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Beckfoot Trust is an organisation that links a group of local Bradford schools together so that they can collectively improve the life chances for young people within their schools. Our aim is to create a group of truly remarkable schools each with a genuine comprehensive intake. They will be wonderful places for young people to learn and grow up in. We want to make a difference. We want to create something special.

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Students and Staff continue to shine

It’s October already and at this time of year, I am always taken by surprise at how quickly the weeks seems to pass. I guess it’s because things are so busy in such a vibrant school community.

I want to talk in the first half of this Blog about our students and then tell you a little about some events that have been happening in school too.

James 1To begin I want to share the news that James, in Year 11, has just been offered a place in the 1st Violin section of the National Youth Orchestra 2025 and a subsidiary role as one of the String Leaders. James 2James had the privilege of playing with the National Youth Orchestra for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in August with the concert being shown on BBC1 and currently on iPlayer. It is such an incredible thing for James to be a part of and it is very much down to a combination of his talent and hard work that has led him to this point.

Also in Year 11, Lauren and Ben continue to do the most wonderful things outside school in their respective sports of Athletics and Golf. Lauren recently competed at a national athletics meet in Stafford coming away with another gold and also a bronze. She has enjoyed much deserved success this season and remains ambitious for more. Ben recently took part in the annual Beckfoot (not related to school) golf competition at his local club, Shipley. He is a keen golfer and throughout the season he has won through 7 rounds of matchplay to get into the Beckfoot cup final which is the singles knockout competition. Ben is the first under 16 player to not only reach the final but also to win it. Speaking with him earlier this week he is thrilled as are we. The thing that all 3 have in common is their humility and drive. They are of course talented but they work incredibly hard in their respective fields and I love that about each of them.

Since my last Blog there have also been lots of events taking place that I want to share with you. I will start with the European Day of Languages which was organised by Ms. Dye and supported hugely by the Modern Foreign Languages team as well as the whole staff. Many of you will know the two biggest regrets in my life are that I cannot speak another language fluently and I cannot play a musical instrument. I want our students to have the best opportunities we can give to them both through our curriculum and our enrichment programme. It is for that reason that I love this day. I love how we highlight the importance of languages to students through such things as lessons, assemblies and displays. I love the excitement of our students as they try to find the answers to the treasure hunt questions and I love the constant reminders that language is so important because the world is changing and our need to communicate brilliantly on a global scale has never been more important. Languages matter.

In other events we sent a number of our Design and Technology students to a National Manufacturing Day event at West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services (WYMS) in Brighouse. They had the opportunity to speak to different businesses, have a hands-on experience learning all about the modern technology available in manufacturing and ask experts and apprentices questions about their companies and the different career paths they could follow. Across the morning our students experienced things such as F1 racing, VR, robotics, 3D printing and had a go on the world's leading mixing desks, all of which helps to inspire their future plans. These are the days that provide inspiration for so many. These are the days that broaden minds and horizons as to what is possible beyond Beckfoot and that is why we continue to provide as many opportunities as possible to bring the future to life for our students.

Speaking of the future and the ambitions of our young people, we were visited by Cathy from Queens College, Cambridge last week. She launched the Lucy Cavendish Programme with some of our highest achieving Year 12 students. The focus of this programme is on raising attainment, by supporting students across Year 12 and Year 13 in their A-Level studies, and in making applications to competitive universities. As part of the programme, students will get access to subject-specific enrichment classes led by experts, to allow them to develop and expand on their knowledge of the content of their A-Levels, and to help them to achieve the very best grades in their examinations. They will also attend peer discussion groups, to prepare them for the university environment by improving their oracy and their problem-solving skills. They will receive advice from the Lucy Cavendish College Admissions Team on every stage of the university application process across the two years, and they will complete a super curricular Exploration Project to encourage them to think more seriously about their degree choices. Finally, they will receive subject-specific revision guidance in the lead up to their exams, to ensure they are best placed to achieve the best grades. This is our first time giving students the opportunity to be part of such a programme, but data shows that 9 in 10 students who have previously accessed it, from other schools, received offers to study at Russell Group universities, and over the past 2 years participants have almost doubled their chances of being offered a place at either Oxford or Cambridge. We are excited about the potential of this provision. We are excited that more of our students feel they have every right to study at the best universities because they have the ability and talent to shine in any situation or environment. I feel strongly that we do all we can to prepare our students for whatever it is they aspire to do. That we give them the confidence to believe they are as good if not better than others seeking to travel a similar path and that they are clear about the importance of ambition and hard work. These things matter.

Yesterday I shared some information about the exploits of Dr. Wright, one of my Assistant Headteachers and Head of Sixth form. Last weekend he was invited to talk about our Sixth Form at the ResearchEd conference in Belfast. He shared our journey over recent years that began with the desire to create a remarkable Post-16 provision for Beckfoot students. He talked about strengthening Sixth Form provision, covering key features such as enriching Post-16 pedagogy and fostering positive student behaviour, attitudes, and Independent Learning skills (5 Hours in). He talked about our approach to Atomic Habits. He discussed the Personal Development programme, which nurtures growth through volunteering, leadership, and CEIAG (Careers Education, Information Advice and Guidance). He explored strategies that make a lasting impact on students, positioning our Sixth Form at the centre of our school community. The presentation was received brilliantly with over 25 schools and colleges in touch with us just this week to find out more about what we do, how we do it and why. It is an exciting time for our Sixth Form community and I really believe that the students who are with us in Years 12 and 13 currently are shaping the future for us and those in younger years. Long may that continue.

VivFinally, I want to end with news about one of our Teaching Assistants, Viv Mcdonald. Viv decided to retire and, in doing so, end her Beckfoot adventure yesterday. Viv started at Beckfoot with me in 2002 and has been a favourite with staff, students and families for over 20 years, She is one of the most positive, honest and caring people I have ever worked with. Her dedication to our students, many of whom have been our most vulnerable, has been humbling. She cares deeply about young people and her work has always been about providing the best possible support and experiences to those in her care whilst at Beckfoot. She leaves us on the highest of highs having led our table cricket team to the national title this summer at Lords, the home of cricket. Viv is a special person and the reactions to her leaving tell the story. There have been lots of laughs and lots of tears. There have been lots of contact from families and staff many of whom have left Beckfoot for many years. She has left her mark on our school and she will be missed hugely. Goodbye Viv. Enjoy the journey that lies ahead and thank you for everything.

Take care

Simon Wade, Headteacher


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