CEO Blog

• Season's Greetings

  Mon 16 Dec 2024

  It is hard to believe that 2024 is coming to an end. It has been a fantastic year for our Trust family of schools. We have won awards, featured as a case study for best-practice in a new book about special educational needs, titled 'Beyond Boundaries', our work on ethical leadership received recognition in the House of Lords, we have received great feedback from Ofsted with our Smart Academy being described as exceptional, our talented singers performed recently in the Batley lights switch on and Batley Girls' are hosting a brilliant festive themed escape room in their library. This week we have a huge array of activities taking place including celebration assemblies, end of term productions, nativities and plays, and Batley Grammar School presents their production of Annie. 

   

  Wow - oh what a year!

   

  We are also collecting donations of food and toiletries this week in all our schools so that we can help families across Batley over the festive period. Every little donation goes a long way. 

   

  We would like to thank our whole community for the support they have shown us in 2024 and we are excited for what 2025 will bring - certainly more brilliance in Batley! Have a wonderful Christmas break everyone. 

  

• Festive cheer

  Mon 09 Dec 2024
  The Batley Multi Academy Trust schools were delighted to be invited back (by popular demand) to perform at the 2024 Batley Christmas lights switch on event. Learners from across our Trust family of schools joined together to perform some festive songs in Batley market place. The backdrop was stunning, in front of Batley library, which is situated in the historic Grade II listed Carnegie Building, a timeless Batley landmark. The town square was packed full of parents/carers, Trust school colleagues and members of our local community, all eagerly awaiting the Christmas lights switch on.

   

  Our learners were fantastic and they filled the town square with wonderful songs and good cheer to warm everyone up on a chilly evening, followed by a brass band from Woodkirk Academy which continued the festive music. The feeling of being proud to live and work in Batley was evident; there was a strong sense of community and belonging as people supported local businesses at the stalls, as well as local talent in the performances. A great time was had by all. As we always say in Batley; Community Makes Us and the unity in community is key. Some of you may have even recognised Santa's Elf was none other than our very own Ms Rodrigues! We can't wait until 2025 to perform for the town again.

   

  Over the next two school weeks of this academic year so many exciting community events, shows and productions are taking place and we hope you'll take the time to visit our schools and see our learners' wide range of unique skills and talents. In Batley, learning doesn't simply start and stop at the school gates.  

  

• London launch of Beyond Boundaries

  Mon 02 Dec 2024

  Batley Multi Academy Trust was delighted to be invited to attend the launch event in London for contributors to the fantastic new book about leading great SEND provision, titled 'Beyond Boundaries', written by the amazing Natalie Packer and David Bartram.

   

  Natalie and David are two of the best SEND experts there are. They are passionate about young people, inclusive education and how it is our absolute duty as educators to ensure all our young people get the very best start in life. As we always say in our Trust family of schools, no child left behind - ever. 

   

  The book is packed with practical tips, ideas and strategies for success and pulls together a diverse range of voices from across the sector. The book inspires readers to consider, not simply that high quality SEND provision is one of the biggest challenges facing our sector currently, but it offers solutions to overcome those challenges and inspires us all to be creative in how we find ways to overcome those challenges. Where there is a will, there is always a way. We cannot wait for the Government to play catch up with a national strategy for SEND because these amazing children are in our schools now.

   

  Therefore, in terms of providing a fantastic education coupled with high-quality care, guidance and support for all our young people we say, 'If not us, then who? If not now, then when?'