Christmas is now a distant memory and the first half term of 2025 whizzed by in an instant. The February break is often a busy one for us mainly because so much happens at Beckfoot in terms of trips and visits as well as all the usual site maintenance work that has to wait until the building is empty. This year was no different.

Just before we broke up, Mrs Davis and Mrs Clayton took 14 A level students to Paris for a combined A Level Art and Languages trip. Over the course of 4 days they took in as much of the art and culture that the city has to offer. They visited the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre, Pere Lachaise, the Centre Pompidou as well as strolling the Champs Elysees. They also took in the sights of the city via a cruise on the River Seine and were enthralled with the history and beauty of such a wonderful city. The students had a wonderful time and were a credit to themselves and our school throughout.

Also over half term over 40 of our students from across the year groups headed to Austria for this year’s ski trip. We waved them off on the Friday morning and they looked happy and excited. They skied for 6 days and immersed themselves in the culture of the sport and the country. They all attended 5 hours of ski school instruction each day according to their ability levels. Each one had the most wonderful time and all were more than proficient skiers at the end of a busy week. Dr. Wright, trip leader, felt the group were probably the best he has ever worked with over the 8 day period and was grateful to his team of staff and the students for a most incredible week. On a personal note I am grateful to staff who give up their holidays and leave their own families to make these trips and visits possible. I must also admit to being very relieved when everyone gets back home safe and sound!

On Tuesday we had our annual Safeguarding audit led by an external sector expert who looks at all our safeguarding policies and practices. A lot of work goes into preparing for the process but it is our culture of safeguarding over many years that matters most and the thing that shines through at Beckfoot. As part of the process our consultant spent a considerable amount of time looking at our website, policies and previous reports in order to be able to use the day to really apply a razor sharp focus to his work. On the day he spoke with staff, senior leaders and students from Year 9 to 11. He walked our building, observed learning, watched students transition to lessons first thing in the morning and between lessons, observed break and lunch times and spent the day really interrogating our practice day to day. Last night we received the draft report and it is a stunning summary of just how strong our approach is at Beckfoot and the value we place on this area of school day to day, year on year. There is nothing more important in my role than ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students and I was really proud of our school. The thing I guess I am most proud of are the following quotes from our students when asked how they felt in school;

‘We feel safe’ and ‘there is nowhere we're not seen’.

Take care

Simon Wade, Headteacher

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