Last week, I had the distinct privilege of being invited to 10 Downing Street to attend an event hosted by the Prime Minister. Walking through that historic door, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride—not just for the invitation, but for what it represents: a recognition of the vital role education plays in the fabric of our society. Yet, as I stood there reflecting on the current state of our society, I couldn’t shake a heavy truth. We are living at a time when our country and our world feel incredibly divided. It can often feel like the loudest voices are those seeking to stoke hate, fracture communities, and pull us apart. When faced with those who seek to divide us, we cannot stay silent. We must stand up against division and actively demonstrate a fundamental truth: we have far more in common than that which divides us. To counter this friction, it is absolutely essential that we all work together to build a kinder, fairer, safer, and more compassionate world.   So, where does that massive piece of work begin? It begins in our classrooms.   Schools are the front lines of a healthier democracy and a more empathetic world. They are the unique spaces where we teach children to respect difference rather than fear it. In an age of algorithms and echo chambers, schools are where we equip young people with the critical thinking skills to identify fake news and challenge misinformation. Crucially, our schools promote respectful discussion and debate. We are teaching the next generation that they can hold completely different views and opinions without being rude or disrespectful to those across the aisle. Disagreement is healthy; division and disrespect are not. There is a beautiful quote that perfectly captures the weight of this mission: "Education does not change the world. Education changes people and people change the world."   We aren't just teaching subjects; we are shaping the future architects of our society. By fostering empathy, critical thought, kindness and compassion in our children today, we are ensuring they have the tools to build the fairer, safer world we all deserve to live in tomorrow.   This vital mission feels particularly poignant this month. This June, our schools are proudly taking part in The Great Get Together, helping to build a lasting legacy for our local MP, Jo Cox who was tragically murdered 10 years ago. Through education, community events, and daily acts of kindness, Batley continues to prove its incredible resilience. Let us use this upcoming anniversary not just to remember a tragedy, but to actively recommit to the values Jo stood for.   We would love for you to join us in this celebration of unity. You can take part this June by holding your own Great Get Together event, or by coming along to one of these wonderful community gatherings: Run for Jo: Sunday 21 June at Oakwell Hall. You can lace up your running (or walking) shoes and sign up here: racebest.com/races/runforjo2026. The Batley Bake Off: Thursday 25 June at 10:30am, hosted at Upper Batley High School. Healey School One Community Event: Thursday 9 July from 1:30pm to 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome!   Let us look forward together. My deepest thank you to our incredible members, trustees and governors, our staff, our learners, and our wider community for proving, day after day, that we are always stronger together and for working tirelessly every day to make this vision a reality.

I am absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with our entire community. One of our Trust schools has officially been named the Small Employer of the Year 2026. This award belongs to every single member of staff. It is a testament to the dedication, passion, and sheer hard work that defines our organisation.   In the education sector, it’s easy to focus solely on outcomes, data, and inspection frameworks. But we know the fundamental truth: for children to receive a great education, they need the very best staff. It is the great staff we employ who inspire the children in our schools. From our teachers in the classrooms to our associate staff teams in administration roles behind the scenes, and those colleagues in children facing roles for pastoral care, you are all the heartbeat of this Trust family. You create the environment where our young people can thrive. That is why our core philosophy has always been simple yet powerful in Batley:"We train staff so they could leave, but treat them so they choose to stay."   This belief is a key part of our vision to be the employer of choice. We don't just want you to work here; we want you to grow here, flourish here, and feel deeply valued every single day. Great staff belong in Batley. While this is a collective victory, I want to give a special shout-out to a few individuals and teams who have truly championed this ethos: Emma Rodrigues: Huge congratulations and thank you for your superb work across CPD, staff development, teacher training, career planning, and succession planning. Your dedication ensures that our team's professional growth never stands still. Fatima: A massive congratulations to our star maths apprentice! Your hard work and bright future represent exactly why we invest so heavily in early-career talent. Upper Batley High School: Congratulations to the entire team! Your collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence embody the very best of what our Trust family of schools stands for.   Being recognised as Small Employer of the Year is a proud milestone, but our journey doesn't end here. We will continue to invest in our staff well-being, professional development, and career pathways. Our whole trust is built on all of us learning all of the time: our staff and our young people. We are all learners each and every day.   Thank you to all our staff for everything you do for our learners, for each other, and for our Trust. Let's take a moment to celebrate this fantastic achievement together—you have earned it! Really well done Team Batley!