CEO Blog

• Batley Brilliance

  Mon 12 Jan 2026

  Healey School was absolutely inspirational in their recent Batley Brilliance event. Trustees, governors, school leaders and colleagues from across the Trust family of schools were invited to see what unique strengths and talents Healey School and their superb learners have. Healey School did not disappoint!

   

  Mrs Lang, the Headteacher, shared her vision for the school, and their plans for future progress and development. School Leaders demonstrated the progress made in key areas such as maths, reading, writing and personal, social, health and economic education. 2025 saw great results in Key Stage 2 and even more success is predicted in 2026 and beyond. Every decision Healey School leaders make is child-centred. 

   

  Healey learners then stole the show when the choir performed the Power of Me which was truly inspirational. There was hardly a dry eye in the hall! The school's Attendance Ambassadors then talked about the importance of attendance and explained how they help all children across the school to have good attendance because Every Day Matters. The School's Learner Leaders then talked about how and why they were elected, and what role they play to help others.

   

  The school's values of 'Achieve, Believe and Succeed' shone through in every area of school life and every individual who spoke in the hall. One of the highly talented school governors had also made some absolutely delicious cakes and delicacies, complete with Healey School's logo and values. Well done Team Healey! Truly inspirational. 

  

• Happy New Year - 2026!

  Mon 05 Jan 2026

  Welcome back and Happy New Year! We know 2026 will be a great year in Batley for our Trust family of schools because our brilliant staff team have so many exciting learning activities planned for our young people. 2026 will be a year of high-quality education, inspiring and enriching educational activities which deliver success for all!

   

  Whilst there are so many challenges to face financially within the education sector, issues such as division across the country and the world; and heart-breaking tragedies some people face, we realise at the start of the new year that we can only control the controllables. Rather like the weather, which we cannot change, we also cannot change much of what the world throws at us. However, we can decide how it will affect us and how we will respond.

   

  As the highly acclaimed author Mel Robbins writes; rather like the weather, consider the true nature of the sky. The clouds that once frustrated you can be seen as a larger, ever-changing masterpiece. The storms that once frightened you are now moments of power and beauty, teaching you resilience and strength. The sky's unpredictability is what makes it so magnificent, so endlessly fascinating. 

   

  Therefore, consider that the sky will do what it does - clouds will gather, snow may arrive, storms will come, and the sun will shine when it pleases. You can't control it, but you can control how you navigate beneath it. You can carry an umbrella; you can dance in the rain, you can open schools in the snow and deliver great science & geography lessons about why snow falls (and great assemblies all about resilience and how to overcome any obstacle) and you can chase the sun when you need to!

   

  In Batley, we choose to maximise every learning experience we can. We recruit and retain only the very best staff in our teams, because they will deliver the best education for our children. We train our staff well so they could choose to leave, but we treat them well so they choose to stay.

   

  These great staff teams deliver a super education for all our children and give them the very best start in life. We can see this through strong attendance, high academic outcomes, great careers experiences and educational enrichment opportunities that take learning beyond the school gates. We never miss a learning opportunity. Every Day Matters.

   

  We look forward to seeing our young people believe, achieve and succeed in 2026 and beyond and we will support them to do so every step of the way. 

  

• Batley Brilliance

  Mon 15 Dec 2025
  The last school Monday of 2025 is here and we end the year in style with the Field Lane Batley Brilliance event. The new Headteacher, Mr Lorgat outlined his vision for making Field Lane a world class school. The new Assistant Headteacher, Miss Dobson, spoke of the school's fantastic achievements and fully inclusive ethos, where every child succeeds no matter what their background or starting point. Outcomes at Field Lane are exceptional. Inspirational Key Stage 2 learners spoke about the school's STAR values (Strength, Togetherness, Aspiration, Responsibility) and what a great education means to them. Then Key Stage 1 performed their nativity. There was not a dry eye in the house. Field Lane is a fantastic school, and a school at the very heart of the Batley community. 

   

  At the end of the Autumn term we would like to thank our whole community for their support for our schools and our learners this year. We are stronger together when we all work collaboratively for the good of our young people to give them the very best start in life.

   

  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Enjoy the Christmas break and we look forward to 2026 and all that we can achieve together! 

   

  Community Makes Us. 

  

• Every Day Matters

  Mon 08 Dec 2025

  Every Day Matters - attendance is everything, and for children to achieve exceptional outcomes they need to attend school every day. Hyrstmount Junior School were all celebrating when they won the attendance trophies for Half Term 1 across the entire Trust family of schools. Well done to all staff, parents/carers and learners. 

   

  You can see from the face of Headteacher, the brilliant Mr Leach just how pleased the school were to win the trophies, which are now in proud display in the main reception.

   

  Our target for everyone in our learning community is 98%. This is because we know illness happens and at times you may be too unwell to attend school. 98% is equal to 4 lost learning days and 28 lessons missed. That is a lot of lost learning time, so although 98% sounds high, in terms of attendance it isn't really as every day matters, so we all need to aim for 100%.

   

  It is also crucial families do not book leave during term time. We know flights are cheaper during term time sadly, but there are 13 weeks a year when you can go overseas during school holiday periods. When children are of school age, a great education should come before saving money on cheaper flights. It is only for the first 16 years of a child's life-then there is much more flexibility. A great education is priceless! So let's all aim for that 98% minimum. Every Day Matters. 

  

• It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

  Mon 01 Dec 2025
  Our Trust choir was magnificent on Friday evening. Despite the wet and windy weather they performed Christmas songs to the backdrop of the stunning Batley Town Hall. It was wonderful to see governors, school staff, parents/carers and our learners all go along to support the choir, and sing along to the well known Christmas hits. Our learners have been practising hard as they were invited back by popular demand to perform at the start of the Batley Christmas lights switch on celebration events. The Healey team looked spectacular in the Christmas themed outfits and they really brightened up the stage!

   

  We even got to meet Santa Claus and make our wish for 2026 and beyond! Thank you Santa for taking time at this incredibly busy point of the year to visit Batley. If you look close enough you may even recognise Santa's Elf! A very special and hardworking Batley lady. It really is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in Batley. When done Team Batley for bringing a little bit of festive cheer to our community. 

   

  Community Makes Us. 

  

• 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. 

  

• Great Governance

  Mon 20 Oct 2025

  Saturday was our Annual Trust Governance Conference 2025 and the turnout was superb. We are incredibly fortunate in our Trust family of schools to have over 80 volunteers in various governance roles. These roles include Members, Trustees and Governors and is the highest tier of leadership across the Trust. This team of highly skilled, highly committed individuals have joined our Trust family to give something back to the community and to ensure every young person receives a high-quality education, coupled with great care, guidance and support. These individuals give their time generously, and offer support and professional challenge to Trust and school leaders to ensure a cycle of continuous improvement in every school. Every year our schools just get better and better.

   

  The conference opened with two of our confident and articulate year 10 learners outlining why education matters to them, and why young people in Batley should never be underestimated. It is important to us to open such events with our learners, as they are our customers and are the reason why leaders and staff at all levels do what we do-for the benefit of our children and our community.

   

  The conference then gave all delegates the time to consider our collective objectives for the year, how we build even stronger collaborations across our schools for collective efficacy. We are stronger together when schools work in partnership with children and their families, and local employers, businesses and services. There are no limits to what we can achieve together. Our Alumni (many of whom do come back as school governors, or to support careers guidance in our schools) are testament to that.

   

  2025/2026 is going to be another year filled with high achievements and success in Batley. Exciting times ahead!