Mock exams
Over the past two weeks, our school has been quietly buzzing with a particular kind of energy — the focused, determined, slightly nervous but deeply impressive atmosphere that comes with mock examinations
Mocks are never easy. They demand resilience, organisation, self-belief, and stamina. They ask our students to balance revision with lessons, manage pressure and motivation whilst all the time being acutely aware that, at this stage, it is about doing their best. What we have seen over the last fortnight is a cohort of young people rising to that challenge with maturity and purpose.
For many, these mocks have been a learning experience rather than a perfect performance — and that is exactly the point. Growth comes from reflecting honestly, identifying gaps in knowledge, and responding positively to feedback. Our students understand this and know very well that the feedback they will receive in the coming weeks will be critical in helping them to move forward and secure grades that will allow them to flourish beyond the summer. I am hugely thankful to my staff and especially my exams team for everything they have done to look after our students every day.
Mental Health week
It is Children’s Mental Health Week next week and, as you know, this is a really important area of work for our school since just before the pandemic in 2020. It was then that we made the decision to invest hugley into bringing Place2Be into school and that provision was quickly added to when we became a pilot school for the Mental Health Support Team as part of the NHS. Over the past six years we have had the equivalent of eight days per week of professional support for students, and it has been a critical part of our work over that time. Mental Health week is an important reminder to us all that how children feel is just as important as what they learn. When children feel safe, valued, and listened to, they are better able to thrive both emotionally and academically.
This year’s theme, This is My Place, explores how children experience belonging, feeling safe, included, and that they matter. At school, we are committed to creating an environment where children feel confident to share worries, celebrate successes and ask for help when they need it. A place where they feel they matter, where they belong.
Throughout the week, pupils will take part in activities that support emotional wellbeing, build resilience, and encourage open conversations about feelings. These small but meaningful moments help children develop the skills they need to manage their emotions now and in the future. Thank you to our staff, parents, and carers for working together to support our children’s mental health all year round.
Celebrating the achievements of our Year 7 & 8 students
In September we launched our drive to ensure more of our students were more informed and committed to developing themselves as both confident communicators and committed community contributors, both of which as part of our Beckfoot Trust curriculum drivers. We decided that Year 7 would concentrate on the communication aspect of their development and Year 8 would focus on the community element.
To support this initiative, we introduced pin badges so that we could recognise students who consistently demonstrate these skills through their daily choices and contributions to school life. The badges celebrate sustained excellence and make positive behaviours visible and valued.
In Year 7, students are working towards the Platinum Confident Communicators pin badge, which is awarded to those who achieve over 200 positive points. This badge recognises students who communicate with confidence and clarity, contribute positively to lessons and are willing to share ideas, ask questions, and engage respectfully with others. It also reflects how well students are settling into secondary school and finding their voice within the Beckfoot community. So far, this year, 253 Year 7 students achieved the Platinum Confident Communicators badge, which is a fantastic reflection of their confidence, engagement, and commitment so early in their Beckfoot journey.
In Year 8, the focus shifted to the Committed Community Contributor pin badge, again awarded to students who achieved over 200 positive points. This badge recognises students who consistently contribute to the wider school community through their behaviour, attitude, and actions. It celebrates those who support others, act as positive role models, and demonstrate responsibility and respect across all areas of school life. A total of 181 Year 8 students earned this badge, highlighting the strong sense of community and shared values across the year group.
We are so proud of those students who have earned their badges, but we are only halfway through the year and are sure that these numbers will continue to rise as more of our amazing young people get over that 200 positive points mark.
Sports news
A visit to the PFA headquarters: Last week 23 Sixth Form students had the opportunity to visit the offices of the Professional Footballers’ Association in Manchester. Indeed, we are the first school in the country to do so and what an experience it was. Throughout the day they had the opportunity to look around, engage in talks about the work of the PFA and opportunities to get involved in sport via this avenue as well as listen to past and present professional footballers who shared their stories and their journeys in football both playing and beyond.
Our students were amazing and impressed everyone they encountered over the course of the day. They now have project-based activities to be getting on with before they return to the PFA to present to an esteemed panel who will hear their views and their findings. It was such an incredible day, and we are so grateful to the PFA for looking after our students so well and inspiring them to believe they can do anything if they apply themselves properly and work hard.
Cricket: Mrs. Walshaw and the PE team are in the process of establishing a club school link between Bingley Congs CC and Crossflats CC to increase the level of participation in girls’ cricket both in and beyond our school. There is a rapidly growing interest in girl’s cricket and with the Women’s T20 World Cup this year, the timing could not be better. Here is a flavour of some of the things they are working on:
- Planning for Yorkshire Cricket to deliver young leaders training to 12-15 of our girls which will then allow the girls to deliver DYNAMO like sessions to Primary Schools and support a festival to be held at Bingley Congs CC
- Planning to deliver a Primary School Festival in May to be hosted at Bingley Congs CC
- Free cricket CPD to be delivered to our PE staff in March
- Young Leader sessions in April
- Planning to take the girls to Bingley Congs to use their facilities / equipment to help towards the hardball game in the summer term
- Finally, they are hoping to secure tickets to a T20 World Cup game at Headingley and take a cohort of our players along to watch the spectacle
Rugby: We have secured the services of a coach from the Bradford Bulls who comes into school to work with our girls every Tuesday and are building links to really take the game forward for them in 2026-27
Ethan signs for Preston North End: Year 11 student, Ethan, recently signed for Preston North End FC on a three-year deal. He will leave us in June at the end of his GCSE exams and begin his scholarship with Preston in June/July until 2028. He will then progress to the senior ranks of the club as a result of a one year professional contract in his third year. It is rare that three-year deals are offered to young players, but Ethan is an exceptionally talented young man, and a host of clubs were interested in his services. We are so pleased for him and, of course, immensely proud too. We wish him every success and happiness over the Pennines, and we will keep an eye on his progress in the years to come.
Family Room: Finally, following some great feedback from families, we have created a warm, friendly family room in our reception area. It was the old meeting room and is now a much more welcoming space for all and will be used to host meetings and small events going forward. We hope you will like it.
Take Care
Simon Wade – Headteacher
