CEO Blog

• TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More

  Mon 24 Nov 2025
  This week we would like to bring to your attention a fantastic teacher from Upper Batley High School (UBHS) who is going over and above to raise money for the Phoenix Project (the transformation of the school's Forest School outdoor learning space), and raise the profile of the importance of men's mental health.

   

  Mr Linney helped to set up the Go Fund Me page for UBHS to raise funds to rebuild the Forest School following the terrible arson attack that took place during the school's summer break. So far they have raised almost £2000, which is superb! Well done Mr Linney and Team UBHS - please make a donation if you can, every £1 helps! https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-rebuild-our-forest-school

   

  Mr Linney has also taken on the Chad 1000X workout both to raise funds and awareness of the importance of mental health and resilience. This challenge takes place to raise awareness and remind us of the power of mental resilience and the importance of supporting those who struggle in silence. The workout includes 1,000 box steps whilst carrying a 20kg rucksack. “Chad” represents the grind of perseverance — one step at a time. The repetitive motion is symbolic: progress can feel slow, effort can feel endless, but every step matters. Mr Linney explains why it matters below and was very proud to complete his challenge in 60 minutes and 38 seconds. Well done, Mr Linney!

   

  Why it matters:

  • Mental resilience: Completing 1,000 step-ups requires focus, patience, and determination. It’s an opportunity to train your mind to stay calm and to finish what you start.

  • Physical resilience: The legs, heart, and lungs are tested in equal measure. It’s not about speed, but consistency and discipline.

  • Community: Many gyms and organisations complete “Chad” together to raise awareness and to remind participants that no one should carry their burdens alone.

   

  Move with purpose and honour resilience — in body and in mind. Life can throw us all curveballs. Yet even when things seem tough, there’s a lot we can do to look after ourselves and others. Throughout Movember, across the country and the world, people are raising awareness about the importance of men's mental health. There are so many strategies that can help men cope and live happier, healthier, longer lives –no matter what life throws at them. We think about all of the great young men who study in our Trust family of schools, and the great men who work in our schools. Support is here for you all, you are never alone. 

  

• We have far more in common

  Mon 17 Nov 2025

  Our Trust leaders and Headteachers wore their odd socks to support anti-bullying last week. Bullying has no place in society or in our schools, and when it occurs in our schools it is dealt with swiftly. Every individual is unique, and it is those differences which should be shared, celebrated and respected in life. The culture of a school flows directly from its leadership and it is up to us to model the behaviour we expect from every individual in our learning communities. Schools are places where children learn, thrive and achieve, and where children grow in confidence and self-esteem. Our schools achieve excellent educational outcomes, and are also about children learning to be the best version of themselves as they Believe, Achieve and Succeed. In all of our schools we follow the Batley Way. This is all about treating every individual with respect, and treating others and you would wish to be treated yourself. We respect each other, look after each other and care about each other. Every school is a great place for children to learn, and adults to work. 

   

  Last week we had a real focus on anti-bullying across our Trust family of schools to raise awareness of the types of bullying, the impact it can have, and how to stop it. We have some fabulous initiatives in place, all based on an ethos of respect.

   

  Respect is at the heart of everything we do and our 3 basic principles in every school are:

   

  Respect Self

  Respect Environment

  Respect Community

   

  Our schools have Learner Leadership Teams, Anti-Bullying Champions and Ambassadors, Listeners, Wellbeing Wizards and so much more. We champion anti-bullying through everything we do each and every day. Bullying has no place in our schools, instead it is a culture of respect and celebrating difference for we are all unique in our own special ways. As a great woman once said, 'we have far more in common than that which divides us.' 

  

• International Connections

  Mon 10 Nov 2025

  Last Thursday we were delighted to host international guests at one of our Trust schools. Upper Batley High School (UBHS) hosted a delegation from India and visitors heard all about the great work being undertaken at UBHS to develop curriculum, embed high-quality pedagogy and practice, and all of the great learning activities that take place each and every day to make UBHS such a high-achieving boys' school in every area. Visitors enjoyed a tour of the school to meet the learners and the staff, and see great learning in action in the classrooms. 

   

  Mrs Dent was the mastermind of the visit. She has worked hard over recent years to build strong connections with schools in India. In year 1, a group of learners accompanied her to teach in schools for children with visual and hearing impairments, she then returned to India last academic year to train teachers and deliver more engaging science and STEM activities and she visits India again next week for further work with staff and young people in schools.

   

  In the afternoon we were then delighted that Baroness Jan Royall could join the delegation. She spoke particularly to our young people and Mr Sherrard, our fantastic careers leader. Baroness Royall asked learners about why education matters to them and what makes Batley a great place to learn. We thank our visitors for spending the day with us here in Batley. Batley = Brilliance in education. 

  

• Project Phoenix

  Mon 03 Nov 2025

  Welcome back! We hope you have enjoyed the half term break with time spent with family and friends to relax, enjoy and recuperate ready for the next half term. The key message for this half term is: Attendance, Attendance, Attendance. 

   

  Attendance 1- to achieve well you need to attend well

  We would like to congratulate all our learners with 98%+ attendance in half term 1. That is absolutely brilliant - well done to you all. Special rewards and certificates are on their way to each of you. However, the biggest reward is identified from research which proves those learners who attend well, achieve well! With 98%+ attendance those learners are already well on their way to high achievement this year - really well done and keep up the great work! 

   

  Attendance 2 - when you attend well, there are so many exciting events to take part in

  In Batley, we are incredibly fortunate to have so many great events and activities taking place across our Trust family of schools. Forest School is one of those events. Tragically in August the Forest School and outdoor classroom were burned down by vandals. However, from the ashes rises Project Phoenix and the UBHS team are building back their Forest School to be even bigger and better than ever. They have set up a Go Fund Me page to help us raise the money we need to rebuild our Forest School so even more learners can enjoy it. Please make a donation if you can. We have over 4700 learners and over 700 staff - if everyone donated just £1 we would have £5400 to help us get started - and that's before any other friends, local residents or businesses helped us out. Please give what you can - every £1 matters. Last half term a bake sale made over £400 towards this good cause -thank you to all the parents/carers who supported that event. Forest School is one of the enrichment activities our learners love. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-rebuild-our-forest-school

   

  Attendance 3 - it's not too late

  For any learners who didn't quite reach 98% it isn't too late. Try for this half term to achieve at least 98% (or why not go for 100%? That's even better still!) and earn rewards in December. You can do this! Every Day Matters.