CEO Blog

• Batley Get Talking

  Mon 16 Oct 2023

  During World Mental Health Day our Trust family of schools raised awareness about how important it is for us all to look after each other, not just for that one day, but every single day.

   

  This starts with ourselves in terms of keeping our bodies fit and healthy, eating well and sleeping well. It is also about being able to say when you are not feeling ok, and asking others for help. Sometimes it is ok, not to be ok. Each of our schools has a slightly different approach to wellbeing in their school for their young people, their staff and their community, but what unites us all is that looking after each other is a high priority for everyone!

   

  We support the national campaign Britain Get Talking and we ask that Batley Gets Talking. Our schools have school councils or student leadership groups and wellbeing champions/ambassadors so there are lots of different places where everyone can access support if they need it. We also ask parents/carers to help by speaking to their children regularly. As Dr Lucy Maddox, Consultant Clinical Psychologist said; "It's easy to think children and young people aren't aware of the things we're worrying about as a parent, but they often pick up more than we think, or they might have other worries of their own."

   

  Let's get Batley talking because, often, a problem shared is a problem halved. 

  

• Happy 60th Birthday: Batley Community Centre

  Mon 09 Oct 2023

  I was delighted to be invited to the 60th Birthday celebrations of Batley Community Centre on Saturday 7 October. The centre was jam-packed with friends old and new, all there to celebrate 60 successful years of community engagement.

   

  Our local MP, Kim Leadbeater gave an opening address, and the Mayor of Kirklees attended the event. The Batley Bulldogs mascot was also there to show the club's support for their local community. During the birthday celebrations the centre's main hall was renamed in memory of Mary Bateman, one of the initial founders of the centre. Mary was a highly committed woman who worked hard to ensure the vision of the centre became a reality for the people of Batley to use and enjoy.

   

  The centre has hosted many events from birthday parties, to political hustings, conferences, community Great Get Togethers and more over the years. 60 years later the centre is still going strong and is a testament to Mary's vision and hard work. There was even a special birthday cake made by one of our Trust Members, the very talented Fazila Aswat. Batley is a very special place to live, to work and to learn.

   

  Community Makes Us and the unity in community is key. 

  

• National recognition of success

  Mon 02 Oct 2023

  On Friday we celebrated National Teaching Assistants' Day across our Trust family of schools. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a highly trained, highly skilled and highly talented team of Teaching Assistants working in our schools, and we recognise each and every one of you and thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the brilliant help, support and guidance you provide for all our young people each and every day.

   

  It was an extra special celebration of success at Batley Girls' High School because Chloe Llewellyn was awarded Secondary Teaching Assistant of the Year! Chloe is incredibly hard-working, and passionate about ensuring every young person she works with can access the highest level of education. Chloe specialises in visually impaired support and is absolutely fantastic; she is completely committed and truly devoted to her role. During the award ceremony on Friday young people spoke from the heart about how Chloe has helped them to succeed and achieve. They paid tribute to how Chloe had motivated and inspired them, so much so, that they were able to speak in public in a room full of people. 

   

  Well done to Chloe for all her hard work and for achieving this wonderful award. Second place went to Vicky Graham, a truly brilliant member of the BGHS SEND team and special awards were presented to the whole team of Teaching Assistants at BGHS for their tremendous work.

   

  To all our Teaching Assistants across all our schools, well done, you are all winners in our eyes and you all go above and beyond each and every day to help our young people succeed. Thank you!