Newsletter Friday 02 October 2026

As always, the last two weeks have been incredibly busy at Oakbank, and there has certainly been no shortage of opportunities for our students to Enjoy, learn and succeed. 

We are now coming to the end of our enrichment cycle, during which we wanted the majority of the year groups to have access to a valuable enrichment experience beyond their normal curriculum. Throughout this newsletter you will be able to read more about some of the fantastic opportunities our students have enjoyed. Our Year 9 and Year 10 students have been working with WiseUp, spending a day off timetable developing teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. It has been wonderful to see students challenge themselves, collaborate so effectively and make the most of these experiences. The photographs below capture just a small part of what has been a hugely successful programme. 

Today marks the final day of our visits to Nell Bank, where our Year 7 and Year 8 students have taken part in a range of outdoor team-building activities. The feedback from the Nell Bank staff has been exceptional. They have told us that Oakbank students were the best represented school they have worked with, praising not only how enthusiastically they got involved and supported one another, but also the politeness and respect they showed throughout their visit. As Headteacher, comments like these make me incredibly proud. Hearing members of the public speak so positively about our young people is a real reminder of the values our students demonstrate every day. 

Another proud moment came last Thursday evening when we welcomed families to our Open Evening. We experienced a record turnout, and I could not have been prouder of both our staff and students. The feedback received from prospective families was overwhelmingly positive. Many commented on how confidently and articulately our student guides spoke about life at Oakbank, while others reflected on the warm, welcoming and positive atmosphere they experienced throughout the evening. Those comments mean a great deal because they reflect the culture we work hard to create every day. 

A huge thank you goes to everyone who contributed to making the evening such a success, whether by organising, presenting, supporting visitors or showcasing their work. Thank you also to all the families who attended. We hope we were able to give you a real insight into what makes Oakbank such a special place to learn, and we look forward to welcoming many of our future Year 7 students next September. 

The Year group continue to go from strength to strength. All the students in Y7 are gradually becoming more familiar with the layout of the school and there is some excellent learning happening in the classroom. Over the last week, we have also seen the launch of lunch time and after school clubs which is being accessed by a lot of the year group. It would be excellent to see everyone go and try at least one of the clubs , all are free and the timetable can be found on the school website. We have also had our first student leader meeting of the year, we had the highest representation of student leaders across school and the students talked positively about their experience so far and how they would like to share the school moving forward.  

Finally, a huge well done to Ayron. He has become the first student in the whole school to achieve over 250 positive points on ClassCharts  this year. As recognition for this, Ayron will be awarded with a badge and certificate. Well done Ayron! There are many Y7 students not far away from the target of 250, keep the attendance high and the hard work going and you will make it.  Well done on an excellent few weeks Y7.                

The Year group have had a visit to Nell Bank to work on team building in different settings. Some have been out of their comfort zone, but it has been great to see them working hard as a team to succeed. It is important that we keep the teamwork going as we work towards our future aspirations. Remember Year 8, we are 100%!  

Thank you to the students that helped with the Year 6 Open Evening. It was great to see their enthusiasm for the school, and I had a lot of parents say how polite and knowledgeable the students were. There will be more opportunities to help so please put yourself forward when you can. 

Congratulations to the Student Council representatives. I am sure you will be amazing and help to change our school for the better.

The Year have been enjoying lessons and time at Oak bank, have been busy learning new skills and developing skills to make them successful in their future careers.  

We have had some great sporting news recently with the Year 10 Boys football team have had two wins so far with one going to penalties and winning 10-9. Earning them a place in round 3 of the England Schools FA cup. Three of our Year 10 Girls have been selected for Yorkshire Trials which is an amazing achievement.  We have had assemblies on what it means to be respectful and being part of the Beckfoot community.  It was lovely to see a large number of the Year group put this into action by volunteering to help out at the Year 6 open evening. Mr Ray was impressed with the number involved and their conduct and support they provided in the different faculties at school.   

We spent a Friday developing Soft Skills with a WiseUp team where groups were asked to plan, budget and make a catapult and then market their ideas.  Again, a number of pupils really impressed the visitors with their Engineering skills and Presentation skills. 

Reminder that Year 10 should be routinely (weekly) doing educake homework and revising for the upcoming mock exams. 

Year 11 have been working hard as always over the past two weeks spending additional time in Maths interventions during tutor time to fill gaps in learning and ensure we are achieving those all-important school targets. We have had our very own sixth form come into Year 11 assembly to explain all the amazing things that we offer as a school post 16. Our students engaged well and had the opportunity to listen to two of our Year 13 students talk about their experiences so far since joining our sixth form. A massive well done to Zaina H. in Year 11 who has accumulated 108 positive points over the last two weeks. The highest amount in the year group! Second place is Mel H. who has 96 (12 points behind!) and Faith K. in third on 95 positive points. Keep up the great work girls! 

We have now elected our student councillors for 2026/27 through tutor votes and will start our weekly meetings with an aim to support all students in the school from next week. 

Our Year 12 students have settled into Sixth Form life with ease and have already been busy attending assemblies on the Cambridge University HE+ Programme, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and Reach for Excellence at Leeds University. These exciting opportunities will help them develop their academic skills, broaden their subject knowledge and strengthen their future university applications. 

Meanwhile, our Year 13 students are making excellent progress with their UCAS applications and participating in weekly apprenticeship sessions. These sessions are helping them explore a wide range of pathways and prepare for their next steps beyond Sixth Form. 

Student Successes: We would like to congratulate Amy (Year 12), who achieved an impressive 16th place in a national snooker competition. Congratulations also go to Charlie (Year 13), who has been recognised as one of the Most Inspiring Young People in the Keighley due to his work with the Scouts. A special shout-out goes to the Brownless twins, who continue to work tirelessly to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Their commitment, community spirit and dedication to this important cause are making a real difference. 

To keep Sixth up to date with Form news, student opportunities, events and successes throughout the year, follow our journey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakbankSixthForm. We look forward to sharing our students’ achievements and experiences with you as the year progresses.

Over the last couple of weeks, there’s been lots going on at the CTMC!  Year 9 have kicked off their textiles projects and have been getting stuck into using sewing machines and creating colourful patchwork designs. It’s been great to see their creativity shine as they learn new skills and bring their ideas to life. Year 10 have been diving into An Inspector Calls, exploring the characters, themes and dramatic twists as they start preparing for their GCSE studies. Meanwhile, Year 11 have been working incredibly hard on A Christmas Carol, revisiting key quotes and themes to help build confidence ahead of their exams. 

Outside of lessons, we’ve also welcomed back The James Project, who have been delivering their weekly RSE sessions. Students have been taking part in activities involving scripts, acting and discussion, making the sessions both engaging and thought-provoking. Looking ahead, we’re excited to be welcoming the Fire Service into school to share important advice about staying safe around Bonfire Night. Finally, a quick reminder to parents and carers: please make sure your child brings a water bottle to school every day. Staying hydrated helps everyone stay focused, energised and ready to make the most of their learning! 

Educake can be accessed online: https://www.educake.co.uk/ 

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