A week where positive choices were more important than ever.
This week, Year 8 took part in a wonderful Wider Learning Day focused on positive choices — a day that reminded me just how powerful education can be when it reaches beyond the classroom and speaks directly to young people’s lives.
The day was carefully designed to give our students the space, language, and confidence to explore some challenging but vitally important topics. Throughout the sessions, our pupils showed maturity, curiosity, and real thoughtfulness, engaging respectfully and asking insightful questions that demonstrated just how much they value opportunities to learn about the world around them.
We were incredibly fortunate to welcome a range of skilled and passionate external speakers, each bringing expertise and authenticity to their sessions. Adrian led important discussions around mental health and suicide prevention, helping students understand the importance of talking openly, seeking help, and looking out for one another. His message of hope and support resonated strongly.
Mark’s session on substance misuse was honest and impactful, encouraging pupils to think critically about the choices they may face and the long-term consequences those choices can have. Lisa shared her experiences of racial abuse as a child the impact that had and continues to have on her. She shared her financial struggles as a young mother and how she was exploited to be involved in county lines drug running by someone close to her. Tony’s work around grooming and exploitation reinforced these messages, reminding our young people that they deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported at all times.
Gareth’s session on positive masculinity was a particular highlight, challenging stereotypes and opening up meaningful conversations about identity, respect, and healthy relationships. It was heartening to see students reflect on what it means to be confident, kind, and emotionally aware individuals.
What stood out most was the way our Year 8 students rose to the occasion. They listened, they reflected, and they engaged with empathy and honesty. Days like this help equip our young people not only with knowledge, but with the confidence to make informed, positive choices — now and in the future.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our visiting speakers for their time, expertise, and commitment to supporting young people, and to our staff who worked hard behind the scenes to make the day such a success.
Wider Learning Days like this one are a powerful reminder that education is about developing the whole child. I am incredibly proud of our Year 8 cohort and grateful to be part of a school community that places wellbeing, character, and personal growth at the heart of everything we do.
Continuing the theme around positive choices there is a real buzz around school this week as our Year 9 students begin to explore and make their GCSE option choices. It is always an exciting time — one filled with questions, research and conversations as students start to see the next stage of their learning journey take shape.
For many, this is the first opportunity to make choices that genuinely reflect their interests, strengths, and aspirations and they understand the responsibility that goes alongside that. Whether it is a passion for the arts, a love of science, a flair for languages, or an enthusiasm for practical and creative subjects, it has been wonderful to see our students engaging thoughtfully with the process and taking pride in shaping their own pathways.
What has impressed me most this week is the maturity Year 9 have shown. They are asking insightful questions, seeking advice, and carefully considering where their talents lie and where they might like to challenge themselves. Options Evening last night was wonderful and the energy and curiosity that filled the school is so infectious reminding us all how incredibly important education is to our students and families.
We have worked hard to ensure that students will be well supported during this important decision-making process. Our staff will guide, encourage and reassure, helping pupils to understand that there is no single “right” route, only the right route for them. These choices are about opening doors, keeping them open, building their skill sets and continuing to develop a love of learning that will carry them forward over the next two years and beyond.
I would like to thank our families for the support you demonstrated last night. It was perhaps the best Options Evening I have experienced in my career and for that I am grateful. The thoughtful discussions that I know will happen at home, alongside the guidance provided in school will support our students to feel confident, optimistic, and positive about their decisions.
As Year 9 move towards the next chapter of their education, they do so with enthusiasm, ambition, and a growing sense of independence. It is a privilege to watch them take these important steps, and I am incredibly proud of the way they are approaching this milestone with such care and excitement.
The future is full of opportunity, and I have no doubt that our Year 9 students are ready to embrace it.
Finally, we have had a lot of visitors into school this week to help us to continue to evaluate our work and provision for all students. Three colleagues from our Trust Central Team spent most of the day with us on Wednesday looking at the quality of teaching across school and the way our students are engaging with their learning day to day. We visited over 35 lessons and what we saw was incredible. We saw high levels of student engagement and the most impressive standards of behaviour and attitudes. We saw wonderful teaching across all areas of school and the levels of challenge that we have come to expect at Beckfoot. We also learning a few things about how to be better and we are already planning to ensure that learning from the day will be implemented with rigour and clarity for the benefit of our students. I am so grateful to the Central Team for their ongoing support and challenge for Beckfoot and its entire community.Top of Form
Yesterday we welcomed representatives from our Local School Committee into school to meet with students, observe breaks/lunches and visit two faculty areas, English and Creative Arts. They spoke with a group of Year 7 students and a group of Year 12 students about their transition experiences and how they have found Beckfoot with just over a term under their belts. It was a special few hours and our students were very honest about school and thankfully, how happy they are to be members of our school community. They too shared a few insights as to how we could be even better, and we will make sure we act upon their reflections this summer for those who will hopefully be joining us in September 2026.
Take Care
Simon Wade – Headteacher
