Saying goodbye is never easy
Leaving
At this time of the year things are always busy as we reflect on how the past 12 months have gone but also because we are preparing for what is ahead. Exams are well underway, the timetable is being finalised in readiness for our June2June curriculum, reward trips are happening and teachers are working hard to ensure learning is of the highest quality as students ready themselves for end of year assessments. Despite all of this we have two incredibly important events for Year 13 and Year 11 and those are the leaver’s assemblies. It is dedicated time to say thank you and goodbye and to reflect on their seven, five and in some cases two year journeys with us. They are emotional events but also very much about celebrating relationships, achievements, memories and growth. At the end of last half term we said farewell to Year 13 and next week it is the turn of Year 11. In this profession you are privileged to spend time with young people and to help shape them as individuals. For me personally it is very much a time of reflection and being grateful for the contributions each of them has made to Beckfoot over the years. I will always be grateful to have been a small part of their lives and it will always be a pleasure to help in any way we can well into the future.
Exams
The first half of the exam season appeared to go well as far as the students are concerned. They tell me that whilst many didn’t want the break in their routines over half term, they were also grateful for the rest. Having said that they understood the need to have a strong revision plan over half term and have returned to us this week ready for the final sprint. I am amazed and thrilled at the manner in which they have applied themselves to their exams each day. It matters to them and they know they have been well prepared and are ready to shine. In a couple of weeks it will all be over and they will be able to relax and enjoy a much needed break. For now the routine continues and it is critical that they give themselves every opportunity to succeed in all they do both within and beyond the examvenues.
Sixth Form
Many of you will know that I work very closely with Dr Wright and the Sixth Form team. They do an incredible job and they are a collective who care deeply about our Post 16 students. They work extremely hard to plan and prepare our students for life beyond school and give them the support and confidence to know they are capable of anything if they chose to apply themselves fully to whatever it is they aspire to. On Wednesday, this week I sat and listened to Dr Wright talk about the opportunities his team (Ms. Bannon, Ms. Towers and Ms. Smith) have planned for this half term alone. I had to share it with you.
- 05/06/25 Bradford University assembly – “Why Bradford?”
- 06/06/25 Medical networking event
- 06/06/25 Morgan Stanley CV individual feedback
- 09/06/25 Bradford 2025 City of Culture – Creative workshops
- 09/06/25 MIT/WISE Research – Beckfoot Lecture
- 16/06/25 Year 12 mocks
- 17/06/25 Cambridge Chemistry Competition and Biology Olympiad
- 26/06/25 Newcastle University assembly – “Why Newcastle?”
- 30/06/25 Year 12 Transition
- 02/07/25 Year 7 Transition
- 03/07/25 Year 12 Transition
- 08/07/25 Futures Day
- 10/07/25 Model United Nations
- 14/07/25 Enrichment week
Our Sixth Form is an incredibly special place and the plans are exciting to make it even more so. They are currently writing their improvement plans and Strategic Vision and I am so excited for the future of our Post 16 offer both academically and in terms of the personal development opportunities planned for next year and beyond.
Amaan
Continuing with a focus on Sixth Form I want to share with you the news that Amaan in Year 12 came runner-up in this year’s Bradford Young Active Citizen T&A awards. They had this to say about him:
Amaan has been recognised as an inspiring young leader promoting kindness and inclusion. He has been involved in the Diana Antibullying Awards and served as a peer mentor, encouraging a supportive environment. Amaan volunteers in primary schools as a behaviour and bullying mentor, helping children manage emotions and resolve conflicts. He was awarded the Gold Student Leadership Accreditation from SSAT and nominated for the BBC Children in Need Fundraiser of the Year.
Amaan's dedication to leadership and community wellbeing makes him a true role model, fostering resilience and kindness while strengthening community bonds. His achievements highlight his commitment to making a positive difference."
We are immensely proud of Amaan and the young man he has become.
Finally, we have just one week of this academic year to go. We have a training day to prepare for our June2June move next Friday and on Monday 16th June each of our students will move up a year group and have a five head start on their new learning prior to the summer holidays. Lots of reminders have gone out about uniform, equipment and standards as we prepare for a very sharp start.
On Monday we have over 900 (yes 900!) students going to Flamingoland as part of our rewards strategy and I hope they have an incredible and memorable day.
To our students, families and friends that are celebrating today may I wish each of you a peaceful and joyous Eid Mubarak
Take care and thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Simon Wade, Headteacher
