2 March 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am writing to update you on a few important developments and upcoming events at Erdington Academy and to thank you for your continued support as we work together to give every pupil the “Erdington Edge.” Our Academy is proud to be part of the Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust and to live by the core values of Excellence, Dedication, Ambition, Integrity and Tradition.
I want to highlight how inspired I have been by the exemplification of our Trust values, whilst it may seem obvious for an educational provider to hold such values dear, it is very easy for such organisations to become distracted or deflected from our core purpose.
For me, our values are about both the delivery of learning by our staff, but also the acquisition of learning into the Academy to further enhance all we do for students. A strong example of this is that this week we have been granted Ambassador School Status for a SSAT CPD initiative that we have been involved with for the past two years.
Reading and literacy remain a whole‑school priority to nurture confident and independent readers. As part of this focus, this year we have introduced Sparx Reader for Year 7 and 8 to develop comprehension and vocabulary, and there will be a programme of reading events, competitions and celebrations continuing throughout the year.
Please note two events coming up this week: World Book Day on 05/03/2026, when pupils will take part in creative reading activities and receive a £1.50 book voucher, and our Iftar on 05/03/26 the Academy is hosting free of charge (we are offering 100 spaces). We hope these events will bring our community together and further inspire a love of reading and mutual respect and understanding.
It has been encouraging to see how diligently the students have approached the mock exams. Between now and the GCSE exams for Year 11 and the Trust assessments in June for all other
year groups please encourage your child to plan and use revision time effectively, while also looking after their wellbeing in the run up to the exams starting in early May for Year 11. A balance of revision and rest are important for strong outcomes, as is strong attendance and a structured revision programme that continues from now until the assessments.
We continue to provide enrichment experiences (performances, visits, after school activities and cultural activities) that support classroom learning and personal development. Our programme of activities is on our website and shared with students in form time. Can I encourage you to support students in taking up these opportunities, the personal growth and advantages these give students in both college and job application cannot be underestimated. It is these types of activities that set individuals apart from the crowd.
Thank you again for your support and partnership. We are proud of the ambition our students have shown this term, and we have welcomed them back after the break, refreshed and ready for the next steps in their learning.
None of the above would be possible without committed colleagues to drive these initiatives and events forward.
Yours sincerely
Simon Mallett
Principal
