Pupils at a North Somerset Independent School are celebrating its 85th birthday this week with a special service and an original song composed by music teacher Miss Clara Jeffrey.

Fairfield School in Backwell is marking 85 years since the school first opened its doors to pupils with a ‘Founders’ Day’ celebration on 25 September 2020.

An event usually attended by parents, former pupils, Governors and friends, the birthday celebrations this year will include a virtual service led by Year 6 children and a recorded performance of the song Be As One.

Each class has recorded different sections of the song which celebrates the occasion and acknowledges the time in which it is taking place, during a worldwide pandemic.

Headmistress Lesley Barton said: “September 25th is a very special day for us as it was on this date 85 years ago that Miss Barbara Lambert founded Fairfield School, with just 8 young pupils and her colleagues, Miss French and Miss Fayle.

“We would like to hope that, if she were able to be here today, she would feel proud and happy to see the same values and ethos she created in 1935 still in place now - an ethos which prioritises tolerance, kindness, compassion and friendship.

“Miss Lambert, or Lamb as she was called, was trained by a lady called Charlotte Mason, whose philosophy towards education led to the founding of the PNEU organisation, which aims to deliver a broad and stimulating curriculum. We call our Nursery Lambs in memory of Miss Lambert.

“Although this year we can’t welcome on site any of our usual visitors, which include some of Fairfield’s first pupils and some of our more recent alumni, we know they would be here if they could, because they place such value and importance on those precious early years of their education which they spent here.

“Although a very different birthday celebration this year, we will enjoy marking the milestone nonetheless and the children will particularly enjoy performing Miss Jeffrey’s song.”

Fairfield School is an independent co-educational school for children aged 2 to 11. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 20, with many much smaller, and there is a wide range of clubs and activities, sport, music and drama to excite the interest of pupils. Fairfield’s Nursery (Lambs) caters for children aged 2-4 and offers a stimulating and vibrant curriculum.

Fairfield is historically a PNEU School, which means it is affiliated to the Parents’ National Education Union. There are PNEU schools throughout the UK and the world.

Lesley Barton continued: “A child’s enjoyment of their primary years sets the foundation for their attitude to learning throughout their lives – a negative school experience can leave them disenchanted and disaffected. Wonderful memories of primary years on the other hand leave them with a love of learning and a sense of self-worth that will stay with them throughout their lives and careers. Our children are very proud of their school and of being part of this week’s very special celebration.”

For more information about Fairfield School visit http://fairfield.school/