Inspiring Futures and Celebrating Success

Opening Doors to the Future – Our Annual Careers Fair

On Thursday, we were thrilled to welcome over 40 companies and education providers into our Main Hall for our annual Careers Fair, giving students in Years 9, 10, 11 and Sixth Form, a fantastic opportunity to explore the many possibilities available to them for the future.

It was wonderful to see such a wide range of organisations represented, including Cambridge University, Lancaster University, Bradford College, Shipley College, Craven College, the RAF, the Army, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bradford City, Morrisons, Vistry Group, Produmax, PLADIS, Watson Buckle, Academy of Live Technology, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Army, Bagnalls, Morrisons, Vistry Group, STRI and so many more. and many more.

Our Careers Fair is always a popular and busy event, and this year was no exception! It was lovely to see our students engaging with visitors, asking questions, discovering new opportunities, and having meaningful conversations about the pathways open to them.

Events like this are so important in helping our students begin to think about their futures. Whether they are considering university, apprenticeships, further education or entering the world of work, meeting people from different industries helps them broaden their horizons, challenge their thinking, and make informed decisions about their next steps. Sometimes, discovering a career they had never previously considered can be the spark that inspires a whole new ambition.

The Careers Fair was also supported by the launch of preparations for our Year 10 Work Experience Week on Tuesday. Work Experience for Years 10 and 12 will take place in July 2027 and is an exciting opportunity for our students to begin thinking about the world of work, explore their interests and gain valuable insight into different careers and working environments. It can really help develop confidence, independence, and valuable skills, while making connections between learning in school and the opportunities available beyond it.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Kidd, Ms McLean, and everyone who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this event such a success. My thanks also go to all the companies and education providers who gave up their time to visit us and share their knowledge, experience, and advice with our students. Your contribution makes such a valuable difference.

It is always a pleasure to see our school community come together to support and inspire our young people. We want every student to feel confident about their future, recognise their potential and feel excited by the opportunities ahead. Our Careers Fair and the preparations for work experience are wonderful examples of how we can help make that happen. They are very much part of our Year 7 up careers award winning strategy which ensures so much is happening throughout the year to support every ambition.

A Letter from Downing Street – Well Done, Oskar!

We had a very special moment in school this week, and I am delighted to share the story of Oskar in Year 9!

A few weeks ago, Oskar decided to write to the Prime Minister to share his interest in politics, ask for advice and find out how he could become more involved. This was a wonderful example of a young person taking the initiative, following his interests and being brave enough to reach out to someone in such an important position.

Oskar never expected to receive a reply, so you can imagine his excitement when a letter arrived from Downing Street this week! The letter offered him advice and guidance, while also praising his enthusiasm and proactive approach.

Oskar came to show me the letter, and it was lovely to see the interest and excitement it generated among both staff and students. What a fantastic experience for him, and what a wonderful reminder of the importance of being curious, having the confidence to ask questions and taking those first steps towards something you feel passionate about.

We are incredibly proud of Oskar, his ambition, and the initiative he has shown. Who knows where this interest in politics might lead him in the future? I did tell him that he must remember us all when he reaches the top job — it is important!

Amey Challenge Cup Champions!

Last Thursday, Mrs Raybould took seven of our Year 9 girls to the University of Bradford to take part in the Amey Challenge Cup, and what an incredible day it turned out to be!

Our girls did an absolutely fantastic job, demonstrating their teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills and determination throughout the competition. I am delighted to share that they were crowned winners for the third consecutive year! What a remarkable achievement!

The Amey Challenge Cup is a fantastic initiative designed to inspire young female students to explore the exciting career opportunities available within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). With the aim of improving gender diversity in the engineering industry, the competition encourages girls to consider pathways they may not previously have thought about and to recognise the many different roles involved in engineering.

Working as a team, students are challenged to plan and budget a project, manage risks, and present their ideas to a judging panel. These are valuable skills that encourage creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and confidence — all of which will serve our young people well in their future studies and careers.

It is wonderful to see organisations such as Amey creating opportunities for young women to discover their potential and imagine themselves in careers where they can make a real difference. Our girls have embraced this challenge brilliantly, and winning for a third year in a row makes their success even more special!

Sporting Successes

Three Gold Medals for Ella!

We have yet another fantastic student achievement to celebrate!

Over the summer break, Ella in Year 9 represented herself brilliantly at the Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games in Birmingham, returning home with an incredible three gold medals!

The Special Olympics provides a wonderful opportunity for athletes to showcase their talents, challenge themselves and celebrate their sporting achievements. Ella’s success is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through commitment, perseverance, and a passion for what you do.

We are absolutely delighted to celebrate Ella’s success and share this wonderful news with our school community. She is an inspiration, and we hope she knows just how proud we are of her.

Our Fell Running British Champion– Congratulations, Harry!

Last weekend, Harry in Year 11 took part in the English Schools Fell Running Championships at Sedbergh School, competing against some of the most talented young athletes from across the country. Harry delivered an outstanding performance to win the Year 10/11 Boys category, achieving what has been described as the greatest triumph of his athletics career so far!

Success in sport takes commitment, resilience, and the willingness to keep pushing yourself, and Harry’s achievement is something he should be immensely proud of.

Huge congratulations Harry on this outstanding success! We are incredibly proud of you and look forward to following your athletics journey with great interest. Who knows what the next finish line will bring.

Skating Success for Ella in Cambridge.

Ella, in Year 11, continues to impress with her figure skating, a sport that demands incredible discipline, perseverance and commitment. She trains four times a week, often getting up before school and even rising at 4am on Sundays for her 5am lessons, before heading into the usual demands of school life.

In recent months, Ella has learned an entire new programme featuring some of the most challenging elements and intricate steps. She has taken these challenges in her stride and, after just four weeks of learning the routine, competed with it for the first time at the Cambridge Open competition securing an incredible second-place finish and a spot on the podium!

Figure skating is a highly competitive and technically demanding discipline, and her achievement is a testament to the hours of practice, courage, and perseverance she brings to it. Just as importantly, she demonstrates great sportsmanship and a willingness to challenge herself, even when something is new or difficult.

We look forward to seeing where her talent, hard work and passion for skating take her next!

Well done, Ella.

Netball Success – Celebrating Our Incredibly Talented Girls!

Our students recently took part in trials for the Bradford Schools Netball Squads, and the competition was particularly tough this year, with a much larger number of trialists than usual.

We are therefore delighted to celebrate the girls who have been selected to represent Bradford in the U13 and U15 squads, as well as those joining the U14 Development Squad.

A huge congratulations to:

U13 Bradford Schools Squad

Alice H (Year 7)
Angel O (Year 7)
Sarima E (Year 8)
Shylah S (Year 8)
Savannah R (Year 8)

U14 Bradford Schools Development Squad

Isobel McL (Year 7)
Eleni Y (Year 8)
Annie-Rose C (Year 8)
Sienna O (Year 9)

U15 Bradford Schools Squad

Matilda K (Year 10)
Millie H (Year 10)
Esme M (Year 10)
Bella McA (Year 10)
Isabella P (Year 10)

A special mention goes to our Year 7 students who have secured places in the squads. They are competing against older students, including those in Year 8, making their selection a particularly fantastic achievement. What a wonderful start to their Beckfoot school netball journey!

I would also like to recognise all the girls who attended trials but were not selected on this occasion. Being nominated to trial is an achievement in itself, and putting yourself forward for a competitive selection process takes courage, commitment, and confidence. Congratulations to Pippa B, Zoe B, Ivy S, Jasmine W, Poppy W-L, Safa A, Freya L, Monroe S, Nina W, Beatrice I and Zoya K. A special mention, too, to Jeanie H, who was unable to trial due to illness.

Sport provides so many valuable opportunities for our young people to develop as people as well as athletes. Whether selected for a squad or continuing to work towards the next opportunity, every student who took part should feel proud of their efforts. We are incredibly proud of all of our girls and wish those selected every success as they represent Bradford in the season ahead.

International Cricket Success – Congratulations, Charlie and Ed!

Charlie and Ed recently represented England U17 at the World Indoor Cricket Federation Junior World Series 2026, held from 26 September to 3 October at the U-Pro Atterbury Action Sports Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

This prestigious competition brought together teams from across the world, giving our students the opportunity to compete against some incredibly talented opposition, including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India and Pakistan. Competing at this level is a remarkable achievement, requiring skill, resilience, teamwork and determination.

Both Charlie and Ed represented England brilliantly, and we are especially proud that Charlie had the honour of captaining the side. What a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills alongside his sporting talent!

England finished the tournament as Plate winners, a wonderful achievement in such a competitive international series. To add to the celebrations, Charlie was also awarded second MVP, recognising his outstanding contribution throughout the competition.

I am incredibly proud of both students for representing their country with such commitment and for continuing to pursue their sporting ambitions alongside their studies. Representing your country is something truly special, and we are delighted to celebrate their success.