Welcome back! We hope you have all enjoyed the half term break and time spent with family and friends. Many of our learners have now almost finished their assessments this year, whether that's our primary aged learners, our secondary learners, our sixth formers, or our adults doing their teacher training. With only seven weeks to go until the summer break, we have a busy time ahead, with lots of inspiring learning taking place each and every day, in every Trust school. Every Day Counts.    There are sports days, plays and productions, visits to colleges and universities, and a big transition day in July for all our Year 6 learners who will visit their new secondary schools. This half term is an exciting time of change and transition, and a time of new beginnings, when everyone looks ahead towards a bright and successful future.    Our Eco Schools work is thriving and HUGE congratulations to Upper Batley High School, whose work has once again been recognised by the Eco School Award with Distinction. Well done to Lisa Woods and the Upper Batley team!   June is also the month of the Great Get Together. This is a national campaign about bringing people together to tackle loneliness through one connection at a time. Inspired by our MP, Jo Cox, the Great Get Together started as a coffee morning in Batley and is now an international movement with Great Get Together activities taking place all across the world! We celebrate bringing our community together as often as we can, especially in June. This year we have these fantastic events for you to get involved in:   Step Into The Future: Thursday 19 June - a virtual event connecting our Year 6 and Year 7 learners. Run for Jo: Sunday 22 June at Oakwell Hall - a 2.5K family fun run, and a 6.5K run for everyone who would like to get involved. Batley Bake Off: Friday 27 June at Upper Batley High School 10:00am-12:00pm. Bake a birthday cake for Jo, which can be any theme of your choice. There are prizes available for first, second and third place, or simply come along to try the cakes!   Community Makes Us and the unity in community is key.   

In Batley some businesses are booming, despite the current economic challenges, and this is a great learning opportunity for our young people, allowing them to observe and understand such matters as:   How do you set up your own business? How do you run a company efficiently and effectively, in the current economic climate? How do you survive and thrive, despite the challenges you face? How do you develop the resilience and grit you need to keep going, regardless of what life may throw at you? Resilience is that 'bouncebackability' that we all need.    All of these are key questions for young people, as well as key lessons for life. Life can be tough at any age, but developing coping strategies and managing to succeed are essential. Our learners take part in projects involving highly successful local businesses and learn about their story, their business mission and vision, and take part in some really engaging, real-life learning activities.    Currently, our secondary school learners from Batley Girls', Batley Grammar and Upper Batley are working with a local entrepreneur and his Batley-based business, Pugata Jewellery. Young people are learning about the key areas of the business and are designing their own piece of jewellery that will be manufactured and showcased at London Fashion Week. Wow - what an amazing example of more Batley Brilliance, and such an exciting careers curriculum enrichment project for our learners. We cannot wait to see their innovative jewellery designs.