Fairfax Charity Week 2025 reaches hair-raising conclusion as staff brave leg waxing challenge

Fairfax Charity Week 2025: A week of fundraising at a caring Sutton Coldfield school came to a hair-raising end when male members of staff volunteered to have their legs waxed in front of hundreds of cheering students.

Every year Fairfax Academy’s four houses take part in a charity week, to raise cash for their respective adopted charities, with students running tuck shops, holding raffles and taking part in sponsored events.

But on Friday, January 24th this year’s Charity Week came to a show-stopping finale, when teaching staff took to the stage in the main hall, in front of an audience of students who had paid £1 each to watch the show.

For their £1 they got to see Heads of House Darren Campbell and Jack Bibb having their legs waxed, before they joined Martin Porter, Tom Carty and Principal Sean Castle in a ‘boy band’ to perform Five’s ‘Keep on Movin’’.

Not to be outdone, the school’s female Heads of House Haleema Ahmed, Nicola Spurrier Holly Williams and Molly Dyer  joined Head of Year 10 Syrah Ahmed-Lockley on the stage to perform the Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe’ to an excited audience.

Finally, staff members took part in a game of ‘keepy-uppy’, to see who could juggle a football for the longest, encouraged by the students.

Mr Campbell said: “My wonderful house captains decided to put me up for the leg waxing.

“They said, ‘You’re not going to say no because it’s for charity’ – and they were absolutely correct!”

Fairfax Charity Week 2025 supported four good causes

The show was a fun end to a week that has become a firm tradition at the school, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust.

Assistant Headteacher Helen Williams, who oversaw the week of events, said: “The staff events are brilliant for giving us all a good laugh – but they also show that our staff are human, and we’ll do things we find difficult!

“It’s a little nerve-wracking for our staff to do these things, but they’re showing the resilience we always encourage our students to show. We want to show that it’s ok to make a fool of yourself sometimes – we’re doing this for charity, and we’re involved just like the students are!”

Students in each house voted for the charity they wanted to support, with Coventry choosing Catherine House Hospice, Kenilworth choosing Dogs Trust, Stratford backing Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Warwick supporting Good Hope Neonatal Unit.

Mrs Williams said: “Our students have put everything into this week, and their dedication really showed in the amount they raised. We’re all so proud of how they’ve taken charge of fundraising and organised things so brilliantly.”

“Charity Week is such an important part of the Fairfax calendar, because it teaches us all so much.

“The students get a sense of fulfilment – they get to give back to the local community. The leadership skills they build, and their appreciation for the importance of giving, will be with them for life.”

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