The Batley Buzz - April 2022

April 2022 Edition 8

Ensuring exceptional outcomes for all.

Our Trust Vision Every young person, regardless of their starting point, or background receives a high quality education, including first class care, guidance and support.

Our Primary News

Visits to the Library and Train Station Children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 have taken their parents to the library, some for the very first time. Mums and Dads thoroughly enjoyed the time with their children, walking to the town centre and sharing books together.

Balance Bikes Learning how to ride a bike can be a tricky business but Year 1 tackled it with determination as they had their first balance bike session with Anne-Marie from North Kirklees Sports Partnership. She was very impressed with the children’s motivation and skill!

There will be further two sessions for those in need of a little extra practice and those who are ready to move onto the next level.

Y3 Dodgeball Festival Our Year 3 children were joined by children from Healey School at the Dodgeball Festival hosted by North Kirklees Sports Partnership. The event began with a parade around the hall under the flags of the Commonwealth Nations (the Commonwealth Games takes place in Birmingham later this year). The children played a series of matches in mixed school teams enabling them to make new friends under the supervision of some outstanding Sports Leaders from Batley Girls’ High School.

Planting Potatoes in the Garden Some of our pupils in the “Penguins” Reception Class have been helping Ms Porter plant potatoes in our school garden. They filled bags with soil, pushed the seed potatoes into the soil and covered them over with more soil, using plant pots to scoop.

We can’t wait to see them grow into lots more potatoes!

In DT, Year 1 have been baking medieval bread!

Year 2 prepared a Kenyan dish, a salad called Kachumbari.

Year 4 thoroughly enjoyed reading Author Saviour Pirotta came the book ‘Beowulf’ by Michael to school to discuss his book Morpurgo, which led them to 'The Golden Horsemen of writing wonderful diary entries in Baghdad', which Year 5 have the role of Beowulf. been studying. He also visited Year 6 and performed a storytelling session, as well as inspiring them to write their own stories.

From Year 1 to Year 6, classes thoroughly enjoyed performing in our poetry recital competitions!

The winning classes were extremely proud to receive their trophies, which they will keep until the Summer term recital when the next competitions take place!

Year 6 have been studying the circulatory system. As part of their Science studies, they dissected lambs hearts and lungs; the children thoroughly enjoyed this 'hands on' activity.

Our Secondary News

The UK in a Changing Europe Year 11 and Year 12 BG6 students attended the UK in a Changing Europe conference at the end of March. This year’s focus was judicial reform and the government. Students attended a series of workshops and were also able to speak at length with BBC Parliamentary Correspondent, Mark D’Arcy; Baroness Hale, a British judge who served as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from 2017 until her retirement in 2020, and now serves as a member of the House of Lords; and Barney Jones who was Editor of The Andrew Marr Show, on the BBC 2005-2015.

Theatre Rewards Students in Years 7, 8 & 9 as well as BG6 students in Years 12 & 13 enjoyed a Rewards Trip to The Alhambra theatre, in Bradford to see the highly acclaimed The Lion King musical. They had a fantastic experience saying: "The show was absolutely amazing with such creative and vibrant scenes."

Our family history The inaugural Culture Day was launched last term by the student leadership team. Students were encouraged to research their own family history and faculties were nominated to represent a different culture / language. All proceeds from the day were donated to Red Cross.

Lessons focussed on different themes which included:

English:

Chinese Stories

Maths:

Greek Numbers

Science:

Arabic Science 900– 1300 AD

Geography:

Climate in Africa

Games:

Kabaddi

Art:

Pakistani Mural Art

Drama:

Bollywood

Music:

Bollywood Music

ICT:

Technology in Ancient Greece

Languages

German Basics

Community Makes Us Two hugely talented members of our Creatives team led a workshop on flower arranging.

Here are a few of their superb creations. Well done to Mrs Karim and Miss Dick.

Mother’s Day was a key celebration and a time for our learners to thank their mums and the women in their life who help them to succeed, excel and thrive.

UBHS thanks all adults who help to shape the lives of our young people.

UBHS also hosted the Big Iftar event and were delighted Qari Asim MBE could join us. The Iftar was an opportunity to bring our community together for poetry, readings and prayers. An evening to celebrate our wonderful town and the people who live and work here.

Our Sixth Form News

Student Leadership We now have a BG6 Student Leadership Team, which includes a lead student and associate for each of our values: Achievement, Respect and Transformation. They are responsible for different areas of school life and have already appointed a Student Council.

Achievement

This role is responsible for helping students to achieve their potential and goals. Including; forming study groups, holding workshops on different study styles and coping mechanisms to help with anxiety and exam stress.

Respect

This role is to support with different opportunities and events at BG6, involvement with different collaborations and projects with the community, working with charities to develop a focussed BG6 charity and working with charities on voluntary projects.

Transformation

This role has a focus on BG6 college culture and branding in a number of ways. Including branded lanyards, BG6 lessons being held in the BG6 building, where possible, develop a mentoring programme for Year 11 students to transition to BG6.

As well as arranging activities to aid students’ BG6 journey and to inform their next steps.

Our Curriculum Enrichment Our family of schools offers a wide range of extra curricular activities. This greatly enriches our young people's educational experience, and also supports their health & wellbeing.

Our Staff Super Heroes

Sharon Shillito

Iffat Ahmad

Sam Vickers

Sharon (UBHS) is very proactive with her well being and recently successfully completed her 250th Parkrun. Well done Sharon on this superb achievement.

Iffat (BGHS) is a careers lead, staff governor and highly proactive member of our school and local community. Iffat is praised for her fantastic work and dedication since 1997.

Congratulations to our CEO who successfully achieved the Chartered Teacher Leadership Status Qualification. She graduates at the Guildhall in London in July.

Our Community Work … really means a lot to us, and we see our Trust and our schools at the very heart of our community. Community Makes Us and it is the unity in community that matters.

The Big Iftar The Big Iftar took place on Saturday 9 April and was a wonderful community event held at UBHS. Young people from across our family of schools took part in poetry readings, sharing their stories and leading prayers.

We were delighted Qari Asim, MBE could also join us, and Kim, Jean & Gordon Leadbeater.

Careers Hub Two of our secondary schools (Batley Girls’ High School & Upper Batley High School) lead on the Kirklees Careers Hub, and offer support on careers information, advice and guidance across all Kirklees Schools.

We are passionate about providing outstanding careers education for all our young people, and raising their aspirations for the future.

Our wider links Our family of schools Works closely with the BBEST Hub. Check out their website for details of local services, support and activities.

https://bbesthub.uk/About-Us/

Our schools play a key role in the We are proud to lead the Calderdale & Kirklees Teaching Yorkshire Rose Teaching School Hub. This Hub offers support Partnership - providing to over 270 schools across our region. high quality primary and The purpose of the hub is to provide secondary teacher training high-quality professional development in West Yorkshire. for teachers and leaders.

This consortium includes 15 local schools, Exceed https://www.ckteachingschoolhub.org/ SCITT and local Higher Education Institutions.

Online support & advice for parents, carers and families.

Childnet International has produced a very informative resource for parents to help you keep your child safe online. https://www.childnet.com/resources/online-safety-activities-you-can-do-from-home

For young people;

For families;

Other specialist services;

Childline Providing help & support for Under 18s.

0800 11 11

NSPCC Free support & advice for parents/carers worried about a young person.

0808 800 500

Get it right from a genuine site Find out which sites are legal for downloading movies, music and games. https://www.getitrightfromagenuinesite.org/

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

Ask about games Advice and online guides about gaming and PEGI ratings. https://www.askaboutgames.com/

https://www.childline.org.uk/

The Mix Provides essential support for 13-25 year olds.

https://www.themix.org.uk/

Family Lives Free, professional, non-judgemental advice.

0808 800 2222

https://www.familylives.org.uk/

Batley Multi Academy Trust (BMAT)

Batley Multi Academy Trust C/O Batley Girls’ High School Windmill Lane WF17 0LD Telephone: 01924 350080 Website: batleymat.co.uk