Due to Year 11 mock exams, all clubs that usually take place in the Sports Hall and Dance Studio will be cancelled this week. Thank you for your understanding.
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Newsletter – Friday 17th October
Head of School Update
As we approach the end of this half term, I want to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic energy and progress we’ve seen across the school. It’s been a busy few weeks, and I continue to be proud of how our students and staff are embracing every opportunity to enjoy, learn and succeed.
One of the most exciting developments, over the past couple of weeks, has been the launch of our extracurricular programme, which now includes 62 different lunchtime and after-school activities. From sports and jewellery making to finance club and even a Taylor Swift club, there’s truly something for everyone. It’s been brilliant to see so many students getting involved, trying new things, and building friendships beyond the classroom. I hope your child has found something they enjoy—and if not yet, there’s still plenty of time to explore!
We’ve also introduced new student leadership roles, and I’m delighted to say we’ve already received a fantastic number of applications. These roles are a key part of our commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and strengthening our student voice. Please do encourage your child to apply if they haven’t already—this is a great chance to make a real impact in school life
Another positive addition to our school community is the arrival of our new full-time counsellors, Ketturah and Ella, who have joined us from Place2Be. Their presence is already making a difference, and we’re grateful to have their support available to students who may need someone to talk to.
We were also thrilled to welcome the Yorkshire ambulance and paramedics into school this week, delivering Restart a Heart training to over 220 students. This life-saving session gave students hands-on experience in emergency response and CPR—an incredibly valuable skill. The engagement was outstanding, and you can see some of the brilliant photos from the day below.
Finally, a quick note on attendance—we’ve seen stronger attendance figures this half term, and we’re grateful for your continued support in ensuring your child is in school and ready to learn each day. Every day counts, and together we’re building a culture of consistency and care. It is crucially important that we don’t let this drop as we go into the last week of half term.
Year Group News
Year 7 News
Year 7 have made an excellent start to life at Beckfoot Oakbank, and the year team couldn’t be prouder of them. They have settled in, working hard in lessons and are polite around the school. It is important for them to keep these high standards. Let’s finish this half term on a high and let’s work even harder next half term towards the Christmas break. Targets Year 7 are to keep improving that attendance and hitting those Attendance Streaks every single week. Keep getting all those Golden Tickets and Learning Habit 3’s in lessons. We want to be the best year group!
Year 8 News
Year 8 are growing and developing their resilience daily. The year group is working hard to improve their attendance and develop the skills needed to do well in life. The majority of the year group are achieving LH3 positive responses regularly and taking part in extra curricular activities, for a lunch time Taylor Swift club to dodgeball they are taking the opportunity to experience new things.
Year 9 News
We have been learning about Tolerance in assembly and the large number of student leader opportunities available which is a great opportunity for pupils to help shape the future development of the school. Applications are still possible for these roles, pupils can speak to Mr Ickringill or the Year Team.
As a result of student feedback lunchtime clubs and activities have started and we have already had lots of our year group taking part which has been great to see pupils enjoying themselves at school.
Artwork and jewellery making are just some of the things pupils have been doing
As a year group we continue to have lots of positives on class charts showing pupils actively engaged in lessons and getting their Learning Habit 3 (on task) positives from teaching staff.
Congratulations to Naevia K. for competing in the Yorkshire swimming competition last weekend. Qualifying alone is an incredible achievement — it takes being among the very best in Yorkshire to earn a place. Taking part in such a prestigious event is no small feat. Well done!
Lily G, Lexi W, Divine A, Freya D and Rosie D were all selected to attend the Bradford Schools Netball trials. We are incredibly proud of all 5 girls who played brilliantly. All 5 have been selected out of over 70 students across all the schools in Bradford to be a part of the U14 development team which means that they will be representing Beckfoot Oakbank and playing regularly at county level. This is a fantastic achievement. Well done ladies!
This week 220 pupils were involved in the National Restart a Heart campaign which was initiated by Yorkshire Ambulance. The pupils were a credit to the school and were all actively involved. Staff commented on how respectful pupils were to our visitors which has made the Year Team and school Senior Leaders very proud of our young adults.
Year 10 News
Thank you for a positive start back to this year, we are seeing many pupils with massively improved attitude to learning. Participation in school life has developed, we’ve had external visitors join us to deliver talks on RSE and have commented on the positive engagement. This is also seen at break and lunchtime. Following the roll out of a wider enrichment offer, we have seen many pupils wanting to join in on these new clubs.
Year 11 News
Key upcoming dates for Year 11:
- Mock Exams: Monday 20th – Friday 24th October
- Reports Sent Home: Tuesday 25th November
- Parents’ Evening & Sixth Form Open Evening: Thursday 11th December
We have recently had a very successful Year 11 Parent Power Hour, where over 100 students and their families turned up to gain insight into the exam process, 6th form and gain free revision materials in preparation for their mock exams next week. The evening was purposeful and will help students prepare effectively for the exam process they are about to embark on in their final year at Beckfoot Oakbank. In addition, students have also received their mock exam timetables which were handed out this week. A copy has also been sent home via ClassCharts, ensuring all families and students have all the exam information.
As part of the relaunch of the student leadership, we will be looking to appoint two Year 11 student leaders to Head of School over the coming weeks, watch this space!
Finally, I would like to leave you this week with some amazing news from one of our students. Yvie Ling Hegarty recently competed in the British National Championships for Taekwondo and achieved a third-place finish, winning a bronze medal. This is the first time Yvie has competed at this level while being a representative of Great Britain. A fantastic achievement Yvie, well done.
As part of the relaunch of the student leadership, we will be looking to appoint two Year 11 student leaders to Head of School over the coming weeks, watch this space!
Finally, I would like to leave you this week with some amazing news from one of our students. Yvie Ling Hegarty recently competed in the British National Championships for Taekwondo and achieved a third-place finish, winning a bronze medal. This is the first time Yvie has competed at this level while being a representative of Great Britain. A fantastic achievement Yvie, well done.
CTMC
Students at the CTMC have recently welcomed some furry companions into their learning environment, and the impact has been heartwarming. These new residents have quickly settled in and brought a calming, positive energy to the classroom. Their presence has helped create a more relaxed atmosphere, contributing to student wellbeing and engagement. Morning yoga sessions have also become a highlight, with noticeable improvements in focus and participation among students.
In science lessons, students have been exploring the fascinating world of circuits, diving into hands on learning and discovery. Meanwhile, Year 11 students are gearing up for their upcoming mock exams next week, showing dedication and determination in their preparations. It’s been a busy and productive time at CTMC, with both academic progress and wellbeing taking centre stage.
