The Batley Buzz December 2021 Edition 4
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
At Field Lane, we experience real life democracy twice a year with our Soup! event. Children put forward proposals on how to spend the money raised from a non uniform day and then everyone votes for their favourite idea. We discuss all the ideas whilst eating the delicious soup and bread made by our craft club mums.
Nativity at Field Lane! Although we couldn't perform live to parents, the Early Years children had a great time making a special film and performing to their older brothers and sisters.
Children in the Reception Class took part in Kerbcraft road safety training. We went in small groups, wearing hi-viz jackets, out onto the hill outside school. We followed the yellow pedestrian path through the car park. We noticed the zig zag lines to stop cars parking outside school. We saw a school sign, a pedestrian gate sign and a car gate sign. We stopped to check if cars were coming in or out of the car gate. We found a zebra road crossing with belisha beacons flashing. We crossed here, holding hands and waiting for traffic to stop first. We crossed a smaller road with no crossing, by finding a safe place, not near a corner or a parked car. Everyone could say and use their Green Cross Code: Stop, look, listen, think! Pupils in KS2 took part in Play Leader training and are now qualified to lead different games on the playground to involve more children in physical activity. As part of our time travel topic this term, years 3 and 4 had an exciting day out at the Royal Armouries in Leeds looking at weapons and lifestyle from the Tudor period. The pupils helped to design and make some pieces of armour for Henry VIII and tried on some pieces of real armour. It was really heavy! They also learnt how to dance a pavane and several moves for sword fighting which they practised with wooden swords! We also watched an exciting sword fighting display with real swords! Bob the Bear enjoyed the trip too and got to try on the helmet. Doesn't he look good?
Minty Mouse arrived in Primary Phase when Reception and Year 1 put on their annual Christmas play. Minty Mouse mistakenly pursued a Christmas 'tail' after overhearing a conversation about the Christmas 'tale'. The children took on parts as cheeky mice, naughty cats, clever spiders and wise bookworms - plus all the usual nativity characters. Some fantastic acting for our audiences.
EYFS and KS1 have presented Nativity performances to parents. Our Nursery children loved their local visit to Tong Garden Centre. This week, we are singing carols outside Charles Jones Court for our intergenerational work and to support our local community.
Congratulations to our Accelerated Reader winners who have been given prizes for the most books read and highest AR scores. There were three winners per year group, from Y3 to Y6.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Well done to our Year 2 children for passing their phonics screening test. We achieved a pass rate of 89%
Our Secondary News
Year 11 Student Council is now in session and meets regularly to represent and deliver the best principles of our school. As such; the achievements of publicly conscious students who want to represent their peers, respectful and honest conversations are utilised as a means to improve student experience and the transformation of members from young people to young adults.
Year 11 Prom and Celebration Evening was held in a wonderfully decorated Exam Hall on Thursday 9 December. There was biryani, cupcakes, a DJ, singing and dancing. It was such a treat for the students who really enjoyed themselves and were finally able to celebrate their success.
We are very excited to be part of the ‘Suitcase Stories: Exploring Climate Adaptation through Participatory Storytelling with Young People’ with York St John University. The project is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and will involve 20 of our students from Years 7-9 and 12. Sessions will develop a series of stories around climate adaptations, which will be filmed and showcased both at York St John and as part of our summer East Meets West celebration.
Year 7 PSHE class have been practising their enterprising skills by creating unique and creative products, these include: Pancake Passion! - Self-flippin’ Pancakes .. you will never have to flip your own pancakes again! Restaurants opening soon worldwide! Includes pancakes with edible springs that burst and inside are thousands of mini-pancake bites! Unicorn Beauty Range – From unique Christmas nails to face masks that give you clear skin. Unicorn Beauty range are not only good for your skin but good for the environment too. With biodegradable nail art- all unique designs! Volt Alter – The ONLY sports car that has all the latest gadgets which include bulletproof tyres, purple tyre smoke, TV and free wifi! Not only does it have these amazing features but it runs on food waste as to combat global warming and help cut emissions. Kylah Ren Costumes – A once a year sell … buy one costume that transforms into multiple other characters costumes with just a press of a button. Add ons such as light sabers also available. It is also eco-friendly. We have the innovators of tomorrow right here at Batley Grammar!
Children in Need On Friday 19 November 2021, Batley Grammar School organised a charity event to support Children in Need. The fundraising team sold merchandise to all year groups, organised a non-uniform day where students dressed in yellow and contributed a donation and held a sponge throwing contest after school, where teachers volunteered to put themselves in the stock and a wet sponge was thrown at them. This event alone raised over £90! We are very grateful for all the donations we received, and to all the teachers who supported this event. The total sum raised was £1,010. Thank you!
This month has been full of exciting activities both in school, and across our whole community. Our newly elected Head Boy (featured below right with Kim Leadbeater, MP) has led a series of charity events including raising over £1000 for Children In Need; working with the School Council and Year 7 on our Batley Food Bank collection; and working with our Creatives team to design bespoke school Christmas tree decorations. He also made a very moving speech during our Annual Presentation Evening. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the significant achievements of our learners. Boys who left us in summer 2021 celebrated their superb GCSE success, and current learners were awarded prizes and certificates for significant achievements this academic year. Well done to all our learners, and our highly skilled staff team for their fantastic work this year. We wish everyone season’s greetings and a very happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Our Sixth Form News
Year 13 A Level students had a brilliant Photography Portrait Workshop from Tom Arber who specialises in photographing behind the scenes for theatrical organisations such as Opera North and Northern Ballet. He gave an inspirational talk about his career in photography as well as giving students feedback on their current personal investigations. His guidance was so insightful for them and extremely motivational.
An extensive review of BG6 provision was undertaken at the end of Nov. This involved many colleagues from across the Trust leadership, leadership of schools outside the Trust and Local Authority representatives. We are grateful for everyone's support in what was a very informative week. As part of our enrichment curriculum we are really looking forward to visiting the Leeds Grand Theatre in the upcoming months to see Bizet’s Carmen and Verdi’s Rigoletto!
Well done to all our BG6 students and staff.
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
Congratulations to Mr Linney, Upper Batley High School, for successfully achieving his Forest School Leader qualification.
Well done to Mr Alvy, Governor, for supporting so many community events by his outstanding n performances in the local choir, and superb solos.
Congratulations to Mr Mayet, Chair of Trustees, on his achievement of the European Diversity Award - HR Diversity Champion of the Year. This is a superb achievement and testament to his hard work, professionalism and dedication.
A big thank you to Mrs Dickinson at Healey School. Mrs Dickinson is a Teaching Assistant in Year 4, she has worked at Healey for 12 years and is incredibly dedicated and hard working each and every day.
The Field Lane Craft club Our Winter Wonderland shop and Soup! event have been fantastic this year. What would we do without our amazing Craft Club mums and the incredibly talented Mrs Wilcock who are on a mission to raise money for children's learning!
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. Our family of schools supported the Batley Bull Dogs Christmas Dinner on Sunday 12th December. This was an event to bring people together across our community, and staff from our schools were serving the dinners, handing out Christmas presents and even singing in the choir. A great day was had by all, and our MP Kim Leadbeater attended to show her support.
Community Makes Us
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 Calderdale & Kirklees Teaching School Hub. This Hub offers support to over 270 schools across our region. The purpose of the hub is to provide high-quality professional development for teachers and leaders. https://www.ckteachingschoolhub.org/
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