CEO Blog

• The power of reading. – 29 November 2021

  Mon 29 Nov 2021

  This week our Trust family of schools are celebrating the power of reading. Whether it is reading a bedtime story every night; older children reading to younger siblings; reading the newspaper; reading a great novel or your favourite magazine-all reading is good for the mind. Reading can help to relax and unwind, and can take you to far away places you have always wanted to visit. During these strange times of a global pandemic some escapism, or the chance to travel the world via a great book can never be underestimated. For young people reading is a crucial life skill, and an interdisciplinary skill which benefits every single subject area, and benefits your child’s progress overall. Reading for just 10 minutes each day has a hugely positive impact on children’s literacy levels, even turning subtitles on when your child is watching their favorite cartoon or movie really helps to encourage them to read. Never miss a reading opportunity. Those who say they don’t like reading, simply haven’t discovered the best books for them yet. Field Lane School has a wonderful new forest themed library, and Upper Batley High School has a community library where anyone is welcome to borrow books for free.

  

• Award Winning Schools. – 22 November 2021

  Mon 22 Nov 2021

  Several of our schools have already achieved Eco Schools Awards for their superb work around environmental issues. Our schools can each take a slightly different focus, all relevant to their individual needs and development ideas. Reducing waste, recycling and reusing items are key themes, as is travel to and from school. Our school Headteachers met with our local MP, Kim Leadbeater recently to discuss that very matter, amongst other key local developments. Our School Councils work hard on key issues they would like to lead on in their schools, and our young people are full of innovative and creative ideas for the future. Developing our young people as leaders, and developing their resilience and problem solving skills are key aspects of our work across our family of schools. These interdisciplinary skills are key to young people being successful adults, and having successful future careers in their chosen field of work. The young people in our schools today are tomorrow’s leaders.

  

• Lest we forget. – 15 November 2021

  Mon 15 Nov 2021

  Last Thursday on Armistice day, young people from across our family of schools, and from across our whole community came together to remember those who had lost loved ones, and those who have suffered through conflicts across the world. A two minute silence was held at 11am for quiet contemplation. Batley Memorial Gardens was filled with people from across our community, and the young people from across our family of Trust schools who represented our community incredibly well with the readings they gave. They were confident, articulate and respectful, and superb ambassadors for our school communities. The young people in our schools today, are the leaders of tomorrow. This community event brought people together from across Batley and Birstall, as everyone paid their respects to those who have suffered loss, injury or grief for us to have the freedoms we have in our society today. Community makes us.

  

• Great change happens when ordinary people do extraordinary things. – 8 November 2021

  Mon 08 Nov 2021

  With COP26 in full swing the young people in our family of schools have been discussing ways they can address climate change issues in both their home life and their school life. Our School Councils are busy developing their plans to further support protecting our planet for the next generation and beyond. Our young people have been looking at a variety of different actions they could take including recycling, reducing waste (paper, plastic, food etc), school transport and much more. Some of our young people have volunteered to work with Kirklees Council and their climate change group, and we are proud of our schools and all our young people for the proactive approach they are taking around this key issue. Our young people have shown great leadership here. Our Trust leaders are also looking at this matter. Our Headteachers and our Trustees are evaluating our energy efficiencies across our family of schools. Great things can happen when people work together. Our schools lie at the heart of our community and we all want to do whatever we can to build a better future for our children, our families and our community. As a great man once said “The time is always right, to do what is right”.

  

• The climate has no borders. – 1 November 2021

  Mon 01 Nov 2021

  We hope you have all enjoyed the half term break.Our family of schools finished last half term with Activate Week. A week where everyone tried to be more active, for both our own emotional wellbeing (healthy body, healthy mind) and for our planet. Some young people walked or cycled to school, rather than travel by car, and many families tried ‘park and stride’ where although they still travelled to school by car, or bus, they were dropped a little further away from the school gates and walked a little more than they usually would. Every little helps. This week some of the world leaders are meeting in Glasgow for COP26 to discuss climate change and what we can all do to help reduce pollution. In our local area reducing congestion on our roads is key, so reducing the number of cars on the road at school morning drop off and afternoon pick up times really does help to make a positive difference overall. The actions of each and every individual, make a big difference overall in protecting our planet for the next generations to enjoy as we have.