Last week we were delighted to celebrate 10 years of the Yorkshire Rose Teaching Partnership. This part of our Trust family of schools' work is led by the hugely talented Emma Rodrigues who does a fabulous job at delivering high quality teacher training, bespoke CPD including NPQ programmes, and working with other Trusts and organisations across our region. We are very proud of this system leadership work to support the recruitment and retention of the very best teachers and future leaders for schools across Calderdale and Kirklees.    Colleagues who trained with us over the past decade joined us for this special 10 year anniversary event. It was a wonderful evening, to share their stories and see how many of them have gone on to achieve promoted posts within our Trusty family of schools, and in schools across the region. We are very proud of all of them and their achievements. Some of our trainees are now teaching all around the world; in Australia, Dubai and across Europe. Many of these colleagues sent their best wishes and fond memories of their time training in Batley.   This celebration was opened by two fabulous Year 5 learners from Field Lane school who spoke incredibly confidently, and articulately, about why education matters in Batley. They were absolutely inspirational! 

Sport is good for the mind, as well as the body, and it can also be a fantastic way to unite people around a common goal; whether that's supporting your local or national team, or indeed raising money for a worthy cause.   A group of learners in one school in our Trust family, recently did just that. Young people from a range of year groups, who are all members of the school council, took part in a sponsored bike ride on the Spen Valley Greenway to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. This charity was chosen by the group, decided by a vote, due to the fact the disease affects a lot of people across the UK, many of whom include families of learners' across our Trust family. This helped to provide the motivation required to cycle the 14 miles to Bradford and back. They raised over £650, thanks to the support of the school community and the wider community - a huge well done to everyone involved, we're really proud of your achievements!   Without a doubt, it would have been amazing to wake up celebrating an England win in the Euro 2024. However, we are incredibly proud of our England football team, and manager Gareth Southgate for what they've achieved during the tournament. Reaching the final (and reaching back-to-back Euros' finals) is a hugely significant achievement in itself and the whole team should be extremely proud of that. We certainly are thoroughly proud of all of them; the players (and there have been some fantastic goals and exciting moments that will long be remembered), the manager, and the whole team behind the scenes. There are many unsung heroes who make the magic happen. The dream may be over, but only for now!   What sport, and a loss, does teach us is resilience, and how to be tenacious and try again, try harder and never to give up. Not now, does not mean not ever! If you want something enough, you find a way to make it happen, which is a worthwhile lesson for us all in life.