The Batley Buzz September 2021 Edition 1
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
We have had a great start to the new academic year! The children have returned full of enthusiasm and seem to be determined to be the best they can be. It was fantastic to have parents back in the school playground to pick up the children, enabling us to have those all important catch up conversations that we have missed so much. After school clubs are also back. Who could have predicted that over forty green-fingered children from nursery through to Year 6, along with their parents, grandparents and younger siblings, would come to the launch of our much missed gardening club! We picked fruit, prepared the beds, pulled up weeds and had lots of fun. We have had a wonderful harvest this year from the school and community garden with massive pumpkins, potatoes, plums, apples, pears, beans, raspberries, blackberries...the list goes on.
On Wednesday 22 September, all children from Reception to Y6 took part in special fitness events. Reception enjoyed exercise circuits while KS1 took part in a tennis roadshow, led by a coach from Batley Sports’ Centre. Y3 thoroughly enjoyed ‘fitness fun’ with Mr Feltham and Y4, 5 and 6 completed fun and challenging activities in an Olympic fitness event! This special day allowed us to really think about our new ‘Golden Rule’ of being active and healthy.
On 15th September the men’s and women’s cricket world cup came to Batley Grammar School as part of a wider tour in the Kirklees area. The students and staff alike were allowed to spend some time and take photos with the two trophies. It was an event enjoyed by all the students as one student hoped that he would be lifting the trophy in the future as well. We would like to thank Sports Management Consultancy in making this event possible and creating a long lasting memory for the students of Batley Grammar School.
On Friday 18 June, Year 6 finally headed to Robinwood for a weekend of outdoor activities. They took part in zip wires, piranha pools, trapeze, crate challenge, quest, raft building and canoeing. The children were amazing and a credit to the school, although they were all really tired when they came into school on Monday! On Tuesday 4 May, all the pupils in Primary Phase took part in Scoot Fit. We took over the tennis courts and learnt to ride scooters. It was great fun. The children enjoyed it so much that we have joined with the other Primary Schools in the Trust to buy a set of scooters to share between us this year!
Our Secondary News
It has been fantastic to begin this academic year with a sense of return to normality. We are delighted to see our Learning Resource Centre reopen and serve its true purpose once again; as a place for our students to read and study with access to a wide range of books to suit all needs and tastes. On Wednesday 15 September, we were honoured to be part of the ICC Men's & Women's Cricket World Cups' tour of Kirklees, the trophies were on display in school for students and staff to take a look and have their photos taken with them. We've also had our first in-person Year 7 Open Evening in two years, on Tuesday 21 September, which was a resounding success and saw an amazing turnout.
There have been lots of exciting developments at UBHS over the summer period. The school has received over £1.5 million of government funding to replace our roof. We have also totally refurbished our Humanities department, invested significantly in our IT facilities, created a bespoke state of the art music room, invested in LED lighting, painting and new classroom furniture. Plus, we have so many exciting new displays across our whole schoolwe use every area of our building as a tool for learning. Our quad redesign is now underwaywatch this space and our new school website for further details. Exciting things to come.
Ten of our Y10 Music students had the opportunity to work collaboratively with a small group music students in Mississippi, without even leaving the building! Created by the I'll Fly Away Foundation, in partnership with Kirklees Council, Y10 BGS Music students teamed up with students at Stax Music Academy, Mississippi, to write and produce their own song. With the help of Country and Western Singer/Songwriter, Sara Douga, the Y10 students embarked upon a musical, creative journey, juggling time zones and remote technology, to work in a live virtual setting with Music students on the other side of the globe. Students worked lyrically and musically with our American cousins, learning not only the technical aspects of collaboration, lyric writing and sound boarding ideas, but receiving a crash course in American culture, having the chance to "twin" with another student in the USA and talk through ideas ready to present to the group. Through fleshing out themes for the song to the construction of the lyrical structure, we learned that, no matter where students are from in the world, they have a united voice in song. The final song has yet to get to the production stages, but we're sure it's going to be a hit!
Batley Grammar School maths department have donated 19 boxes (weighing 380kg) of a range of maths text books. Boxes and rolls of tape were donated by a local business and BGS paid for the shipment charges. Jonathan Storey was key to organising the shipment of the boxes with the help of the amazing support staff.
Batley Grammar School CCF managed a
field day event in place of Army Camp this took place on Monday 12th July 13 students plus three members of staff travelled to Driffield in East Yorkshire for a full day of military themed activities including Paintballing, “Field Gun Race” and cooking military rations under “field conditions”. The staff conducting the activities were highly complimentary with regard to the engagement and behaviour of the BGS students. Despite the appalling rainy conditions, all the students had a thoroughly enjoyable day, several actually wanted to stay overnight!
Our Sixth Form News
In June last year we were delighted that we were able to run in-person immersion sessions where prospective Year 12 students were invited to the BG6 College campus to get a flavour of what life would be like, if they were to join us in September. It was an extremely successful event which received some fantastic feedback, thus demonstrating how important this stage of a student's academic journey is and how rewarding the face-to-face experience is for them. We endeavour to begin our dialogue around post 16 options with students and parents as early as possible and on Thursday 28 September, we are holding our Post 16 Parents' Information Evening as we look to engage them early to help support their choices after Year 11, whether that be sixth form, an apprenticeship or work.
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 Angie Garside Attendance Officer at UBHS achieved her 20 years service this September. We congratulate Angie and thank her for her hard work for our young people.
Janice O’Hanlon Janice works at BGHS and over the summer completed an amazing rowing challenge for charity. Janice rowed for 94 days, averaging 13km per day and raising £510 for the mental health charity, Support to Recovery (s2r.org.uk). Well done to Janice!
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.
We have started planning our Winter Get Togethers, and we hope you will join us for coffee, mince pies and samosas in December.
Our school leaders were delighted to be invited to the wonderful book launch, with Mr Lunat OBE. His new book “Broken Words” is a wonderful collection of heart felt, real life short stories.
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. Sign up to the weekly newsletter. 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 Batley WF17 0LD Telephone: 01924 350080 Website: batleymat.co.uk