Beyond the Classroom: Fairfield Learning Festival 2026

by Matilda Chen (Sec 1B), Beth Loh (Sec 1H), Seng Yun Hee (Sec 2B), Darryl Quah (Sec 2B), Aw Zhuo Xi (Sec 3C), Cherylynn Hao (Sec 3G), Zobel Lee (Sec 4F), and Renee Kwan (Sec 4F)

After months of lessons, assignments, and pen-and-paper assessments, the long-awaited Fairfield Learning Festival finally arrived. First introduced in 2023, the festival aims to inspire students to discover their passion for learning through meaningful experiences beyond the classroom. This year’s programme offered a refreshing change from the usual school routine, bringing learning to life through activities that were engaging, purposeful, and closely connected to the world around them.

The Secondary 1 students ended their first term in secondary school with an enriching trip to Fort Siloso, Sentosa. Blending nature and heritage, the learning journey allowed students to better understand Singapore’s wartime history, including the experiences of British and Singaporean soldiers, while also appreciating the rich biodiversity found in tropical rainforests. They also took part in a Code for Fun workshop, where they learnt basic coding skills using coding blocks to programme a micro:bit – a tiny, palm-sized microcontroller board designed to make coding and physical computing fun and easy. Beyond picking up new digital skills, students developed computational thinking, an important part of problem-solving. Overall, the Learning Festival gave the Secondary 1 students opportunities to learn, bond with their peers, and grow in confidence.

For the Secondary 2 students, the festival was a journey through heritage, technology, and community. At the National Museum of Singapore, they explored fascinating artefacts and learnt about Singapore’s transformation from a settlement into a thriving metropolis. They also participated in the AI for Fun workshop, where they created AI chatbots using Botpress and designed app interfaces using Google Stitch, applying E21CC skills such as critical, adaptive and inventive thinking. Another highlight was their visit to Margaret Drive in Queenstown, where they explored the social sustainability of housing estates and reflected on how communities change and grow over time.

The Secondary 3 students began their learning festival with a visit to the Singapore Discovery Centre, where they gained deeper insights into Singapore’s journey from the Japanese Occupation to modern nationhood. They also heard from a retired officer, who shared about the importance of national defence and the role each citizen plays in protecting the country. These experiences deepened students’ civic, global and cross-cultural literacy as they reflected on Singapore’s history, identity, and shared responsibility. The cohort then embarked on various science-related learning journeys. Some visited St John’s Island to learn about marine biology and the work of scientists at the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, while others explored the NUS Physics Demo Lab through hands-on experiments.

For the Secondary 4 students, the festival focused on future pathways and possibilities. Through interactive talks, polytechnic visits, and industry learning journeys, they explored post-secondary options and possible careers. Speakers from various industries shared insights into their professions, while visits to organisations such as the Ministry of Health and YMCA exposed students to different fields of work. To round off the experience, students attended a workshop that helped them include their learning and achievements in their portfolios. These activities strengthened their communication, collaboration and information skills as they reflected on their strengths and next steps.

With a week that blended fun, discovery, and purposeful learning, Fairfield’s Learning Festival reminded students that learning does not end in the classroom. It continues through every journey, conversation, experience, and reflection. Thanks to the combined efforts of the school, teachers, partners, and students, this year’s festival was a meaningful and memorable experience for the Fairfield community.