A few weeks to remember for all the right reasons
The past couple of weeks have been incredibly busy but also very special. There is so much to tell you that I must warn you at this point that this may well be my longest ever blog!
I will start by telling you about Matilda the Musical that has been performed here each of the past three evenings. I went to the final performance last night and for ninety minutes was transported to someplace magical where I completely forgot I was watching a school production in Beckfoot. I know we have a school bursting with very special young people but last night was a totally different level of proud for me personally. The cast, crew, directors, supporters and so many more, came together over the past months to create something that was really wonderful, incredibly professional and a complete showcase for the talent we have in this school. I loved that we had so many students involved and it was perhaps the most inclusive and diverse production Beckfoot has ever known. At one point, when the students were performing a number call, ‘When I grow up’, I looked around the audience and there were more than a few tears in evidence. At that point I was really struck by the job we do here at Beckfoot and the limitless opportunities we must provide for our young people as they progress through our school. I want them to be happy, successful and ready to take on the world when they leave us. For those involved this week, they are capable of doing amazing things in their lives. Of that I have little doubt. A huge thank you to the Creative team led by Ms. Kyle, Ms. Bannon and Ms. Hammond and to everyone who made the show come alive.
Sport continues to thrive at Beckfoot and this week our Year 7 rugby team got their Beckfoot sporting journey off to a flying start with three wins from three games at the tournament held at South Craven. It was also a special week for our Year 11 team who also had a fantastic performance in their fixture. In football our Under 19 team is through to the fourth round of the English school’s competition and will play that game just after half term.
Last year I was thrilled to be able to feature the sporting success of lots of students who are also doing amazing things beyond Beckfoot. This week I want to highlight the exploits of Abbie, one of our Year 13 students. Just a couple of weeks ago, Abbie attended the Yorkshire Swimming Gala, upper age limit, and had eight races overall. She performed brilliantly and managed to smash some of her personal best times on six of the races she entered, racing against older competitors over the age of 21. The real celebration though was her 100 freestyle, achieving a time of 58.60 over a short course of 4 lengths. Her previous best time of 1.00.10 was only achieved a few weeks before. We are very proud of her and know just how hard she works to achieve the success she enjoys.
We had our Careers Fair this week which was held in the Creative Arts block. It involved over 50 organisations coming in to school to share with our students the opportunities that they can aspire to in years to come. We had guests and stalls from local businesses, universities and colleges, the police, the RAF, the Royal Navy and the Army. We had lots of information about apprenticeships and careers in the NHS, the beauty industry and so much more. It was, as always, an amazing event with students coming throughout the day in the year groups. 
For me, what I loved most about the event, is seeing how our students engage with the staff who come in to talk to them. They are polite, engaged, curious and determined to be informed of what’s out there for them. For so many it is yet another opportunity to consider their futures and their readiness to go and fulfil their dreams and ambitions. It’s a highlight of the term for me and I am very grateful to Ms. Wilson, Ms. McLean and Ms. Money for their organisation of such opportunities for our students.
At post 16, there has been a huge amount happening. We are well underway with the UCAS application process with many students who are aspiring to a future in such things as medicine already done. There is a huge degree of interest, as always in many of the higher tariff courses such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, engineering and many more. There is also a great deal of interest from our students in studying at Oxford and Cambridge and some of the more elite Russell Group universities. They are working hard to ensure their academic grades allow them access to their chosen courses and, more so than ever, understand what it will take to get there.
To support our post 16 students, we are in the early stages of forging a partnership with Bradford Grammar School (BGS). We are hoping to work more closely together towards the development of a new and exciting academic excellence programme where we can further support our students in areas such as Oxbridge applications and pathways into medicine. I went to meet their team on Tuesday and had a wonderful morning talking with their staff and students and looking to explore how we can work more closely together to our mutual benefit. I am hugely excited at the prospect of continuing our long-standing commitment to being more outward facing and working with local strategic partners for the benefit of our students. Our meetings will continue after half term so watch this space.
Continuing the theme of post 16, our Geography students spent four days on residential in the Lake District this week as part of their A Level course. They have spent time getting ready to choose their independent coursework focus by practicing a variety of fieldwork methods in different locations. After deciding on their hypotheses, they have spent a day at the beach collecting data. Last night focussed on how to effectively present their data and analyse their data using statistical analysis methods. Every single student has been absolutely superb, collecting their data efficiently, displaying excellent teamworking skills and all whilst working in the rain! Apparently, we are not to feel too sorry for them as the weather all week has been beautiful. They return today and will be ready for some home comforts this evening I’m sure. I am hugely grateful to Ms. Carter and Ms. Roberts for their time and commitment.
Ms. Denham has been leading assemblies this week focussing on Safeguarding and theme of child-on-child abuse. It is important that we never shy away from the importance of keeping our young people safe no matter what. The feedback from students has been amazing and incredibly mature. They totally get the importance of looking after one another and challenging behaviours that are not acceptable or, indeed, the norm.
As we approach half term, this week we have been recognising the wonderful efforts of our students with their Home Learning. Since launching our new strategy, alongside Class Charts, we have been really impressed with the commitment students have shown to both their homework assignments, and their independent learning in ILBs. We know that home learning can significantly increase students' progress, and so we are thrilled with how positively our students have responded. We have awarded certificates to the tutor group in each year with the highest homework submission rate, and every student who has completed 100% of their homework has been entered into a draw to win a small prize. The number of qualifying students in each year group has been overwhelmingly high, and we are looking forward to seeing this brilliant start continue throughout the rest of the year.
And finally, whilst this term has been a hugely positive and successful one for our school, this week, in particular, has been a highlight for many of the things that I have just written about but also because of a couple of meetings with two students. The first involved a Year 11 student who was worried about an incident in a lesson that left him feeling like he had disappointed staff that he respected hugely. He sat with me after school earlier in the week and spoke with a bucketful of affection for Beckfoot, his teachers and his worries about how best to address the situation. He showed envious strength and bravery but also a desire to put things right. The day after we chatted, he came to see me to let me know that everything was sorted and to say thanks for the advice. In my view it was pitiful advice but it helped him to take control and that means everything to me.
Secondly, I met a young man who had written about a learning issue he has been dealing with most of his young life. In his work he described how he felt and how his recent diagnosis and support has transformed his life. It was a humbling insight into a world that we think we know but, in truth, we really don’t. As I spoke to him I couldn’t help but be struck by his honesty, kindness and bravery. He taught me more about his situation in the minute we talked that perhaps any other learning in my career. I thanked him, we shook hands and went about our day. I know I felt richer for the experience and I hope he knows that.
Have a great half term. Please get some rest and be safe.
Take care,
Simon
