Newsletter Friday 06 March 2026

Since returning from the February half term, it has been an extremely busy and positive time here at Beckfoot
Oakbank. The improving weather—with lighter evenings, brighter mornings and a touch of warmth—has certainly
lifted everyone’s mood, and this has been matched by the fantastic range of activities taking place across the school.
As you’ll read below, our Year 7 and 8 students have been taking part in events to celebrate World Book Day. They
have been exploring the book October, October, which features an owl, and to enrich their experience we welcomed
some very special feathered visitors into school. Students had the opportunity to handle the owls and learn more
about them in an informative workshop. The photos speak for themselves—they absolutely loved it.
We have also welcomed back two groups from overseas trips: our students who visited Spain and those who took
part in our first ski trip over the half term break. Both groups had a wonderful time, and I am incredibly proud of how
brilliantly they represented our school throughout their travels.
Closer to home, our Year 13 students have been leading charity initiatives, something we are always proud to
support. Their efforts make a real difference and reflect the values we strive to instil across the school.
Year 11 have returned with a focused and determined attitude as the countdown to their first exams begins. Their
attendance has been high, and their engagement in Period 6 sessions has been excellent—this commitment will
serve them well over the coming weeks.
Attendance across the school has also remained strong since the break. Thank you for your ongoing support in
ensuring your children attend school every day—it makes a real difference, and we truly appreciate your
partnership.

World Book Day – Thursday 5^th March – This year, instead of reading a book in a single day, KS3 students are studying a longer novel over two weeks in their English lessons and will complete the book in their Right to Read sessions before Easter. Students will keep their copy of the book afterwards as a reminder of the experience. 

Year 7 and Year 8 are reading October, October, which tells the story of a teenage girl who lives in the woods and rescues a baby owl. To enrich their understanding, Year 8 students attended an owl demonstration on Monday 2nd March, delivered by the Yorkshire Owl Experience. Feedback from the students was exceptional, all children had the opportunity to get up close and personal with different birds. 

Next weekend a number of year 8 students will be departing on a weeklong ski trip in Europe, this opportunity has taken a year to plan and organise and we wish the students the best of times in what should be a life-long memory. 

As we approach the end of our second term I would ask that you check in with them and ask if they need any bits and pieces for their pencil cases as their original equipment runs out. We check their equipment daily and having this helps them start the day with a positive mind set. 

Finally,  I am in awe of how much your children are growing and developing into young adults. This is reflected in the 2400 Golden Tickets issued to the year group in the last 2 weeks. 

All pupils will have a one to one conversation with a member of the Senior Leadership Team before they make their choices. A letter will be sent home via ClassCharts in the coming days with more information. 

Pupils have been working hard and this is reflected in their positives on ClassCharts: Golden Tickets and Learning Habit 3s. We have had assemblies on how to be the best version of yourself and careers.  Pupils are encouraged to use the BBC careers website and the National Careers Website to do self-evaluation to help them chose areas they could focus on for jobs in the fut

Thank you to all the year 10 pupils who took part in the external English workshop ”speak out” in preparation for the English-speaking exam. External visitors from the Speakers Trust delivering a full-day workshop focused on oracy, public speaking, and confidence. All visitors complimented that pupils were respectful polite and they would be pleased to come back.  

Year 10 also returned from their Skiing trip which was a great new experience for pupils to engaged with a potentially new sport in a new environment. The instructions commented on the pupils’ great personal skills and said they would welcome them back any time.  

Year 10 will be starting their English Speaking exam this week which, for many of our pupils, will be the first component of their GCSEs that they will have fully completed.  

We have had a large cohort of students visit Barcelona recently, with students brushing up on their Spanish speaking skills in advance of the Spanish speaking exams coming up after Easter. Additionally, the second school ski trip is due to depart in the next couple of weeks to Austria, with several Year 11 students taking part. Keep an eye out for photos in the next Newsletter!  

We are pleased to share the link for our Year 11 leavers hoodies. Please click on the link below to place your order. 

https://gdbclothing.co.uk/shop/beckfoot-oakbank-school/ob502-beckfoot-oakbank-leavers-overhead-hoodie

The deadline for the hoodie order is Monday 18^th May and they will be delivered in school on Tuesday 9^th June. 

This week, Sixth Form students participated in coffee mornings hosted by Place2Be counsellors. These sessions offered professional support and guidance on mindfulness, healthy lifestyle habits and strategies for managing exam-related stress and anxiety. 

It has been an exciting and activity filled couple of weeks at CTMC, with students across all year groups taking part in a variety of engaging learning experiences. Year 9 students enjoyed celebrating World Book Day by participating in Drop Everything and Read, taking a moment out of their day to settle down with a good book.  

Meanwhile, Year 10 have been busy preparing for their Speaking and Listening Assessments, exploring a wide range of thoughtful and interesting topics such as childcare, epilepsy and gaming. 

In Photography, students have shown fantastic creativity as they explored spray painting techniques to create murals for their project work. Year 11 have been equally focused, learning about animal adaptation in their Science lessons while also preparing thoroughly for English Language Paper 2. 

A particularly memorable moment this week was a visit from the owls in main school, giving students the chance to get up close to these fascinating creatures. Adding even more fun to the week, CTMC staff joined in with the World Book Day celebrations by dressing up as The Incredibles, bringing plenty of smiles across the building. 

There are a few important reminders for Year 11: Flamingo Land deposits are now due, and Leavers’ Hoodies can be ordered through the school website. Alongside these preparations, students have also been embracing physical activity by running between lessons, covering 3 to 5 kilometres with the support of Teaching Assistants, boosting both fitness and emotional regulation. 

Around the CTMC, lots of exciting developments are taking place. The garden is being prepared for spring planting, and new displays have been put up throughout the building to showcase the hard work and creativity of our students. We also continue to benefit from the involvement of the Keighley Cougars, who are delivering rugby sessions and even welcoming some of our students to their after school club. 

Finally, in Life Skills, students have been busy baking delicious cakes and are looking forward to preparing a chicken dish next week. 

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