, middle and comprehensive upper schools in the area.[1] The Kings of Wessex School became a comprehensive, Sexey's Grammar School became Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School serving half of the Cheddar Valley,[7] and Fairlands Middle School was established to serve the other half.

In September 2010, Fairlands was one of the first two middle schools in England to be awarded specialist Technology College status.[8]

In 2011, Fairlands was twinned with School 108 in the central Russian city of Yekaterinburg,[9] as part of the BBC Olympic Dreams project.[10] Both schools will use the partnership for cultural exchange, and followed the progress of high jumper and former School 108 pupil Ivan Ukhov in the 2012 Summer Olympics.[10]

Previously a community school administered by Somerset County Council, in April 2020 Fairlands Middle School converted to academy status. The school is now sponsored by the Wessex Learning Trust.

## Academic performance

[edit]

In 2010, 68% of pupils achieved Level 4 in mathematics and English in the National Curriculum assessment for Key Stage 2.[11] This was below the national average of 73% and the Somerset County Council average of 75%,[11] and a drop on the school's achievement for the previous four years.[12] In 2009, an inspection by Ofsted rated the school as good on a four-point scale of outstanding, good, satisfactory, and poor.[5] The report praised the school's standard of education, leadership, teaching and expectations by both staff and pupils, all of which had improved since the previous inspection in 2006.[5]

## Notable pupils

[edit]

Notable pupils at the school include comedian Richard Herring,[13] whose father was headteacher at The Kings of Wessex School.

## See also

[edit]

* List of middle schools in England

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Fairlands Middle School Prospectus" (PDF). Fairlands Middle School. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
2. ^ "Fairlands Middle School". Get Information About Schools. Department for Education. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
3. ^ "Fairlands Middle School". EduBase. Department for Education. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
4. ^ "2012 inspection report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
5. ^ a b c "Fairlands Middle School". Inspection Reports. Ofsted. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
6. ^ "History of the School (Sexey's Grammar School)". Old Sexonians. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
7. ^ "Hugh Sexey's Middle School". Old Sexonians. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
8. ^ "Somerset schools are the first to gain specialist status". Cheddar Valley Gazette. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
9. ^ "Ivan's Ukhov's school – No 108, Russia". BBC Sport. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
10. ^ a b "Pupils linked with Russian high jumper's former school". Cheddar Valley Gazette. 23 December 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
11. ^ a b "Primary schools in Somerset". 2010 Education League Tables. BBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
12. ^ "Fairlands Middle School". 2009 Education League Tables. BBC News. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
13. ^ "Interview with Venue magazine". Journalism archive. Richard Herring. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Schools in Somerset1

Primary|

* Bridgwater College Academy
* Lympsham CE Academy
* Wedmore First School Academy

Middle|

* Fairlands Middle School
* Hugh Sexey CE Middle School

Secondary|

* Ansford Academy
* Backwell School
* Beechen Cliff School
* Bishop Fox's School
* Blue School
* Bridgwater College Academy
* Broadlands Academy
* Broadoak Academy
* Brymore Academy
* Bucklers Mead Academy
* Castle School
* Chew Valley School
* Chilton Trinity School
* Churchill Academy
* Clevedon School
* Court Fields School
* Crispin School
* Frome Community College
* Gordano School
* Hans Price Academy
* Haygrove School
* Hayesfield Girls' School
* Heathfield Community School
* Holyrood Academy
* Huish Episcopi Academy
* King Alfred School
* King Arthur's School
* Kings of Wessex Academy
* Kingsmead School
* Nailsea School
* Norton Hill School
* Oldfield School
* Preston School
* Priory Community School
* Ralph Allen School
* Robert Blake Science College
* St Dunstan's School
* St Gregory's RC College
* St Katherine's School
* St Mark's School
* Sexey's School
* Somervale School
* Stanchester Academy
* Taunton Academy
* Wadham School
* Wellsway School
* West Somerset College
* Westfield Academy
* Whitstone School
* Winterstoke Hundred Academy
* Worle Community School
* Writhlington School

Independent
(preparatory)|

* All Hallows Preparatory School
* Chard School
* Hazlegrove Preparatory School
* King's Hall School
* Millfield Preparatory School
* Perrott Hill Prep School

Independent
(secondary)|

* Downside School
* King Edward's School, Bath
* King's College, Taunton
* King's School, Bruton
* Kingswood School
* Millfield
* Monkton Combe School
* Prior Park College
* Queen's College, Taunton
* Royal High School, Bath
* Sidcot School
* Taunton School
* Wellington School
* Wells Cathedral School

Special|

* Newbury Manor School
* North Hill House School
* Three Ways School

Sixth form
and FE colleges|

* Bath College (FE)
* Bridgwater College
* Dillington House
* Richard Huish College
* Somerset College of Arts and Technology
* Strode College
* Weston College
* Yeovil College

Defunct|

* Bath College (public school)
* Bath Community Academy
* Bluecoat School
* Bruton School for Girls
* Chilton Cantelo School
* City of Bath Technical School
* Crewkerne Grammar School
* Ladymead Community School
* The Park School
* Ravenscroft School
* Royal School for Daughters of Officers of the Army
* The St Augustine of Canterbury School
* St Brandon's School
* Shapwick School
* Taunton Grammar School
* Yeovil Grammar School
* Yeovil School

1includes Bath & North East Somerset and North Somerset
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template