Our school has been a hive of activity over the past few weeks and has served to remind us of all that what we do here is about so much more than teaching and learning. School is a place where students can grow and learn in so many ways and where they should have as many opportunities as we can provide to thrive and shine. These past few weeks, even more so than usual, have been about just that. Here is a flavour…
First Give Final
What an incredible few weeks it has been. One of the standout moments was our Year 8 First Give Final yesterday, following months of research, social action and fundraising by all nine tutor groups. Given what I witnessed yesterday, I can confidently say it was our best yet. Our students delivered thoughtful and inspiring presentations about the charities they had chosen to support.
It was wonderful to see the depth of their learning as they explored how these organisations make a difference to people’s lives locally, regionally, and nationally. Some of the charities included Manorlands, Sue Ryder, The Sylvia Nunn Trust, Bradford Baby Bank and The Children’s Society. Students spoke with real passion about the causes they had researched, demonstrating not only excellent presentation skills but also genuine empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by others.
What impressed me and the panel of judges (Cllr. Geoff Winnard – Bingley Rural Ward, Amy Wood – senior caseworker and part of Anna Dixon MP’s team, Marcus Gregg – school liaison and project executive at Keighley College, Georgina Bedford – First Give Programme Delivery Officer and Alex L. – Year 9 Student, 2025 winner) most was the sense of purpose our students showed. They were able to clearly explain the important work these charities do, the communities they serve, and why this work matters. Moments like these remind us that education is not only about academic success, but also about developing compassionate, thoughtful young people who want to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
I would like to congratulate all of the students who took part for the care, confidence, and commitment they showed, and thank the staff who supported them in preparing such meaningful work. It was a truly uplifting event and a wonderful example of our school values in action. This year’s winner was 809 on behalf of Hope Housing and they collected a cheque for £1000 that will make its way to that charity in the coming days.
World Book Day
Our World Book Day celebrations were a tremendous success, and I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special. From the fantastic costumes to the shared reading throughout the day, the enthusiasm for books and storytelling was evident across the whole school.
Staff and students fully embraced the spirit of the event. Books and tokens were distributed during tutor time and English lessons, book covers were hidden around the atrium for students to discover, and our shared story brought everyone together in celebrating the joy of reading.
In total, almost 600 books were given out to students, along with book tokens that can be exchanged for another free book in shops. Seeing so many students leave with a new book in their hands was a wonderful reminder of how powerful reading can be.
Our staff costume competition was particularly memorable this year. After much deliberation, our individual winners are Ms. Cuthbert as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Ms. Beck as the wardrobe from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Our faculty winners were the Maths team, who delighted everyone with their Snow White and the Seven Dwarves theme – complete with the Magic Mirror and a brilliantly reimagined version of Hi Ho with maths-themed lyrics.
Thank you once again to everyone who dressed up, organised activities, shared stories and encouraged our students’ love of reading. Thanks to the LRC team who made everything happen and come together so brilliantly. It was a fantastic day that our students will remember forever.
Celebrating Our Young Writers
I am delighted to share some wonderful news about the creativity and talent of our students. Twenty-nine of our students have been selected to have their poetry published as part of the Young Writers programme in a forthcoming anthology titled Whispers of War.
These powerful pieces were written as part of our scheme of learning on war poetry, where students explored the voices and experiences of poets who have written about conflict across different periods of history. Inspired by these works, as well as their own reflections on past and present conflicts and the school’s observance of the two-minute silence, our students produced thoughtful and moving poetry of their own.
To have such a significant number of students selected for publication is a fantastic achievement and reflects both their creativity and the depth of their engagement with the topic. Their writing demonstrates not only strong literary skill but also maturity, empathy, and the ability to reflect on complex themes.
We are incredibly proud of all the students involved and look forward to seeing their work published. It is a wonderful example of how our students use their voices, imagination and learning to create something truly meaningful.
Post 16 Iftar
Last week we held our annual Iftar in school with over 40 staff and students coming together to share a most wonderful few hours as part of Ramadan. Organised entirely by our students, it was a chance to come together, eat and reflect on the joy that different cultural practices and beliefs bring to our school. As always, I felt privileged to be invited and to spend precious hours in the company of incredible young people.
Sporting Success Across the School
We are incredibly proud to celebrate some outstanding sporting achievements from our students, who continue to demonstrate exceptional dedication, talent and determination both in and beyond school.
Eva T in Year 11 has recently signed for Bradford City U23s at just 16 years old – a fantastic achievement and a testament to her hard work and commitment to the sport.
Theo C has also had exciting news this week, having been selected for the Ireland U18 Rugby League team. This is a remarkable accomplishment and a wonderful opportunity to represent his country at such a high level.
In Year 10, Josh P has been invited to join the England Para-Triathlon development squad, making him the youngest person to receive this invitation. Josh will travel to Manchester next month for a training weekend, with the next stage beyond this programme being the GB Paralympic training squad. We are thrilled to see his talent recognised on a national pathway.
Finley Meikle in Year 7 continues to excel in distance running. After finishing 14th in the English Schools’ Fell Running Championships in October, Finley will compete in his second national final later this month. He will travel to Kenilworth to represent Beckfoot and West Yorkshire in the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships, and we wish him every success.
Finally, Ryan W in Year 8 recently represented Haworth Riding for the Disabled at the national championships, where he achieved first place in the Dressage event riding his horse, Captain. This is a wonderful accomplishment, and we are delighted to celebrate his success.
These achievements highlight the breadth of sporting talent within our school community. We congratulate all of these students for their dedication and wish them every success as they continue to pursue their sporting ambitions.
Take care
Simon Wade – Headteacher
