CEO Blog

• A Week of Community, Connection, and Continuing Jo’s Legacy

  Mon 29 Jun 2026
  Last week was nothing short of extraordinary for our Trust family of schools. Amidst a record-breaking summer heatwave, our school communities showed their true colours—resilient, creative and profoundly united.

   

  We came together to host a series of brilliant events in memory of Jo Cox as part of The Great Get Together 2026. The energy across our Trust family of schools was a powerful reminder of what makes our Trust so special: our unwavering commitment to community. The Great Get Together is all about celebrating the fantastic people who live and work alongside us, anchored in the timeless truth that we are far more united than that which divides us.

   

  Here are just a few of the unforgettable highlights from a remarkable week:

   

  The Batley Bake Off 2026

  Our signature baking competition reached new heights this year. We were deeply honoured to welcome Jo’s family again to join us for this special event. Jo’s parents Jean & Gordon are an amazing and inspirational couple, and her sister Kim (now an MP herself as well) is an inspiration, and is highly committed to the importance of education and building strong communities. Despite the sweltering temperatures in the kitchens and halls, the standard of entries was incredibly high again this year. From stunning showstoppers to perfectly executed bakes, our learners and staff showcased immense talent, making the judging panel’s job exceptionally difficult! Congratulations to Batley Grammar School who won first prize for their apple extravaganza - their entry consisted of home grown apples made into delicious apple crumble, apple cheesecake, apple aid, chocolate apples and even apple curry-wow! A real taste extravaganza!

   

  'Step into the Future' & A View From Above

  On Friday, our energy shifted to the future. Our Step into the Future event featured a breath-taking performance by the cast of Matilda, who were absolutely superb and captured the hearts of everyone in attendance. A fantastic, heartfelt speech was delivered by two inspirational school leaders; Mrs Lockwood and Mrs Sawyer. 

   

  Following the performances, more than 250 learners gathered on the Batley Girls’ High School field under the blazing sun. Standing side-by-side, they perfectly spelled out Jo’s name on the grass. A drone captured the moment beautifully from the sky—a stunning visual tribute to a legacy that continues to guide us.

   

  Inspiring Words from Kim Leadbeater MP

  We were privileged to be joined by local MP Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister. Kim spoke movingly to our young people about her sister, their shared journey as local girls into politics, and the vital importance of civic engagement. Her message to our learners was powerful and clear: your voice matters, you matter, and we can all make a positive difference in this world.

   

  Unity in Community is Key

  Our Trust family of schools is built on the foundation of community. Seeing our learners, staff, governors and local people from our community brave the heat to celebrate togetherness proved that unity isn't just a word we use—it is a value we live out every single day.

   

  I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every teacher, associate staff member, learner, and volunteer who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make last week a huge success. You didn't just host events; you created memories, fostered belonging, and ensured that Jo’s message of unity burns as brightly as ever.

   

  Thank you all for making our Trust a beacon of community spirit.

  

• A Huge Thank You: Run for Jo 2026

  Mon 22 Jun 2026

  Today I wanted to extend my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to everyone who volunteered their time so generously to support the Run for Jo 2026 this past weekend. It was a truly wonderful day that brought our entire community together. This year was particularly poignant as we marked 10 years of building a stronger, more collaborative, caring and compassionate community - continuing to build a lasting legacy to Jo Cox and celebrating the very values she stood for.

   

  Coinciding with Father’s Day, it was also a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all the wonderful dads and father figures across our schools and our community. And, of course, a massive highlight for our younger participants (and many older ones!) was meeting George from CBeebies, which brought an extra dose of joy to the day. What made the day truly exceptional was seeing the incredible representation from every single level of our organisation. We had Members, Trustees, Governors, Leaders, school staff, learners, and parents/carers all standing side-by-side. This demonstrates powerfully how our Trust lives by its values and how committed our staff are with many giving up their time so generously over the past year (and for some colleagues, the past 10 years) to plan, organise and support great community events such as these. We have planners, organisers, volunteers, runners, walkers and cyclists-so many tremendous people in one fantastic community. 

   

  Days like this reinforce exactly why we do what we do. Our Trust’s mission is simple yet profound: to be the Trust at the heart of the Batley community.

   

  Seeing our fantastic community unite with such energy and spirit proved once again that we are achieving that mission together. Thank you for your selflessness, your energy, and your unwavering dedication to our community. You are what makes our Trust so special.

   

  We have two more Great Get Together community events planned for this week, with the famous Batley Bake Off running on Thursday 25 June at 10.30am at Upper Batley High School. Then, on Friday 26 June at 10am the Step Into The Future event at Batley Girls' High School. Then, our grand finale this summer is the Healey One Community event on Thursday 9 July at 1.30pm at Healey School.

   

  The standard of competition at Batley Bake Off gets better and better, year by year. Whether you enjoy making cakes, or eating cakes, or simply coming along to watch - everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!

  

• Stronger Together: Why Education is Our Strongest Antidote to Division

  Mon 15 Jun 2026

  Last week, I had the distinct privilege of being invited to 10 Downing Street to attend an event hosted by the Prime Minister. Walking through that historic door, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride—not just for the invitation, but for what it represents: a recognition of the vital role education plays in the fabric of our society. Yet, as I stood there reflecting on the current state of our society, I couldn’t shake a heavy truth. We are living at a time when our country and our world feel incredibly divided. It can often feel like the loudest voices are those seeking to stoke hate, fracture communities, and pull us apart. When faced with those who seek to divide us, we cannot stay silent. We must stand up against division and actively demonstrate a fundamental truth: we have far more in common than that which divides us. To counter this friction, it is absolutely essential that we all work together to build a kinder, fairer, safer, and more compassionate world.

   

  So, where does that massive piece of work begin? It begins in our classrooms.

   

  Schools are the front lines of a healthier democracy and a more empathetic world. They are the unique spaces where we teach children to respect difference rather than fear it. In an age of algorithms and echo chambers, schools are where we equip young people with the critical thinking skills to identify fake news and challenge misinformation. Crucially, our schools promote respectful discussion and debate. We are teaching the next generation that they can hold completely different views and opinions without being rude or disrespectful to those across the aisle. Disagreement is healthy; division and disrespect are not. There is a beautiful quote that perfectly captures the weight of this mission: "Education does not change the world. Education changes people and people change the world."

   

  We aren't just teaching subjects; we are shaping the future architects of our society. By fostering empathy, critical thought, kindness and compassion in our children today, we are ensuring they have the tools to build the fairer, safer world we all deserve to live in tomorrow.

   

  This vital mission feels particularly poignant this month. This June, our schools are proudly taking part in The Great Get Together, helping to build a lasting legacy for our local MP, Jo Cox who was tragically murdered 10 years ago. Through education, community events, and daily acts of kindness, Batley continues to prove its incredible resilience. Let us use this upcoming anniversary not just to remember a tragedy, but to actively recommit to the values Jo stood for.

   

  We would love for you to join us in this celebration of unity. You can take part this June by holding your own Great Get Together event, or by coming along to one of these wonderful community gatherings:

  • Run for Jo: Sunday 21 June at Oakwell Hall. You can lace up your running (or walking) shoes and sign up here: racebest.com/races/runforjo2026.

  • The Batley Bake Off: Thursday 25 June at 10:30am, hosted at Upper Batley High School.

  • Healey School One Community Event: Thursday 9 July from 1:30pm to 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome!

   

  Let us look forward together. My deepest thank you to our incredible members, trustees and governors, our staff, our learners, and our wider community for proving, day after day, that we are always stronger together and for working tirelessly every day to make this vision a reality.

  

• Celebrating Team Batley: We are the 'Small Employer of the Year 2026'

  Mon 08 Jun 2026

  I am absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with our entire community. One of our Trust schools has officially been named the Small Employer of the Year 2026. This award belongs to every single member of staff. It is a testament to the dedication, passion, and sheer hard work that defines our organisation.

   

  In the education sector, it’s easy to focus solely on outcomes, data, and inspection frameworks. But we know the fundamental truth: for children to receive a great education, they need the very best staff.

  It is the great staff we employ who inspire the children in our schools. From our teachers in the classrooms to our associate staff teams in administration roles behind the scenes, and those colleagues in children facing roles for pastoral care, you are all the heartbeat of this Trust family. You create the environment where our young people can thrive. That is why our core philosophy has always been simple yet powerful in Batley:"We train staff so they could leave, but treat them so they choose to stay."

   

  This belief is a key part of our vision to be the employer of choice. We don't just want you to work here; we want you to grow here, flourish here, and feel deeply valued every single day. Great staff belong in Batley. While this is a collective victory, I want to give a special shout-out to a few individuals and teams who have truly championed this ethos:

  • Emma Rodrigues: Huge congratulations and thank you for your superb work across CPD, staff development, teacher training, career planning, and succession planning. Your dedication ensures that our team's professional growth never stands still.

  • Fatima: A massive congratulations to our star maths apprentice! Your hard work and bright future represent exactly why we invest so heavily in early-career talent.

  • Upper Batley High School: Congratulations to the entire team! Your collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence embody the very best of what our Trust family of schools stands for.

   

  Being recognised as Small Employer of the Year is a proud milestone, but our journey doesn't end here. We will continue to invest in our staff well-being, professional development, and career pathways. Our whole trust is built on all of us learning all of the time: our staff and our young people. We are all learners each and every day.

   

  Thank you to all our staff for everything you do for our learners, for each other, and for our Trust. Let's take a moment to celebrate this fantastic achievement together—you have earned it! Really well done Team Batley!

  

• Batley Brilliance Case Study

  Mon 01 Jun 2026

  Welcome back! 

   

  We have reached the last half term of this academic year and we hope everyone enjoyed the break and to everyone celebrating Eid we hope you had a wonderful time. This week I would like to share some wonderful news about our trust wide work on equality and belonging. When we first set out on our mission to redefine what inclusive education looks like, we knew that true change wouldn't happen overnight. It requires a quiet, relentless commitment to making sure every single learner and staff member feels seen, heard and valued.

   

  Today, I am incredibly proud to share a moment where that relentless commitment has been recognised on a global stage. One of our own schools has just been selected as a Best Practice Listening Hub by the Global Equalities Collective (GEC). In the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) space, it is easy to focus on policies, metrics and checkboxes. However, the leadership team, staff and learners at Batley Girls' High School understood a fundamental truth: you cannot build a truly inclusive community without first mastering the art of listening.

   

  By establishing a dedicated Listening Hub, Batley Girls' created a safe, brave space where marginalised voices are amplified, lived experiences are honoured, and constructive, sometimes uncomfortable, conversations can happen safely. It wasn’t just about hosting meetings; it was about embedding active listening into the very fabric of their daily culture. The Global Equalities Collective recognised this proactive, empathetic framework as a blueprint for schools worldwide. Our colleagues aren't just hitting standards—they are setting them. Inclusion is not a project with a deadline; it is a continuous practice of empathy. This recognition proves that when we listen with the intent to understand, rather than just respond, we unlock the true potential of our community.

   

  This achievement and recognition is wonderful for Batley Girls' High School, and the highly talented Amy Wilby, the Assistant Headteacher who led on this piece of work, but it is also a beacon for our entire Trust. It proves that the frameworks we are championing are not just theoretical concepts—they work in practice, and they transform lives. When learners feel a genuine sense of belonging and togetherness, their capacity to learn, innovate and grow expands exponentially. When staff feel safe, valued and appreciated, they do their best work.

   

  A heartfelt thank you goes out to all our staff, across all our schools who work tirelessly to do their very best for the young people we serve. Thank you for your vulnerability, your dedication, and your refusal to settle for the status quo. This is about leading with heart, and doing the very best for our learners and the colleagues we work with. In Batley we are one big team. As an educational community, let’s use this milestone not as a finish line, but as fuel. Let's keep listening. Let's keep learning. And let's keep leading the way toward a fairer, more inclusive world.

   

  As a great man once said; 'Education does not change the world, but education changes people, and people change the world.'