Posted 22nd September 2023
A great couple of weeks with students in the starring roles
Last week we held our annual Open Evening for prospective students and families. It always comes around so quickly at the start the new school year. Each year I feel that we could not possibly do any better than we have done previously. How wrong I am every time.
This year was different though. We should have known by the crowds of people queuing from an hour before the event. It is an evening where we are excited to show our school but in an even more special way, it is an evening where it is our students who are the most excited and the proud of their school and that, as a cultural indicator, is so wonderful for me. 
Indeed, we had just over 375! students return to school to help us in a variety of roles including tour guides, faculty support, car parking and information providers. They were amazing.
On a personal note, I was delighted to be able to talk about Beckfoot, a place I love. I was able to share our successes, values and work with over twelve hundred people over three speeches. Many more attended but have heard me before and some just could not get in. Overall, we feel it was our busiest ever with somewhere close to two thousand visitors on the night.
I was then fortunate to be invited to one of our local feeder schools, Saltaire Primary, to talk again to families in a more intimate setting about Beckfoot and be available for questions afterwards. It is always a lovely evening at Saltaire Primary and it was a pleasure to be there to share our story and hopefully, in doing so, provide families with even more information that will help make the best decision for their children.
Last night we held an information evening for Year 11 families to share little insights into the year that lies ahead. We wanted to talk about working together, about the often turbulent nature of an exam year, about what to expect from us and key dates. About 250 people were there, more than we have ever known at such an event. It was a lovely evening full of warmth and care and even a few tears! Thank to Mrs Powell and Mr Wheeler for making it happen. The year group are in good hands.
In sporting news, our extra-curricular timetable is well underway with lots of training sessions and games coming thick and fast. The PE team are superb at keeping me informed as are our students. This week they let me know about Sofia and Alannah's achievements in gymnastics. Both girls competed in their club artistic gymnastics championship for 2023. Sofia was awarded Gold on Bars, Gold on Floor, ranked 3rd overall in zinc level with girls up to age 15 (she is only 12!). Alannah was awarded silver floor, Silver bars, bronze vault and floor, ranked 3rd overall in Copper level. Both girls are hugely committed and train 6 days a week for dance and gymnastics. I was delighted for them both not solely because of their achievements but because they are thoroughly decent young people who manage to find the balance between school and sport in their lives and long may that continue.
We also found out this week that Ella and Alice in Year 10 have been selected for the West Yorkshire County netball squad. To be selected for any form of representative honour is incredible but to be selected for your county is incredibly special. Both girls, once again, are very worthy of this selection. Not only are they talented and very athletic but they too manage to find that balance in their life and we are immensely proud of them.
Given that I have shared news about our students in sport I also want to let you know that our own Ms Sears, Head of Year 7, has once again been selected to attend the World Cheerleading championships in Orlando in April 2024. This is a huge opportunity and honour for her and her club, Elite, in Bradford and we wish her every success in her training and participation in the new year.
Continuing with the good news, this week a number of our Year 11 students were involved in a GCSE Hospitality and Catering exam. They spent three days involved in preparing, planning, cooking and writing. They cooked the most incredible dishes ranging from desserts to main meals including a Beef Wellington and the most incredible chicken and chips I have ever seen. They were so amazing, so engaged and so committed to being the best version of themselves possible. We could not have asked for more from any of them and I am excited as to what they are capable of as we progress through the year. Well done to each of them.
Finally, this week I sent you all a message about Ofsted. As you may or may not know, we are expecting a visit from them very soon. It will be our first visit since May 2014 when we were so thrilled to be recognised as an Outstanding school. We feel that our work in recent years, matched by the strongest outcomes in our school's history, mean that we are hopeful of retaining the honour of being considered to be an Outstanding provider in this area. It is here that I need your support. The views of our staff and students in our recent surveys in the summer term are incredibly positive and now I need to know if you feel similarly. It is important and will form part of the evidence base that Ofsted will look at when making a judgement about our school. We have a special school. Not perfect by any means but a school that has soul and cares deeply about young people. I hope you feel similarly and would be willing to complete the Parent View survey to help us.
Have a great weekend.
Simon Wade, Headteacher
There are lots of reasons for our school community to be grateful. Firstly, we have an incredible building which has been cleaned, painted and polished with great care over the past six weeks. In the fine weather it’s gleaming and a fit and proper environment for our students to work and thrive in. Secondly, we have welcomed 277 new Year 7 students into our community and they have been amazing all week. Lastly, our staff and students have breathed life into our school once again and I have missed them. It has been wonderful to meet and chat with so many of them. Despite being understandably tired, they are on great form and ready for the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead.
In sporting news, I want to tell you about Lauren in Year 10. On 25 August she travelled to Birmingham to take part in the England athletics under 17 and under 15 events. Due to injury, she could only participate in the shot putt and reluctantly withdrew from her specialist running event. Despite that she managed to win Gold. It is an incredible achievement and is a result of years of hard work and dedication. We are immensely proud of her.
In other news, one of our new Year 11 students, Joanna, 
This week we have also welcomed our new Year 7 cohort. We had the full cohort of Year 6 students from our feeder primary schools into school on Monday evening with families and again yesterday. They spent a day with us experiencing life as a Beckfooter. They were magnificent and have very quickly understood the standards we work to here and the importance of meeting those standards. They met lots of our Year 13 students who looked after them throughout and were the most amazing role models throughout. I love Transition Day because you see the future and there is an excitement about new beginnings. I guess, when I look at the new students, I am hopeful more than anything else that they will be happy and successful at Beckfoot over the next five to seven years.
In other news there has been so much going on that I want to share. On Monday, following weeks of planning and training, we held our very first Model United Nations (UN) day with students from Year 10 to Year 13. The event began with welcome speeches followed by 2 short videos from the British Ambassador to Afghanistan and the Political Advisor to the UK peace keeping envoy to Africa. Ms. Ashraf has family that are linked to the UN and who helped by providing clear principles for the day that would help our students understand the intricate working of the organisation and their goals for the world stage.
As the morning progressed, the students assumed roles of various world countries and quickly learned of the issues those countries face and how the UN would work with them alongside all other member states. At the end of the afternoon, they were in full swing participating and chairing a UN meeting with the most incredible arguments being motioned and debated by all those representing their countries and those who were assuming the roles of UN presidents and vice presidents. The dynamics between countries was evident as were the skills needed to present issues at a national level to understand how they could be resolved, or not, at UN level. The language used was utterly professional and advanced and the skills of oracy and listening were never better displayed in my time at Beckfoot then they were on Monday. I am so grateful to Ms. Ashraf and the fifty or more students who made the day such a success. It is an event that is here to stay and will only get stronger (if indeed that is possible!).
At Post 16 last week we held Futures Day where our students were involved in learning and interviews from organisations such as HAYS, TransUnion, NHS Pharmacy, NHS Blood and Transport, Charles Kennedy, ITV, Bradford College, Morrisons, Medical Training, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, Altogether Financial, Bevan Britten Law, AI Gas Tech, The Firm and Expect Distribution amongst others. They were also given the opportunity to listen to university ambassadors, who delivered talks and supported students with their UCAS applications. Every Year 13 student ended the day with a first draft of their Personal Statement and the ‘All About Me’ letter that needed to be sent to their tutors. 
They also completed a huge section of the UCAS application which is the earliest we have ever sough to prepare our students for life beyond Beckfoot. We were thrilled with their effort and focus throughout the day. Some even secured work experience and a number asked to consider working for the various organisations that they were involved with over the course of the day such was the impression they made. What a very special day.
Moving to another area of our work I want to let you know that throughout the year, eighteen year 11 Art Textiles students have been working with the Design Lab Nation project. This has seen them take part in numerous museum visits including the V&A London, Cartwright Hall and the Industrial Museum working on a brief linked to rituals and traditions. The project also linked with an industry partner which allowed students to see how products are designed for the mass market at Melrose Interiors. Students have investigated their own rituals and traditions as well as looking at the cultures within Bradford both past and present. They created numerous practical pieces of work and completed with their own practical piece that has been celebrated through an exhibition launched at Cartwright Hall this week. Our students were recognised for their creativity, passion, maturity, and commitment. The leadership of Mrs Young has enabled our students to be a part of something unique and special that will hopefully inspire them onto greater things and give them the confidence to know that they can achieve whatever they want if they are willing to work hard enough.
The opportunities for our students continue to come thick and fast. Last week, our Table Cricket team left Shipley train station just after 6.30am to travel to Lords, the home of cricket in London. They were so excited to travel as Yorkshire champions and were determined to do their best no matter what. 
Mrs Macdonald and Mr Barnes kept the information flowing throughout the day about their progress and staff were glued to their screens eagerly anticipating the next piece of news about how the games were going. They won the first game, then the second followed quickly by the third. We were getting excited! They eventually made the national semi-final and were unbeaten. They were drawn to play the favourites, last year’s national champions. There was a delay in the proceedings and eventually the news came through that they had won comfortably and were in the national final. Incredible! By the end of the day the staff were exhausted and anxious. It came down to the final ball and Beckfoot needed to score a 6 to win. Alas, it didn’t happen and we were pipped by the narrowest of margins. We were national finalists and runners up. What an incredible achievement and I am so proud of them. They came to briefing on Monday and I was humbled at the reaction of the staff to the 8 students and three sixth form students who stood before them with their medals. It was very special for us all. A special thank you to Mrs Macdonald and her team including three Sixth Form helpers for creating the opportunities for students to dream and for the experiences they had along the way.
On Thursday, we held our annual Beckfoot University graduation event at Victoria Hall in Saltaire. It is a wonderful venue to recognise the commitment to enrichment and leadership opportunities through their first year at our school. The majority of the year group managed to complete the challenges set and qualify to graduate. Some went way above and beyond what was required with three students in particular amassing over 500 hours of commitment to both. It is such a special event and seeing the faces of those families present when their children arrive into the main hall in their graduation gowns and mortar board hats. Mrs Douglas and Ms Sears reminded us all about the impact each student has made at Beckfoot and how they have grown throughout the year. Each of them received their certificate of graduation and finally we got the all-important photos of them throwing their hats in the air at the end. It was a very special night to mark the end of their first year at Beckfoot. They are a fabulous group of students and I am excited to see what they will achieve in the years ahead.
On Wednesday we held our annual Sports Day. In 21 years at Beckfoot I have never seen so many students take part. The day began with Mr Sykes setting up the field from 6:00am. The morning session was the field events with students taking part in Javelin, Discus, Shot Putt, Long Jump and Triple Jump. They then had a break from the sun as they had their lunch and the afternoon field events took place. The noise levels on the field were really quite something as each race was greeted with cheers and whistles. 
The sportsmanship and camaraderie on show spoke volumes to me about the culture the PE faculty have created with their students. It is often usual for a record to be broken and many of our records have stood for many years. What is most unusual is to have 11 records broken such was the talent on show all day. It really was a wonderful day and reminded me why I first became a PE teacher all those years ago. I miss it often but especially so on Wednesday. A huge thank you to Mr. Sykes, the PE staff and all the volunteers from staff to Sixth Form students who made it possible.
On Monday the 15 May the exam season began in earnest. Every year it seems to arrive more quickly than the last and I am always worried about whether we have done enough with and for our students; have we prepared them well enough; have we instilled a confidence in them that they can do this and do they know, I mean really know, how much we care. This year I needn’t have worried.
Saying goodbye to Year 11 on Wednesday was special and very emotional. After their GCSE English exam they allowed themselves the time to relax and reflect on the past five years. There was lots of shirt signing, lots of hugs and more tears than I can ever remember. In the afternoon, the students came together for the very last time to listen to us speak to them, to receive awards, listen to their friends play music and indulge Mr. Donlan as he sang a Killers masterpiece! Mrs. Wade, Ms. Mallinson-Powell and Mrs. Harris told them how much they would be missed and reminded them of their legacy at Beckfoot and it was a really lovely event. They stayed well after 3pm to eat food, drink and just spend time together and with their teachers. As I watched I was reminded that we get a lot right at Beckfoot and that we care more here than anywhere else I can think of.
I managed to compose myself to say a few things to them because it is important to me. I reminded them that all I ever wanted for them at Beckfoot and in life was four things:
On Monday the GCSE and A Level exam season begins. I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone and my strong desire is that our Year 11 and Year 13 students are ready to do their very best and achieve everything they are capable of and more. They are incredible young people who deserve success and the right to a good life. They have worked with us over the years and understand their responsibility to make that a reality more so now than ever.
Last week we held our Prom nights for Year 11 on the Thursday and for Year 13 the following day. Both events took place at the Mercure Bankfield Hotel and were a huge success. I tend to think about the success of these type of events in very simple terms. Firstly, did our students have a wonderful time and create lifelong memories and secondly did they represent themselves, their families and Beckfoot brilliantly. For me they were even more amazing than I thought possible.
Both evenings began with the usual array of entrances. Some arrived in vintage cares, some in cars that cost 
more than most houses, some on foot, one or two in an ambulance and then there was Harvey! They came dressed in style too and each of them looked wonderful. These events matter to them and they want to spend a fantastic evening in each other’s company for possibly the final time. They talked, they danced, they laughed and cried and they made sure they would remember their evening for years to come. They were respectful, considerate and kind and I felt very proud to lead a school full of such amazing young people. As I said earlier, they deserve the very best life has to offer them and I hope the next few weeks will be full of opportunities for them to shine.
On Friday we then took our Year 11 students to Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire. They had the most brilliant time and loved the fact that they did not have to queue for anything. They spent time with each other away from the pressures of the looming exams and were free for a few hours enjoying all that the park had to offer. We asked them to have a great time and to respect other visitors and the park. They did that and so much more and, again, I felt proud knowing that they are ready for their next steps and will be able to navigate the next few weeks and months with ease because of how they have grown and matured over their time at Beckfoot.
This week our students have been sitting end of year assessments across the subject range. Nothing new there. However, we have been trialling the opportunity for all year groups to sit at least some of their exams in the sports hall which, as you know, is the venue for most GCSE and A Level exams. The rationale for this is to provide as many opportunities as possible for our students to experience the venue, the rules around public exams and to demystify the process so that by the time they are ready for public exams, they are more than ready and know exactly what to expect. All of our students from Years 7 to 10 and Year 12 have been in this week and I have been thrilled with their approach and response. It matters to them and they want to do their best. The conversations with so many of them have been wonderful and also hugely reassuring because they have worked hard to prepare for their exams in order to be the best they can. The learning from these exams is also hugely important because it provides information for staff, students and families about what they know, what still needs work and also next steps. I am very grateful to our exams team, to our staff and most especially to our students who got it so right this week. Well done.
Our students continue to shine in all they do and there have been some notable things happening in recent weeks. A first for our school involves Joanna in Year 10. Recently, she applied for a place to represent England in an international youth beekeeping competition called IMYB. This year IMYB is a competition and meeting of over 40 counties in Slovenia. Joanna attended the selection day at the British Beekeeping Association Headquarters and was successful at gaining a place on a team of three to represent England in Slovenia! The event involves written papers, practical assessments as well as events like honey identification. It is also heavily focused on interaction with different cultures and will offer her the opportunity to communicate with so many other young people who don’t speak the same first language. It is a very exciting opportunity for her to continue to learn and compete with other beekeepers and it is an incredible achievement to represent your country. We wish her well.
Continuing the sporting theme, I want to tell you about another very special achievement this week. On Tuesday, our table cricket team travelled to Headingley to take part in the Yorkshire championships with the promise of a trip to Lords, the home of cricket, awaiting the winners. For many years we have sent teams to this event and for many years we have ended our interest at this stage. Most of this year’s team had some experience last year and they learned so much from the experience. On Tuesday evening we hear the news that they has played four games and won all four. They were Yorkshire champions and were going to London. Seeing them return to Beckfoot on Tuesday evening and being allowed to hold the winner’s trophy surrounded by the team was very special. It is rare that I am so moved but Beckfoot is a very special school that is interested in all students and wants each of them to have a moment they will never forget. This year, our table cricket team will make memories that will last a lifetime. No matter what happens at Lords in July, I am so proud of each of them. I want to say a huge thank you to Mrs Macdonald, Mr Hines and Sixth Form students Lois, Jade and Bryn for their commitment to preparing the team and supporting them through the past few months.
Finally, today we will say goodbye to Tom Darling after 19 years at Beckfoot. I am one of the few who remember Tom when he first arrived as a trainee History teacher all those years ago. Frustratingly, he has not aged a bit since then unlike the rest of us. What struck me about Tom way back then was his ability to relate to young people. They immediately liked him, knew he cared and wanted to do well for him whether that was in his lessons or his tutor group. Whenever I wanted to trial something, get some fresh eyes on a plan or document, I often went to Tom. Whenever there were struggles with technology it was Tom. Whenever a young person needed anything it was often Tom. His talent shone through right from the start and that eventually led him to a role on the leadership team at Beckfoot. Tom is one of the goods ones, always has been. He has helped to transform our approach to such things as tutoring, behaviour, rewards, attendance and pastoral care. He has been invited to share his work at local and national level and has also been invited to support the work of other schools and Multi-Academy trusts through partnerships and sharing of the best practice he has developed.
Today is a sad day. We are losing a brilliant teacher and leader. We are losing a trusted colleague who cares about very little other than the welfare of young people. But most of all we are losing a friend. Tom is relocating down south and has secured a deputy head position in a school that will only benefit from his expertise, approach and determination to improve the life chances of all those in his care. We will miss him but we are also so grateful, for the time he has spent with us and the impact he has made.
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.
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
I have been in this country since 1989 and I remember thinking as a 17/18 year old that I would spend three years in London, get my degree, play a bit of football and just enjoy the experience. Well, almost 34 years on, I am still here and very happy to be. I don’t often miss home these days but at this time of year when my friends and family are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, I often find myself wishing to be back there once again for just a few days. Anyway, for those of you that celebrate, I hope you have a lovely evening and weekend. I also hope for a decent performance from our rugby team in Dublin tomorrow!
Continuing the theme of placements at Beckfoot. Over the past few weeks we have been interviewing our own Year 11 students for a place in our Sixth Form which is such a special part of our school. I love having them here and I love the influence they have on the aspirations of our young people every day. They model our standards and expectations in all that they do and they demonstrate, all the time, the importance of hard work, independent learning and what it means to be motivated to succeed in education. The interviews have been a breath of fresh air in that they have allowed many of my team and I to sit and have the most wonderful conversations with incredibly talented, driven and bright young people. They want to stay with us. They know the quality of education they will get with us, the opportunities to get involved in all manner of things from leadership to work experience and a super curriculum that will enhance their future aspirations. I am thrilled that over 70% of them are hoping to join us in September and I am even more thrilled that they feel we are the best option for them.
Culturally, Beckfoot continues to grow and thrive. Our students have been busy getting involved in all manner of things such as World Book Day, charitable sporting and creative events, and today getting involved in raising money for those less fortunate through comic relief. Our Beckfoot Student Leaders group (BSL) continue to be the driving force for much of this work but so too are our Sixth Form students who provide the ideas, opportunities and guidance to the younger ones to make a difference. I hope today is a great day and another opportunity to think about putting others first and the importance of such qualities as selflessness.
I am so grateful to Mr. Parkinson, the LRC staff and the entire Beckfoot community for embracing the opportunity to highlight such an importance aspect of our work and the undoubted impact it will have had on our students.
Finally, on Wednesday next week we have our Young Musician of the Year event. It is always such a special few hours on our calendar because of the incredible talent we have in our school. I cannot wait and I hope to see so many of you there. It has been really important to us to reschedule this and so I thank you for your understanding and patience. The snow caused some issues for our community last week and, if I am being honest, I care little for snow and how it can impact our lives and the education of our community so quickly. I thank you for your wonderful understanding and support for the decisions I have had to make. It is hugely appreciated as always.
Over half term over fifty staff and students travelled to Austria to enjoy a week of skiing and other ski related activities. They left school on the Friday we finished for the holiday and returned over the weekend. The feedback from staff, students and families has been phenomenal and everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I am so grateful to the staff that planned and led this trip, to the students who represented Beckfoot so brilliantly and to our families who provided incredible support and feedback and gratitude for the opportunity. The most important thing is that everyone returned home fit and well and keen to return next year.
Finally, I am very excited to let you know that we have been the recipient of yet another national award this week. We were informed, on Wednesday that our application for accreditation of transforming practice in wellbeing has been successful. This means that Beckfoot has met the highest standards of the Framework for Exceptional Education and that your work in this area is amongst the most effective practice nationally. We are thrilled, given our commitment to wellbeing over the past three years especially. This work has been led by Alex Denham and Aieshah Ickringill and supported by numerous staff and students over the past 6-8 months. For me, the process allowed us to really consider our provision and practice but also have it tested out via external moderation. That moderation involved staff and students who were incredibly proud of what their school is doing in this area. Our students were so articulate about the importance of the work being done around wellbeing and the impact it has had on family and friends especially since lockdown. The report we received this week was a moment to stop and reflect on what we do here and why we do it. It was also a time to really consider next steps in order for us to be better tomorrow than we are today. That is our determination.
It is Children’s Mental Health week and so much has been happening across school. As you know we are heavily invested in supporting our entire community in terms of mental health. We have four days each week of Place2Be and an additional four days of provision from the Mental Health Support Team giving us the equivalent of eight days per week of bespoke support for our staff and students. In addition, we are very open about our views on mental health through such things as tutor time, assembly time, notice boards and display, our curriculum, our enrichment programme and so much more. I very much want our students to feel that they belong at Beckfoot and that they are cared for and matter the most. I want them to know that it is ok not to be ok sometimes and that we are here to help in any way we can. I think they know that because so many have benefited directly or indirectly from what we do here. Indeed, we have had the privilege to support over five hundred families and a great deal more students over the past two years especially. 
The impact is a more settled student population, increased attendance and more aspirational and happy young people. For those of you that know me, you will be very aware that I do not believe that we are perfect. My fundamental belief is that we do a great deal that is right but we also make mistakes which we are determined to learn from. Our school is a happy place for most. At times we need to do more for our students but the determination and strategy to do just that is there and I am very proud of that. This week has enabled us all to think about our mental health and to be more aware of the impact on ourselves and others. That will always be a good thing.
This week our commitment to our Religious Education curriculum and wider provision has been assessed by a national provider following our application in 2022 to be recognised as a RE Quality Mark school. The application was led by Ms. Noble and ably assisted by Ms. Towler and Ms. Lowde. The application itself took months of work and indeed was a very strong submission. It was followed this week by an incredibly rigorous interview process which involved staff, students and the Leadership team of the school. We were really hoping to achieve this award so to be told just this morning that we have achieved the Gold Standard has meant the world to us. We have always felt our provision here is second to none and delivered by some of the most talented teachers that you would hope to work with anywhere. This award is testament to our commitment to ensuring our curriculum is as strong, challenging and aspirational as possible not just in RE but across our school. I am thrilled.
Finally, I had the honour of being a judge at the Year 8 First Give presentations afternoon yesterday. Normally, as part of our enrichment provision across year groups, we would run the First Give programme in Year 9. This year, given the quality of our year 8 cohort we felt that they could cope with it a year earlier. Since Autumn each tutor group has chosen a charity they wanted to work with in the hope of raising the profile of their work in Bradford and nationally. They got involved in various social action campaigns over the past three months and raised over £800 for their charities. They were expected to learn as much as possible about the work of their chosen charity, who they work with, how they support others, where their funding comes from and what they could do to help. They invited the charities into school to talk with them, educate them and begin to form a bond that will last for many years. The culmination of the programme was yesterday when every Year 8 student came into our main hall to listen to each tutor group present on their chosen charity and win a prize of £1000 would mean so much to them. It was a simply stunning afternoon where I and other guest judges, including Adam from Year 10, got to listen to our students talk with such confidence, passion and knowledge about their work, the work of their charity and why what they do is so important. 
In the end it was 805 who won the £1000 prize for The Bradford Curry Project. This money will go a long way to feed hundreds of people hot meals over the next few weeks across the city but will also provide some much needed positive publicity that can only help their work in the future. Other charities supported included Pink Paws, MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease), two Autism charities, Bradford Night Stop, Down Syndrome association and many more. I absolutely know that our young people are capable of doing the most amazing things in their lives. All we have to do is provide them with a continuous flow of opportunities, care, guidance and support and then watch them fly. They were amazing yesterday and it was very special to be a part of it once again.
Firstly, I want to congratulate Fearne in Year 10 who has recently been selected to represent West Yorkshire’s U15 County Netball Squad. This is in addition to her selection for Bradford Schools and her wider commitments to netball in school and beyond. Netball is in her family and Fearne has worked extremely hard to gain this selection and recognition. She is dedicated to her sport and is incredibly humble about her ability and successes. I am thrilled that she will have the honour to represent her county this year and I wish her every success for the season ahead.
On Tuesday we had a Year 7 Maths based curriculum day. Normal lessons were suspended and replaced with a day focussed around the development of maths skills and a focus on instilling a love for the subject through different experiences. Well, what a day which began with the students taking on the task of being Codebreakers of Bletchley Park. This was followed by a maths murder mystery, the maths of the Aztecs; the maths in Morse Code and finally a maths based quiz. The levels of engagement were wonderful as was the sheer enthusiasm of the students to get involved and enjoy everything the day had to offer. I want to thank Mr. Braid, Mr. Mallatrat and the entire maths team for making the day such a phenomenal experience for our students.
Wellbeing 
Last week, under the guidance of Ms. Kernohan, we held a Languages Day for our Year 8 students. It was awesome! The day began with a Chinese dance demonstration that was colourful, fun and showcased something we have never seen at Beckfoot. The students enjoyed exposure to a variety of languages from around the globe and appreciated the opportunity to gain an appreciation of other languages and cultures. The world is getting smaller all the time and our students will become global citizens that will see the opportunities to succeed not just in Bradford or in the UK but from a much wider perspective. They will be more future ready than ever before and even better communicators as a result.
The Options Evening last night was amazing. We had such a Buzz in the hall and the atrium. Students and their families came in to find out as much as they could to make the right choices for their GCSE studies. Our current Key Stage 4 students were on hand to support the teachers in communicating the details about courses and the things that are important when it comes to being successful. As I walked around the building last night I was thrilled with the quality of engagement between families, staff and students. It is very special and I very much hope our students now have all the information they need to make positive choices about their next steps.
Finally, we had a very special visitor to school on Wednesday. George Furbank, current Northampton Saints and England Rugby Union player spent the day in school with us. His visit was part of the work of the Mintridge Foundation’s work to enhance sports participation, life skills and wellbeing for young people. He took part in lessons, provided coaching sessions, led an assembly, signed autographs and just spent time with our incredible students. He loved the day and loved the school. He was blown away by the kindness and respect shown to him throughout the day by everyone he met.
George talked a lot about ambition, resilience, being proactive and taking opportunities presented to you. He talked about himself and his path through education into professional sport. He was inspiring. I guess the thing that really stood out for me was his humility. He was such a nice lad, very down to earth and genuinely interested in our school and our students. At the end of the day he read a lot of truly inspiring and heartfelt letters from students about themselves, their personal and sporting ambitions and decided to mentor two of our students, Alfie and Charlie, for the next 6 months. He will meet with them remotely every two weeks until the summer in the hope of giving them further guidance and motivation to be the best version of themselves possible. I loved having him with us and I am so grateful to Mr. Sykes and Ms. Holmes who led this from start to finish. I am also grateful to George for taking the time to be with us, for being an incredibly decent young man who modelled the values, skills and qualities we are trying to build in our own young people but also for being interested and caring about them.
This week has also been very reassuring in terms of 
Last week we held our Red Carpet reward events and it was really great that over 1300 students were rewarded for what they contribute to our school and their learning every day. The excitement was building for a few weeks and when the reward options became clear the students told us what they wanted access to as part of their rewards. They chose from things like Computer Club, Art, PE, music, film and pizza. All those that were involved were fully deserving of their treat and I want to thank them for what they bring to our school every day and remind them of the impact of attendance and attitude on their learning, growth and development as really decent young people. A huge thank you to Mr. Darling and his team for the co-ordination of the events last week and a huge thank you to our students who work so hard every day to make a difference and live our values.
In student news I want to let you know about the work Ayla, in Year 7, has been doing since the summer. She, alongside her brother and a friend wanted to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. In the heat of the summer months, they made lemonade which they sold on the side of the canal. It was a hit and they then had a stall at the Eldwick gala where they sold more lemonade and also made some badges to sell. They raised over £380! They contacted the Ukrainian centre in Keighley and were informed about their Christmas event. The centre asked if the children would use the money to buy things for their gift bags for the refugees. They spent the money on a variety of shower gels, socks, gloves, baby wipes, colouring books, pencils and blankets. The centre collected the goods last week and gave Ayla and her friends some small traditional Ukrainian gifts as a thank you. That is pretty special stuff and I absolutely love that she thinks about others and that she is willing to not sit by and leave it to someone else. She is thoroughly selfless in my view and we are very proud of her, her brother and their friend.
On Wednesday 23 November the polling station was ready; it had booths, voting slips, instructions for voters and candidate information. Each class took turns to visit the station and cast their votes. Our entire school community took part and their approach to the process was impeccable. Earlier this week the votes were counted and recounted. The excitement was unbearable until we eventually discovered those who were chosen to make up our next Beckfoot Student Leadership group (BSL).
This week also provided opportunities in the world of work. As part of our futures programme, we took forty-three 6th form students to the PWC offices in Leeds on Tuesday. Students worked closely with volunteers from the firm on an 'Apprentice' style activity designed to develop their listening, problem solving and teamwork skills. The final presentations were excellent and students faced challenging questions from both the volunteer panel and each other. The experience gave students a key insight into industry, office life and the many career opportunities offered by PWC. These events and days are very much part of our Outstanding careers provision across school and I am so grateful to my staff and the staff at PWC for their commitment to broadening horizons for our students and enabling them an insight as to what is possible for each of them locally, regionally and nationally. These days make an incredible difference to us all. Thanks to our Careers team for making this possible.
I want to shift the focus to our students and families if I may. A few week ago, I wrote as part of my Blog about Raees who sadly left us three years ago this month. He is so fondly remembered and missed. I also wrote about the trees we were planting as part of the legacy our last Year 11 cohort wanted to leave the school. The final tree, the tree for Raees, was planted last week by his mum and sisters who came to school to help us and see for themselves where and how he will always be remembered at Beckfoot. 
As I come to near the end of this Blog, I wanted to share with you some information about the assemblies I have been delivering this week on Bullying. I wanted to lead these myself and share with our students the horror that is bullying and the effects it can and does have on young people at Beckfoot and across the UK. I know that it happens here and I hate that. I wish that it could be eradicated completely and I wanted our students to think about how to help us stamp it out and for them to demonstrate their ability to be more active in their stance against this horrific behaviour. We talked about the fact that across the UK, 20% of young people are affected by this each year. We talked about the types of bullying that happen and why young people can be targeted. We talked about those involved and what their role says about them to themselves and others. We simply asked them to Reach Out and help us put an ends to this, to Reach Out and let us know when it is happening and to Reach Out and take care of one another better than perhaps has been the case. Our entire staff and student community have listed intently this week and I hope it makes a difference. Already, we have seen our students use the STOP email to help us and I am proud of each one who has been brave enough to say enough is enough!
Continuing the theme of exams, I had the very great pleasure of seeing our Year 11 performing arts students deliver the most amazing performances as part of their exam on Wednesday. The students were "buzzing" (their words) after their performances. I know they have worked really hard at applying lots of different performance skills to their pieces but also on their confidence in delivering the most spectacular acting and dancing pieces I have seen for years. It was a real privilege to be there and to get to share in their success and happiness. 
As a follow-up to my last Blog, we welcomed Rugby League Physical Disability World Cup winner, 
This week began on Sunday actually and the opportunity for me to represent Beckfoot School as part of the Bingley Remembrance Sunday celebrations. It is my first opportunity as headteacher to attend this event and I am so very glad I did. The first thing I noticed was the sheer numbers of people that were there. It had the most incredible community feel as it was lively to be a part of it. I also noticed the incredible numbers of our students that are part of that community through their involvement in local clubs and groups. Everywhere I looked I saw a friendly face and it gave me another insight into why our students are so special. All last week we did our best to remember those who have given their lives over many years to protect our freedom and allow us to live as we do. 
On Wednesday we had yet another first for our school. Last year’s GCSE (Year 11) class of 2022 have wanted to leave their mark on Beckfoot and decided to raise money to plant some trees in memory of their time at school. This week Mrs. Powell, who was their Head of Year, alongsi
de 15 students planted 26 trees just behind the ATP. They also installed a wooden plaque that the students made by hand to commemorate their time at Beckfoot. It was so special. 
needed a courageous and determined group of young people to pick student leadership up by the scruff of the neck and drive it forward to ensure our young people have a voice and a genuine part to play in the direction of travel of their school. I could not have wished for a more self-determined group of pleaders and yesterday we came together to acknowledge their work but also to share a very special moment with them. 
week. These range from netball to hockey, football and rugby, from gymnastics to trampolining, cheerleading and fitness, from badminton to basketball, table tennis and so much more. Last night as I returned from my daily place at the school crossing, I passed what seemed like hundreds of students, all in PE kit, busying themselves and excited about the practice or games that lay ahead for the evening. It reminded me of my own school experience and I have to admit to being just a little envious. I am so grateful to the staff who provide their time, energy and enthusiasm to facilitate such opportunities for Beckfoot students and that very much includes all the other extra-curricular provisions available through the Creative Arts, Debating, Chess and Games clubs and everything else that happens here weekly.
took part in the Yorkshire Senior restricted in both ladies and mixed doubles badminton. Her outstanding performances over half term means she has been selected for the Yorkshire senior county squad and will be playing for them in addition to being selected for the U19 1st team this season. She should be rightly proud of what she has achieved which also includes using her Level 1 coaching badge to help coaching the junior section at the Bradford Performance Centre and being involved with the Badminton England Youth Forum. Sian is an incredible young lady and a shining example of what is possible if you are willing to work hard enough both in terms of her academic and sporting ambitions.
World Champions having beaten New Zealand 42-10 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington. It is an incredible achievement for Harvey but also a huge honour for Beckfoot given that one of our own is now a world champion. We are really proud of him and again he is a wonderful example of our belief in limitless possibilities for all if you are willing to work hard enough, aim high and be resilient in all you do.
Each student has spent months working with their mentor to prepare for yesterday. They each assembled their presentations onto display boards in the hall and invited their mentor to question them at length about their project ranging from questions about the project itself to the process involved and the impact on their learning and future readiness for either university, an apprenticeship or the world of work. Following that, the entire sixth form visited to view the projects and talk to the students about their work and findings. Other year groups were invited to attend and do similarly during their breaks. It was an amazing event and, on a personal level, I was in awe of each student, their work, passion, energy and enthusiasm. They were simply brilliant in their delivery and warmth. I was hugely proud of them all and I hope they achieve the tops marks they deserve for the work they have put in.
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.
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.
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.
They spoke with warmth and passion about helping others and the variety of ways that can we could help. They spoke about the links between our school community and what is happening in that part of the world. They were well researched, well informed and the delivery was absolutely spot on. In short, they were brilliant and a wonderful example of self-actualised young people who did not sit back and leave this to someone else. They did it and stepped out of their comfort zone every day this week to make a difference. I want more of this and I know our student leaders do too. We truly have a special group of young people at Beckfoot doing amazing things to help keep our school moving forward and being better every day.
Yesterday we took seventy Year 11 and Year 13 students to an 
I want to also remind you that you can follow our school on 
Finally, we believe that Ofsted will visit our school at some point this year. It has been eight years since they were last with us and that resulted in a grading of Outstanding. I will never forget that day! The new inspection framework is very different but it is very important to us that we do all we can to retain our Outstanding status as I hope you agree. To do so, we need your help. Please visit and fill in the 
The past week was also full of opportunities for our students to reflect on the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II. They asked lots of questions and thought a great deal about civic values. They considered her length of service and her dedication to such things as her country, her faith and her family. Seeing the events of the past few weeks has provided a great deal of comfort and hope to many. We were able to remember her as a school community last Friday as we came together to observe a two minute silence. Every member of our community conducted themselves brilliantly and I am grateful that we able to do something as a mark of respect. These things are important.
Last week I wrote my blog not knowing if we would be re-accredited as a World Class School once again but I have to admit to being quietly confident. That confidence did not stem from anything other than knowing the quality of our bid and the students that were going to present on our behalf. They were amazing and I am so proud of them and the wider student leadership group who have made this one of their goals since last September – well done!
This week I have taken the opportunity to reflect on the past year and to consider what we have achieved as a school over that time. Highlights include a full return to our enrichment provision including sport, the creative arts, debating and so much more. We have been able to celebrate our students through events like Senior Concert, Young Musician, Summer Serenade, Sports Day, Sports Awards, Creativity Fortnight, University Visits and a Careers Programme from Year 7, MFL, English, Maths, Science and PE Super Learning Days, Prison Me No Way, Guest Speakers and so much more. We have won a Careers Mark Award for Outstanding Practice, a Principled Curriculum Award from the SSAT, a Research Led Practice Award, again from the SSAT, for our commitment to research informed practice in our approach to teaching and learning and now World Class Schools. Beckfoot is not a perfect school but we are doing so much to make it a very special place to learn and work, and we are determined to be even better as we continue to move forward together.
On Tuesday, I attended the Summer Serenade concert and it was breath-taking. The talent at Beckfoot never ceases to amaze me but it is the culture of the school and more especially the creative arts faculty that is the thing that stands out the most. There was a huge range of musical genres on show and the numbers of students involved were as high as they have ever been. I guess what I really love is the enthusiasm and bravery of our students to stand up in front of a packed house and deliver performances that are so special. I love these events and I am thrilled that 2021-22 has allowed to get back to normality and allow students to showcase their talent so brilliantly.
Next week is also very special because our Year 11 students are going on Work Experience. I love the idea of our students spending a week in employment (so to speak) and to gain an invaluable insight into what life may be like for them in the years ahead. Work Experience will help them focus their efforts for Year 11 as they approach GCSE exams and it will also help with the decisions they need to make about what it will take to achieve the dreams and ambitions they have for themselves. I wish them well and look forward to visiting some of them in the workplace throughout the week.
I am always amazed when it comes to the determination of our students to get involved in the life of their school with the aim of making it better for both themselves and those to follow. A few months ago, Lucas and Sarah, alongside a few other students, wrote a paper to me outlining their concerns around food provision in school. The paper was utterly brilliant. In it they provided a very balanced view of the current situation with menus and options for all students at Beckfoot. 
They were worried about many of our young people feeling that they mattered and belonged because of this. Indeed, they provided exceptional balance to their argument suggesting much of what is already on offer is very good and needs to be kept. We sent that paper to our provider whom we have a very good relationship with. They read it and decided that they wanted to work with our students to do something about their concerns and help them make a difference. Last week that happened when over thirty of our students were joined by our catering providers and head chef to look at and taste some suggestions for additions to our menus. It was incredible. Our students tasted a whole range of food options and fedback, honestly, their thoughts. They were overwhelmed with the results and are very excited to see their choices become part of our food offer from the Autumn. I am so proud of Lucas, Sarah and the others for their leadership of this across school. They are making a difference and providing a valuable voice for our students.
On Tuesday this week our Beckfoot student leaders, Adam, Poppy, Amy, Jasroop, Eden and Mia went to London, accompanied by Ms. Ratahi and Ms. Khaliq, as part of the final stage of our 
Finally, on the theme of student leadership, we are almost half way through our Creativity fortnight. Mr Lee, the creativity team and our students have planned an incredible array of activities for this week and next. Earlier this week our students were treated to a live Bollywood style music performance outside during break times. They loved it with dancing, chanting and lots of joy and laughter on show. 
As part of the planned activities we held our Creativity Awards and Showcase Event last night which is a special event that celebrates the talent and work of our students in such areas as art, music, dance, food, painting, photography, illustration, animation, modelling, sculpture, tapestry and much more. It is an event that celebrates the arts and recognises the contributions of our students some of whom have now left us. It was very special and I am so proud that we are a school that continues to champion the Arts and seeks to provide an astonishing number of opportunities for our young people to get involved both through our curriculum provision and beyond. The fortnight, and all that it involves, has brought our school to life in a very unique and uplifting way this week and I cannot wait to see what is planned for Monday onwards. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the leadership of this and got involved in any way to make it special.
Last week, Tracey Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, was in school as part of our students leading the Bradford wide 
It was a celebration of new opportunities and an excitement about what these young people will bring to our school in the years ahead. That was followed by the transition day on Wednesday where the students spent the day with us to experience life at Beckfoot first hand. They attended an assembly, spent time with their tutors, went to Science, PE and Design & Technology lessons, had break and lunch with us and then went home. As is always the case many arrived in the morning a little anxious and nervous but they left us feeling excited about their futures at Beckfoot and the next stage of their educational journey. We cannot wait to see them in September.
I want to thank you for your unbelievable support for 
On Tuesday, we held our first Sports Awards celebration for three years. It was amazing. No, it was more than that. It was incredible, special, emotional and so much more. I sat and watched and listened to the various members of my PE staff talk with oodles of care and passion about young people who live and breathe sport and leadership, who take opportunities and want their school experience to be incredible and full of enrichment and excitement. It was amazing.
I sat with three ex students who were our VIP guests for the evening. Evie, Adam and Max came back to school having left us in the last two years themselves. They were given awards for their various contributions to PE and Sport in their time at Beckfoot and they then spent the evening handing out awards to our worthy winners. That, too, was special and it was just great to see them again.
Finally, many of you will be aware that the Beckfoot Trust lost a very special person yesterday. Jeremy Richardson, who was the headteacher of Beckfoot Thornton, died following an accident as he cycled to work on Wednesday morning. We are devastated. He was, in my words, a really great bloke. He loved his family and he loved his school. He has done the most incredible job at that school in recent years and he will be hugely missed by that community of staff, students and families. He leaves behind his wife and three children and we are so sorry for their loss. I will miss him. I will miss the pressure I would feel because he was so dapper. I will miss that he felt I could never get way with wearing brown shoes and I will miss his counsel and support. He was one of the good ones and our light shines a little less brightly because he is gone. Please remember him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Today our Year 11 and 13 students leave us. Today they will attend their last lessons of the year and, for many, the final time they will step into a classroom at Beckfoot.
For our year 11 students, I know they are going to do amazing things. I could not have wished for a better group as we emerged from lockdown and faced the reality of a return to GCSE examinations. Many are returning to us in September and we are very excited about their potential. They will, alongside our plans for Post 16 next year, ensure that our Sixth Form will not only thrive but go from strength to strength because they have chosen to be a part of it.
They are the ones that we said goodbye to on the 20th March 2020 with just a couple of days notice. I will never forget that assembly on that Friday afternoon. Some things will never leave you and that is one of those for me.
Our GCSE and A Level students are now fully immersed in their exams and it has been a huge relief to most to have started. The anticipation is often difficult but especially so this year given everything these young people have faced in recent years.
We will break up for half term today and whilst it will be an opportunity to recharge for most, for our exam students it is an opportunity to get a great deal of work done. At this stage, with the end in sight, students should be committing at least four to six hours per day to their revision. I have always believed that you get out what you put in and hard work not only makes a difference but it always pays off. I would urge each of them to give these last few weeks everything they have got and a little more. Rest will come and when it does it will be well earned. I am proud of each of them. They are amazing young people who deserve great things in their lives.
Our Year 10 students have not been immune to the learning that exam season brings either. On Wednesday, they gathered in the hall and were spoken to about their futures and the importance of hard work, resilience and ambition. Our sixth form team and careers staff spoke to them about the opportunities and challenges of the next twelve months. They listened. We then handed them their mock results in the same format that GCSE results will take next summer. This was an opportunity to reflect on their current progress and attainment. It was a chance to think clearly about next steps and whether or not they were on track for success. It was a reality check with the caveat that now was the time to change what they are thinking and change what they are doing to guarantee success in their GCSE exams next year. What I do know is that we will be with them every step of their journey and will be doing everything we can to support them, challenge them and look after them. That is our job and our privilege.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been doing a number of 
Yesterday, our Year 8 had their 
For the past few weeks there has been a steady increase in the levels of excitem
Last night was simply incredible. It was my first Prom since I left in 
Our students came with families, in Limos, supercars of all varieties, 
Throughout the evening our student
I am also very fortunate because many students and families are keen for me to know about exploits beyond Beckfoot and I love that. Sian is mentioned regularly in my blog because she is hugely involved in her sport outside of school. Over Easter she took part in the Inter Counties Tournament, the pinnacle of junior county badminton nationally. I am reliably informed that it's been 10 years since Yorkshire Badminton won that particular competition. Sian was part of a very strong Yorkshire team and after three days they made it to the final three which included Yorkshire, Leinster and Cheshire. Yorkshire, including Sian were triumphant winning all their matches and lifting the trophy. It is an immense achievement and we are thrilled for her. She has given years of her young life to achieving this success and it is hugely deserved.
Continuing with the sporting theme, two of our students travelled to Florida over the Easter break to represent Team England in the International Cheer Union World Championships. Georgia and Scarlett represented team England against many other nations, competing against the world’s most elite cheerleaders such as USA, Mexico and China. The team placed 7th in the world which is incredible. I am in awe of such talent. To be good enough to be picked to represent your country in amazing in itself but to rank 7th in the world is incredible. Again, both girls have committed huge amounts of time to their sport. They have made sacrifices along the way to do what they have done, and we are hugely proud of them both. You can watch Team England in action below!
Music and the Arts have always been a big part of what we do here every day, but I cannot remember a week which has involved so much activity as this one. Last Saturday a combination of dance students from years 10, 11 and 12 performed at Fresh 22 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. It has been a really exciting and challenging few months for the girls who not only had to choreograph a dance routine but then had to perform it a number of times in order to qualify for the event. Not only did they qualify but they did so for the main event in the evening on centre stage. They worked so hard every day in the lead up and were incredibly self-critical and determined to perfect their routine in advance of the performance. They danced as Footfall Dance company and were brilliant on the night. Special memories for a special group of students led superbly by Darcie and Laila.
Also, this week, two other major events took place involving Beckfoot’s Creative Arts staff and students. On Wednesday evening our students were involved in a National Theatre Connections performance at the Theatre Royal in York. Following a competitive bid to be part of this project, our students were given the opportunity to work with a professional playwright and perform a new one-hour play that the playwright had written especially for this project. For anyone who has ever had to memorise a speech, lead an assembly, or similar, I think it is fair to say that it is not easy and takes incredible courage. It was wonderful to see another group of our students involved in a project on this scale. What stood out on the evening was the focus, determination, professionalism, teamwork and all round Beckfoot magic that was oozed from our students - both on stage and backstage afterwards. Most have never performed before and the memories and experiences this kind of project provides is just phenomenal. I want to thank Ms. Kyle and her team, the students of course and those staff and families that were there to support.
Each tutor group had representatives that spoke about their chosen charity, why it was important to them and why they exist. They each chose a different one to support in the hope of winning the £1000 prize for their chosen focus. I stood and watched each tutor group talk about the work of their charity and why it was important to them. The students spoke about work in our city aimed at supporting those with mental health issues, homelessness, employment, and animal welfare to name a few. It was humbling and I can only imagine how proud their tutors were of them.
Wednesday was proving to be a busy day and Mr Lee was determined not be outdone. He, alongside Mr Stimpson, took a group of forty-five students to perform in the Bradford Proms at St Georges Hall. Our Senior band opened the show with a bang, leading the way for a brilliant evening of performances from schools across Bradford. Our Juno singing group then performed as part of the Bradford Blast Choir with and sang with confidence and maturity. Indeed, our students shone brightly throughout the evening and were all absolutely brilliantly brilliant as both performers and young people. To perform on such a big stage in front of a packed-out audience is not easy, but our students loved it and represented themselves, their families and our school wonderfully, leading the Bradford district with two stand out performances. Again, I want to thank the staff, the students and those staff and families that were there to support.
I would like to start by sharing the news that we were informed this week that we have been successfully accredited by the SSAT (Schools Students and Teachers Network) for two key areas of our work around the quality of education provided at Beckfoot. These awards recognise that our practice is amongst the most exceptional nationally under the SSAT's Framework for Exceptional Education. The two areas we have been awarded transforming practice in are: 
A few months ago, we shared the decision to make changes to our curriculum in order to ensure every child had access to a breadth of study that would allow them to stand alongside any student in the country and compete for the best jobs and university places. In doing so we will ensure every child will study the core subjects, a humanities subject and a modern foreign language. We are excited by this decision and very much want to ensure our students get the very best teaching and experiences possible as we seek to develop them as young people with a deeper knowledge of such things as cultural capital. Last week we held a modern foreign languages Wider Learning Day for Year 8. Despite the fact that we teach French and German here, we did not allow them to utilise those languages throughout the day. Instead we asked them to communicate in so many different ways ranging from sign language to a whole host of other languages including Urdu, Punjabi, Spanish and Ukrainian. There was also a little bit of Gaelic (Irish language) thrown in by me for good measure. It was a wonderful day and I am so grateful to the MFL team and all those visiting staff who supported the day including colleagues from Hazelbeck. 
In sporting matters most of you will know the amazing things our PE staff do here each week. There are so many opportunities to get involved in a huge range of activities before, during and after school. This year we have added to those opportunities in the form of a Hockey club run by two members of our English department, Ms. Senyk and Ms. Ratahi. This week they played their first competitive fixture as a mixed sex and mixed age group. They were brilliant and won the game 4-0. They were thrilled but not as much as the staff. I love seeing new things happen at the school and continuing to provide those moments that students will never forget even when they reach my age! 
To finish I want to highlight a few students who are doing amazing things at Beckfoot. Firstly, Lois in Year 12. Lois was employed as a Youth Peer Researcher for a report commissioned by the 
Sian, also in Year 12, is no stranger to my Blog. She continues to excel in the sport of Badminton. She has recently been selected to represent Yorkshire U18 at the Inter Counties Tournament over the Easter Holidays to be held at Nottingham University. In junior badminton this is seen as the pinnacle for any young player at county level. There are only 5 girls & 5 boys in the team and selection was based on performance during this season. Her selection is an incredible achievement in itself. Sian is also on the Badminton England National Youth Forum. She put forward a video with ideas and thoughts on what she believes Badminton England should do to improve the sport at junior level throughout the country. They were impressed & invited her on to the forum as an ambassador for junior badminton nationally. She has already been invited down to Milton Keynes later this year to discuss ideas and how to implement them. I have little doubt she will make a difference to the work that will follow in the sport for years to come and we are proud of her because of all she does and will do well into the future.
On Friday last, we asked our students to really think about others and, in doing so, try to better understand what it is like to live in the shoes of someone less fortunate, even if just for a few minutes. 
I listened to the KS3 and KS4+ finalists and then to the various ensembles with some Groove Tubes and Soul Band thrown in for good measure. It was amazing, and I loved every minute of it. I guess what really struck were three things. Firstly, the talent we have at Beckfoot and this was only just a small representation of that talent. Secondly, the commitment of staff and students to the arts and the hours that go in to being able to play, sing and perform. And thirdly, the relationships that were so clearly evident on the night between staff and students. I felt very proud of that especially. That is culture and doesn’t just happen. It takes years to build that trust and care and we have it at Beckfoot in abundance.
This week was also very special because this was the week that we delivered our STOP assemblies. Those assemblies were about Safeguarding our students and ensuring they understand their right to a happy and safe childhood, their right to be free from abuse of any kind but also their duty to help us to do that work well and look after each other. The assembly talked about those things but also about the '
When I wrote my last Blog on 18 February we were breaking up for half term and the world was a very different place. When we returned last week, things had changed because of the humanitarian crises in Ukraine. We have all watched with unenviable sadness the situation unfolding and the impact it is having on the country. We have staff and families with links over there and we all very much wanted to do something as a community. We liaised with several local charities and communities to find out the best way to offer support. We began to collect essential items that will make a difference to those families and children displaced from their homes. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity that has been shown over the past week from all of you. It has been humbling, not only because of the amount of support that has been shown, but because it matters so much to our staff and students. Thank you.
Since our return our Year 11 and 13 students have been incredibly busy taking mock exams. They have been amazing. It has been a challenging fortnight, but their energy, resilience and ambition has continued to shine throughout. The experience will also help them to learn a great deal about what they know and what still needs to be learned. I believe strongly that mocks are not something to be feared. Indeed, the opposite. They are designed to build confidence, support learning and next steps, providing a reality check of where a young person is with their knowledge and understanding. The staff are devoting hours at this time to mark these exams and provide the highest quality feedback that will support learning and revision over the coming weeks. It will make a difference without doubt. I want to thank those staff and students for everything they have given since our return and I very much hope they use the experience to motivate themselves to give everything they have in the final push over the few remaining weeks we have left.
Finally, I wanted to tell you about 
Last week we were reminded of our role as a community school when we received a letter of thanks from 
Reading is a gift and such an important skill to nurture and develop. A love of reading is something that I want to develop in all our students for lots of reasons but mainly because it has the power to provide a wealth of experiences, feelings and emotions that can often not be found in any other way. For some it has the power to transport you to another world, for others it is about the emotion of the text and for the likes of me it facilitates a complete break from everything else and allows me to learn, to feel and to be taken on a journey that is so completely different. I love to read sporting autobiographies and I am currently reading Siya Kolisi’s book 'Rise'. He was the captain 
of the South African Springboks rugby team that won the world cup in 2019. His is a fascinating story of hardship, resilience and self-belief. He very much reminds me of our belief in ‘Limitless Possibilities for All’ because he represents the view that you can achieve most things in life if you are willing to work hard enough, have someone believe in you and, most importantly, believe in yourself. There are lots of things planned for World Book Day and the staff get a little giddy too! More to follow.
We had a very special and thought provoking curriculum collapse day on Monday for Year 9 students. It was based on the work of the 
Firstly, Lara and Logan in Year 9 have been selected to represent West Yorkshire in the upcoming English Schools Cross-Country championships in Kent. They have been selected from hundreds of young people across the county and it is an incredible honour and achievement for both of them.
In other news I want to thank Poppy in Year 9 for her leadership of the Time to Talk week that has been taking place in school since Monday. Poppy and her team of students have talked in staff briefings, organised health professionals to be available and visible all week, planned a whole host of activities to raise awareness of mental health and created badges and stickers so that almost two thousand staff and students could show their support for anyone that doesn’t feel ok. Indeed, she has driven home the message that it’s Ok to not be OK. Thank you to Poppy and everyone who made this week special.
they support students to make decisions about their life after school. It is given to schools who are continually working to improve the chances and opportunities of all its students. Achieving the national Quality in Careers Standard demonstrates, clearly, how we all embrace, promote and endorse quality careers education and recognise the part it plays in the overall success of our school and students. Because we offer a high-quality programme to all students from Year 7 to Year 13, we were graded as Outstanding, the highest possible judgment that can be awarded. Our ambition is to continue to provide world class careers opportunities for our students, continue to introduce them to the world of work and support them fully to make decisions about life after school whatever they may be. I am hugely grateful to Holly McLean and Sarah Wilson for leading on this work and for all they do every day to make a difference to the lives of our young people.
We have had two parents’ evenings since I last wrote. Both were held virtually, and both had attendance of over 97%. Lockdown forced us to think about events such as parents’ evenings differently and the feedback from lockdown gave us the confidence to know that the system is preferred by the vast majority (not all of course). The feedback has been hugely positive, and it is, for me, a real indicator of the strength of our community. I have worked in many schools over the years and the support and challenge we receive from our parents is very rare and hugely appreciated. Thank you.
blessed with here is truly staggering and I am so fortunate to have Mr. Lee, Mr, Stimpson and an amazing, dedicated group of peripatetic staff who give time to share their love of the Creative Arts and performing. What we saw over two evenings was emotion, passion, dedication and joy. We had so many involved from Year 7 to Year 13 and the future for the Arts in school looks exciting. As I said last night, areas such as these are what gives a school it’s ‘soul’ and I could not have been happier or 
amaze you with their selflessness and a determination to put others first. They were adamant that we would make this year’s Children in Need day one to remember and they didn’t disappoint. We had raffles, bake sales (the best ever cakes in my view!), sports activities, staff activities and so much more. We also had our traditional non-uniform day and the students raised over £1500 for the charity. We even got a response to our Tweet from the director of the event that evening! For me the day has always been about putting others first and our students have always understood that. Despite all that is going on in the school, they know they need to get it right in lessons and maintain the highest standards of themselves. They stand up for
what they believe in and put so much work into making the day special. CIN day is about our students working together as community contributors and making a difference. They certainly did that last Friday and I am very proud of them. Special thanks go to Mrs. Dobson and her team of student leaders.
Last Friday also saw Beckfoot students contribute to the follow up Pandemic Recovery Summit which involved schools from across Bradford focussing on the key themes of Anti-Racism, Mental Health, Poverty and Disadvantage, LGBTQ+ and Student Voice. Beckfoot was asked to lead on an area of focus for both our school and the city in helping to determine next steps to support young people to recover from all things Covid-19 related. It also focussed on lost opportunities as a result of the pandemic and ways to better provide support to address 
those going forward.
It has also been a challenging few weeks in terms of dealing with the on-going pandemic. A relatively small number of students have had to isolate due to Covid and others remain anxious about how the nation is addressing the problems that are still present every day. That is understandable. What I would say, however, is that school is where students should be because it is a safe space where learning is our priority. Teaching face to face is what makes the biggest difference to young people and they need to be in school in order to make progress. I cannot stress that enough. Indeed, our GCSE and A Level students understand more than most the additional stress that school absence can bring. So, if it is a decision between being at school and not, choose school every time!
We had our Year 11 Aspirations day last week also. We had some very cool young people with us for the day having travelled up from South London the night before. They are called Revolution Hive and they spent the day with our Year 11 students talking to them about their aspirations, hopes and dreams. More importantly, they worked with them to think about their attitude, their mindset and strategies to be successful not only in their GCSEs but also in life. It was a fantastic day and our students got a great deal from it.
discern who was the sporting cheat from Ms. Denham, Mr. Cooley, Mr. Darling and myself. They analysed a variety of samples and looked closely at other forms of evidence as they strived to reach a conclusion. In the end, most identified Mr. Darling as the cheat and they were right! That evening, our Year 7 parents and carers were invited into school to hear about the day from staff and students. They also got to see some of the school and visit a science lab which is where students did most of their work earlier in the day. Again, it was a very special event and it was really lovely to welcome families into our school once again.
maturity of our young people and their determination to learn well. They have been engaged and happy to contribute fully to lessons which is exactly what we expect of them. Beckfoot has a special ‘soul’ and I have seen this at every turn.
Our Open Evening last night was an overwhelming success. We had our busiest ever evening with huge numbers of prospective students and their families coming to visit. Our building fizzed with excitement because we are proud of our school and we love to show it off. We had over 200 students who attended as volunteers to help throughout the evening. They were so happy to be with us and the feedback already has highlighted the role and impact they had on our guests. Our faculty areas came to life with all sorts of interactive activities and the whole event had a warmth about it that we are proud of.
Over 1100 students were rewarded for their outstanding behaviour and attitude to learning They get it right every day and are doing amazing things at school. We were thrilled with the weather and each student got a 99-ice cream with a drink. They were then able to relax on the field in the sunshine with friends. Their appreciation and manners were humbling, and they very much deserved the treat.
Over 100 students initially signed up to complete the challenges as part of the programme and, last weekend, they completed the Bronze expedition by walking to Blackhills campsite. On the Friday, the students spent the day on our front field learning how to pitch tents and cook for themselves. When I first learned of the activities, I was a little concerned that few of them would manage to eat given they were in charge! How wrong I was.
As I visited each group I was staggered to find that they had cooked, washed up and cleaned the area around their tents ready for the next challenge. They were cooking pasta mainly, but some groups were stirring in all kinds of wonderful sauces and some were even adding things like chorizo! However, one group left me staggered. As I approached them, I could see punnets of strawberries. They had finished their meal by melting large bars of chocolate and then dipping their fruit into the chocolate to eat. Amazing. I want to thank all the staff that supported both days especially Ms. Roberts, Mr. Owan, Mr. Hines, Ms. Osborne. I also want to congratulate our students and their families for their enthusiasm, good spirits and care for one another. I am thrilled that we have been able to continue to deliver this Award in school and I know many of them will now go on to achieve their Silver Awards and possibly even Gold in the years ahead.
Finally, I want to let you all know that we have taken delivery of and installed a memorial bench for Emma Taylor who sadly died last summer. The bench is at the front of school and it has already been a joy to see it being used by our students. Emma was an amazing young lady and her family have worked with us to ensure she is never forgotten as a most wonderful and special person and student.
Over 100 students have signed up to complete the challenges as part of the programme. Last weekend, joined by Ms Roberts, Mr Owan, Mr Hines, Ms Osborne and several other staff, the students set off walking from school at 9am and finished at 3pm. This was their first experience and will be followed after half term with 2 days of challenges culminating in a walk to Blackhills Camp. It promises to be an eventful and exciting few days and I hope they enjoy the challenge and all the Award has to offer over the coming months.
On a similar theme, our Duke of Edinburgh award scheme is back. Last week over 100 Year 9 students signed up for the Bronze Award and many other in older years are continuing with their efforts to secure Silver and Gold awards. Ms. Roberts and her team do an incredible job and their efforts have never dwindled throughout lockdown with so many students completing a variety of tasks and challenges and gaining much coveted awards that will always demonstrate their commitment to leadership, consideration of others and care for their local area. I’m excited to see what our new cohort get up to on their journey with the scheme. Watch this space!
inches off her hair in aid of the Little Princess Trust and the premature baby unit in the NHS. She has a close connection with both and decided to do something to help. Eva initially wanted to raise £150 but has, to date, already exceed that target with over £1000. She is a shining example of what we are trying to create at Beckfoot. She is selfless, caring, driven and totally determined in all she does. She is also very persuasive and has managed to get a good number of staff to donate. That in itself is impressive! Well done Eva.
I cannot quite believe it’s October.
I am sure many of you will be wondering how we intend to communicate with you when it comes to parents’ evenings and I am happy to say we have a plan. After conversations with several of you, we have decided to carry out virtual face to face meetings with teachers. Each meeting will last 5 minutes to maximise the number of parents/carers a member of staff can see. The technology we will use will end the meeting on exactly 5 minutes and move the member of staff on to the next appointment automatically. Appointments will be made on a first come first served basis and, although not everyone will get every appointment they require, it is a much more personal way to operate these evenings. As always, we will ask for your feedback after the first evening to see how we can further improve. This will be a first for us, so your patience and support will be greatly appreciated.
You are aware that we, like most schools across the UK, have had a few confirmed cases of Covid 19. We have followed the guidance as set out by the DfE and PHE. We are immediately asked to identify ‘Close’ contacts and ‘Social’ contacts and we use our classroom seating plans software to support that process. Once we are clear which students are potentially at risk, and therefore need to self-isolate, we ensure all families affected are spoken to personally about the situation, how to access work from home and when they can return. The support we have had from families of those affected and more widely has been phenomenal. For those that have ongoing concerns I have tried to ring each individually to provide reassurance. These are the times we are living and working in and I hope the communications are helpful. I know it can be frustrating that the exact details cannot always be shared.
I cannot pass on the opportunity to remind you of our Health and Safety obligations. We require all staff and students to wear a face covering in communal areas. We ask that hand sanitiser is applied on entry to school and each lesson and we also ask that the 2-metre rule is observed wherever possible. We ask students not to mingle in groups of more than six at social times and when walking to and from school. We ask students to wear face coverings on school and public transport too. All these measures help to minimise risk, so I feel they are reasonable requests. Your support in reinforcing this message is appreciated.
Finally, I was delighted to welcome to school on Monday, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, parents of Emma Taylor who sadly passed away over the summer. We had a lovely chat about lots of things but mainly about Emma. They very generously presented me with a cheque for £5000 in her memory. We have agreed to spend the money in several ways. We intend to purchase a bench to be placed at the front of school so staff, students and visitors can remember her every day. We will purchase an award, to be presented annually to a deserving Post 16 student who contributes so much to our school. 
