Happy Easter
Happy Easter
As the Spring term draws to a close, I want this blog to celebrate successes at school and individual level because there is always so much going on that needs to be shared. I’ll begin by celebrating out students’ successes – Sian, Swimming, Golf, Sport in general, Izzy Holmes
A few months ago, I became aware of the Geoff Rofe Young Volunteer of the Year award. This award recognises the work being done across the country in the world of badminton and is incredibly prestigious. Sian Phillips, who is often mentioned in my blogs, was nominated and I had the great pleasure of being able to support that nomination as her headteacher. As the weeks went by, I absolutely know that I became a little annoying because I was asking her almost daily if she had heard anything. Anyway, just a couple of weeks ago we got the news that she had won. I was thrilled as were Sian and her family. Here are a few things that were said about her at the ceremony.
Since achieving her Level 1 coaching qualification, Siân volunteers every week at the Bradford Kobras Performance Centre in Yorkshire, helping to coach and inspire younger players.
Siân shadows her school PE teacher twice a week and observes his approach to SEND and how she can use that herself in coaching and mentoring younger players.
In addition, Siân has shown PE teachers how to lead and coach badminton sessions to ensure that best practices are used in future PE lessons and has led school assemblies on welfare and eating disorders in sport which have been received very positively from fellow pupils and teachers alike.
She does all of this whilst working tirelessly towards her A Levels this year and achieve her very high predicted grades.
Siân is also an active member of Badminton England’s National Youth Voice Forum where she regularly attends meetings and represents the voice of young people within the badminton community.
We are delighted that Sian has won because she deserves it. She has a bright future ahead of her and we will miss her when she leaves in a few weeks. Before then there is the small matter of her A Levels!
In other sporting news, the PE department continue to provide the most wonderful opportunities and experiences for our students in a wide range of sports including football, rugby, basketball, netball, dance, cheerleading, table tennis, badminton, hockey and so much more. The staff, and not just those in the PE team, give so freely of their time here that I am truly humbled by them. Each evening there are huge numbers of our students here doing all manner of sporting activities. It is the Friday sessions that continue to amaze me because the culture of the school is such that our staff and students are happy to be here well into their weekend and long may that continue.
Talking of weekends, I want to thank Mr. Sykes for his commitment to ensuring all of our students get to have their moment in the limelight through sport. Over the past few weekends he has given up his Saturdays to take our swim team to the Bingley schools gala and his Sundays to support our wonderfully talented rugby players. He has also now diversified into golf. Yes, golf! Last week our students came first and runners up in the West Yorkshire schools golf tournament. The team made up of Lachlan, Tom H, Tom B, Fergus, Ben and Josh will now represent West Yorkshire in the Yorkshire schools’ finals. I am so happy that we can facilitate these opportunities for our students to get involved in such competitions. A special mention to Lachlan, Tom B and Tom H who won overall, to Tom B and Fergus for finishing second and to Tom H for winning overall.
Continuing the sporting theme Charlie P in Year 9 has been selected for West Yorkshire schools once again but, this year, has gone one step further in his development by being selected for the England Schools U15 indoor cricket squad. Charlie has a few more training sessions to go before a final team selection ready for the World series in Dubai. He has put an enormous amount of time and effort into this and his humility is an example to us all. We wish him well over the next few weeks and want him to know how proud we are of him.
Last week we held our annual Beckfoot Young Musician of the Year finals in the school hall. It did not disappoint. Before I go into detail, I want to thank all those students who did not make the finals. The standard is so high that not everyone can make it through but their talent is never in question and they will be back next year I know. On the night a full house was treated to the most amazing talent. There were singers, bass guitarists, ensembles, rock bands, soul bands, pianists, sax players and so much more. The show began with James (last year’s winner) playing the violin and I wondered how on earth we can top that but we did. It was a very special night. Winners included:
Most improved (voted for by Music Teachers): James C- Players player (voted for by students): Lizzie B
- Key stage 3 audience vote winner: Jimmy L
- Key stage 4/5 audience vote winner: Thomas S
- Key stage 3 ensemble winners: Olivia B and Phoebe S
- Key stage 4/5 ensemble winners: Caden, Luca, Isaac, Brandon and Rowan
- Key stage 3 solo runner up: Jimmy L
- Key stage 3 solo winner: Isla C
- Key stage 4/5 solo runner up: Jonas C
- Key stage 4/5 winner: Caden M
- Young musician of the year 2023: Caden M
Sitting in the audience throughout the evening gives an opportunity to really reflect on what we are trying to do as a school both in terms of delivering a really good education but also in terms of the wider opportunities we are providing for our young people. We are getting a lot right at Beckfoot and for that I am hugely proud and very grateful to all those who work to make Beckfoot special. I want to thank Mike Lee and Matt Stimpson for all they do and their wider team who make it all possible.
This week over 85% of our students have been enjoying Red Carpet rewards events including movies, sport, art, computing and pizza. It is always a special week for us because it is important to recognise the talents and efforts of our students. They are the ones who continue to drive our school forwards and I am thrilled that we have these opportunities throughout the year to say thank you.
In curriculum matters our Year 7 students enjoyed a drop down day learning all about Dystopia with the English faculty. They loved it and especially the rather over the top performance by Mr. Thomas at the outset! Our Year 10 students spent the day yesterday, learning all about healthy relationships, sex and safety. It was delivered by the Hale group and was very well received by our students. I love that we can run these types of intensive educational days away from the normal rigour of the classroom. They provide opportunities to learn in a different way and also the opportunities to really think hard about certain topics that will be invaluable to them when they leave us. It is very special and there are more to follow in the summer term.
Last night we had a first for Beckfoot but something that was long overdue. Our Sixth Form students held Iftar in our hall and it was a privilege to join them. They decorated the hall, arranged the food and prayer and it was such a lovely event. I guess what really touched me was the number of non-Muslim students who were invited to join their friends and did so. I loved the atmosphere, the pride in their culture and religion that oozed from our students and their determination to share. I felt very lucky to have been able to spend that quality time with our oldest students. They love their school and want us to continue to grow and provide these type of opportunities long after they leave. A huge thank you to Duah and his friends for making this happen and for all they did to make our first Iftar special.
Finally, we break up today for a couple of weeks. I hope you all manage to get some well deserved rest and relaxation. I would ask that our Year 11 and Year 13 students make use of the time to cement their learning through revision. The mock results last week provided a reality check for many and boost in confidence for others. It is vital that the reaction is positive and determined. I want them to complete all the home learning that has been set for them. Using the Easter break to their advantage can make the difference of a whole grade or more and I would urge them to have a plan for each day, stick to it and also to use SENECA learning and UPLEARN (post 16). These can really help with building knowledge and understanding beyond the classroom and commit things to memory in readiness for the exams which are just around the corner when we return.
For others in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12, the end of year exams take place just after Easter. These are important and will test the knowledge of our students based on their learning this year. They know what to expect and what to revise in readiness. Success is always down to hard work and putting in the time and effort now will pay off in the results achieved. Academic success, what ever that may look like to each individual student is a good thing and is often the route to a really good life beyond school. All of our young people deserve that and so it is the good habits now that has the power to determine the future for each of them.
We open again on Monday 17 April 2023 and look forward to seeing all our school once again on that date.
For now though, take care, get some rest and enjoy the longer evenings and slightly warmer days.
Simon Wade, Headteacher
