Welcome back to Beckfoot
I usually wait a week or so before writing my first blog of the new academic year but there is a lot to share and so why wait!
Before I begin, I want to thank you for ensuring your children have returned to school fully prepared for learning, looking incredibly smart and happy. Speaking with so many of them over the past couple of days they have enjoyed the break and are now excited about being back at school, seeing friends and getting on with their education.
I want to extend a special welcome to our new Year 7 students who, I have to say, have made a brilliant start to their Beckfoot journey. On day one they were thrown straight into a series of lessons and challenges all based around one of our curriculum drivers which is seeking to develop our students as Confident Communicators. The sessions were based around our 6 Ps which are Punctual, Prepared, Proactive, Polite, Positive and Proud. These are the things that matter a great deal to us at Beckfoot and we wanted to ensure that we deliver these sessions using a variety of Oracy opportunities, games and teamwork. It was a fantastic day with so many of the Year 7 students stepping out of their comfort zones, getting involved and making new friends.
Year 11 and our new Year 12 students also retuned on Wednesday and they too have made a really strong start. I would also like to welcome those new to Beckfoot Sixth Form students who have gained a place with us to study at A Level.
Yesterday the remainder of the school returned and the building felt alive once again. It was really busy first thing and it was lovely to see so many of them happy and smiling. It was lovely to welcome them and chat to them before they headed off to lessons. Walking around the school during period 1 yesterday, I was reminded of the power and purpose of our June to June timetable because learning began from 8.30am with students knowing their timetables, knowing where they should be and ready to learn right from the start. There was no wasted time first thing and that was just wonderful to see.
The summer was full of highs and there were also a few low points which I will mention in this blog. Prior to doing so I want to share a little about the investment in the school over summer. The reason for this is that there is a lot of concern nationally about the condition of many schools. At Beckfoot we are fortunate to be able to continue to invest for our students. As you would expect, the building had a thorough deep clean in all areas. We have upgraded our fire and smoke alarm systems, invested in new desktop computers in ICT classrooms alongside the necessary software to give our students the best possible chance of success. We have laid new astroturf to our full sized pitch and MUGA areas. We have invested in Wi-Fi and made sure that areas that were looking a bit shabby were painted and cleaned. I am so thrilled to be able to provide a clean and facility laden environment for our young people. They deserve that as do our staff. I am grateful to our facilities management team, to our site manager and my business team who ensure Beckfoot is a really inviting place that is full of the best facilities we can offer to support our values of Enjoy, Learn, Succeed.
The summer, as I have said, was full of highs and some lows too. At the beginning of the holidays we received the devastating news that Erin in Year 13 had passed away. She was a wonderful young person who showed us what courage and determination looked like on a daily basis. She was full of spirit and incredibly happy to tell us what she thought from a young age! She had a phenomenal character; she was spirited and bright and very loyal. She loved Beckfoot and we will miss her dearly. We have been remembering Erin this week through our staff training and assemblies with our students and making sure that those who need support to deal with loss will have it.
Also this summer we had the riots. I have been talking to our students about this and my feelings about what happened. Despite the appalling experience for so many, the hope that has emerged nationally, for a better society, is the thing that we cling to. Our students are the ones that will change the world for the better and it is our job to remind them of that, of their potential to do amazing things, of their need to be kind and empathetic and their need to be the best version of themselves at all times. They will make the difference.
The summer was also very special for our school community. Our results have been incredibly positive and I would love to share some headlines with you:
A Level – the best results in the history of Beckfoot School
- An average grade of a B
- More students than ever getting into their first choice university
- More students than ever getting into the top Russell Group universities
- More students gaining places on degree apprenticeship courses including one who secured a highly coveted place with British Rail from thousands of applicants.
GCSE – the best progress achieved in the history of Beckfoot School
- 20% of students achieved the top grades 9-7 in both English and Maths
- Progress 8 (the measure that we are judged against) score of +0.46 against our previous best of +0.4 in 2022
- More students than ever leaving with the EBAC suite of qualifications (English, Maths, two or more Sciences, a Humanities subject and a Modern Foreign Language)
We are hugely proud of all our students and staff who have worked so hard to ensure more of our young people are achieving what they need to secure their next steps in education, further education and employment.
Finally, I would like to leave you with a few statistics around the impact of attendance this year on GCSE outcomes that is remarkably interesting and worth knowing.
- For those students who attended school for over 95% of the year - 85% of them secured a grade 4 or better in Maths and English with 72% securing a grade 5 or better in both subjects.
- For those who attend less than 90% of lessons the statistics drop by over 20% for both measures.
- For those who attend less 80% of lessons the drop is a heartbreaking 50% or more.
Success mattters to young people. It gives them choices for their next stpes in life and the confidence to do amazing things as they get older. Attendance is the single biggest factor in determining success or otherwise at school and is therefore hugely important. I thought it was was important to share.
Take care
Simon Wade, Headteacher
