Read all about the latest news and activities happening, and reasons to celebrate our school in the below Headteacher's blog.

• Headteacher's Blog - Edition 30

  Mon 22 Jun 2026

  I was fortunate enough to be invited to present at the Pixl National Conference this week, where Amy Wilby and I were able to outline the range of strategies in school to promote our sense of belonging, improve attendance and of course progress. Of course whilst we may have been sharing this information, the work and imperative for this is shared across the school and I am very grateful for the constant dedication of our school leaders at all levels and of course the support of our associate staff to communicate and facilitate these initiatives.

   

  It is this sense of a shared common goal that brings people together to create the sense of community we are constantly striving to have and reinforce. This week was an important week in the ‘More in Common’ calendar with a range of community events planned. Following the Run for Jo on Sunday we have the ‘Batley Bake Off’ held at UBHS and the ‘Step into the Future’ event, which I am delighted BGHS is able to host. BBEST schools will join together to reinforce that central message that “We have more in common than which divides us.” A fantastic way for us to finish this week.

   

  The points below summarise the information shared with learners this week.

   

  1.  Attendance & The "Brilliance Bucket" Reward Scheme

  • Attendance Matters: 

  Please remember that there is a strong link between high attendance and exam achievement. Appointments during school time must be avoided to limit any negative impact on your daughter's progress.  Learners earn 20 premium reward points for achieving 100% weekly attendance.

  • Brilliance Activities:

  Learners receive 10 points for completing weekly extra-curricular "Brilliance Activities". To log completed tasks and claim bonus rewards (such as chocolates or stickers), learners should visit Mr Scurr in the LRC on Mondays at breaktime.

  • VIP Status:

  Reward points accumulate over the school term. Learners who perform in the top 25% are designated as Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum VIPs and become eligible for special prize draws and bonus rewards.

   

  2. School Standards & Expectations

  • Uniform & Weather:  

  As the weather warms up, form tutors will notify learners when blazers may be removed. However, shirts must remain tucked in at all times. Please ensure your child brings a refillable water bottle to school daily.

   

   3. Extracurricular Opportunities & Reading Awards

  • Reading Rewards Vending Machine: 

  To promote literacy across the curriculum, teachers are handing out "Reading Awards" on Class Charts to learners showing exceptional effort toward reading or vocabulary. Each week, five nominated learners (across Years 7–11) are drawn from a reward wheel to win a free book from the school's book vending machine.

  • After-School PE Clubs: Active clubs run from 3:00pm to 4:00pm in the Sports Hall for all year groups. Learners are welcome to attend and must bring their PE kit and water. 
    • Monday: Volleyball & Taekwondo (Martial Arts)
    • Tuesday: Mixed Sports & Darts 
    • Questions: For any club enquiries or suggestions, contact Mrs Ramsden. 
  • Key Stage 3 Art Club (Years 7–9): Held on Mondays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm in Room 45 with Miss Halson and Miss Parfitt. Parents must provide digital consent through ParentPay. A late school bus is available at 4:00pm for £1.50.

   

  4. Personal Development, Character & Wellbeing

  • The 5 Cs Values:

  Our reward culture is built around cultivating five core values: Character, Creativity, Collaboration, Community, and Connection. Learners are awarded positive points on Class Charts when they demonstrate these traits in class or around school grounds.

  • SMSC Focus:

  This week's curriculum focus celebrates Helen Keller Day (commemorating her birth on June 27, 1880), encouraging learners to reflect on determination, courage, and overcoming educational barriers.

   

• Headteacher's Blog - Edition 29

  Mon 15 Jun 2026

  One of my first assemblies delivered in school was about a group of trapeze artists called the “The Flying Wallendas”, who “ flew through the air, … like they were flying”. The key learning point was that nothing is effortless and such exercise requires dedication, self discipline and hours of practice to perfect the routine. 

   

  Such dedication and expertise were evident on Thursday 11 June with the performance of Matilda. The first musical performance within school was delivered expertly, with confident accomplished performances throughout. Of course this sort of performance does not happen without hours of rehearsals and the dedication of staff and learners alike. Congratulations to all involved.

   

  The points below summarise the information shared with learners this week. 

   

  Key Information & Academic Expectations

  • Attendance and Achievement: There is a proven direct link between strong school attendance and higher exam results, leading to greater future earning potential. Please contact your child’s form tutor, Achievement Leader, or teacher if there are any issues affecting attendance.
  • Homework Reminders: All homework tasks and upcoming deadlines are actively set on Class Charts. Please note that a failure to hand in homework on time or to an acceptable standard results in a ‘Study and Support’ (SAS) detention. If your child experiences any ICT access issues at home, please contact Mrs Hendry at mhendry@batleygirls.co.uk.

   

  Rewards, Enrichment & School Clubs

  • The Batley Girls' Brilliance Bucket: Learners earn 20 premium points for 100% weekly attendance and 10 points for completing a weekly Brilliance Activity. Accumulating points unlocks bonus rewards. Learners placing in the top 25% across the school qualify for VIP status tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum). Extra points can be validated by Mr Scurr in the LRC during Monday breaktimes.
  • PE Clubs (2025-2026): All year groups are welcome to attend after-school sports sessions in the Sports Hall from 3:00pm–4:00pm. Mondays feature Volleyball and Taekwondo, while Tuesdays offer Mixed Sports and Darts. Learners must bring their PE kit and water.
  • Key Stage 3 Art Club (Years 7–9): Runs on Mondays from 3:00pm–4:00pm in Room 45, led by Miss Halson and Miss Parfitt. Consents are give via ParentPay. A late bus option is available at 4:00pm for £1.50.

   

  Careers, Digital Skills & Competitions

  • Job of the Week – Train Driver: Key requirements highlighted to learners include strong GCSEs (particularly in English and Maths), good eyesight and hearing, and the ability to maintain concentration for extended periods.
  • Cyber Switch Up 2026: Registration is officially open for learners in Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 for this free digital and cyber skills competition across the Yorkshire & Humber region. Following an online qualifier on Tuesday 1 September, the top 100 participants will compete in the Live Finals at Leeds Trinity University on Tuesday 24 November. More details are available at https://cyberswitchup.net/.

   

  Personal Development & Culture

  • Word of the Week & Idioms: The school is focusing on the word "Quandary" (a state of uncertainty or difficult choices) and the idiom "Rob Peter to pay Paul" (solving one problem by creating another). Learners are also encouraged to use the phrase "all good things come to those who wait" to earn connection points.
  • SMSC Awareness: This week, learners explored the history of the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (the 5th Sikh Guru), reflecting on core values of faith, spiritual resilience, humility, and service to humanity.

   

• Headteacher's Blog - Edition 28

  Mon 08 Jun 2026

  You may have heard the old proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child." In the world of modern education, that village isn’t just a nice concept—it is an absolute necessity.

   

  Teachers and our associate staff cannot do it alone. Two of the most important ways members of our school community can enhance the educational offer is through active volunteering and collaborative parent forums. When these two elements thrive, schools don't just function—they flourish. 

   

  Our Stronger Together Parent Forum meets every half term between 10am and 12 noon and is an invaluable source of support and positive challenge. This has helped us clarify misconceptions and develop policies so that all members of our school community are working together. The latest initiative is to highlight the importance of attendance to discourage parents from taking trips and holidays in school time. We are always keen to see some new faces at our Stronger Together Forum and would welcome as many parents/carers as possible to attend our last meeting this academic year on Tuesday 23 June at 10am. If you are interested in attending please email Miss Aswat on aaswat@batleygirls.co.uk.

   

  The points below summarise the information shared with learners this week. 

   

  1. Whole-School Initiatives & Announcements

  • The Brilliance Bucket Reward System: Learners earn 20 premium points for 100% weekly attendance and 10 points for completing a weekly Brilliance Activity. Top point-earners qualify for VIP statuses: Platinum (Top 5%), Gold (Top 10%), Silver (Top 15%), and Bronze (Top 25%). Bonus rewards (chocolates and stickers) can be collected from Mr. Scurr at the LRC on Mondays.
  • Personal Development & Eco Notices: World Oceans Day is highlighted on June 8 to encourage marine ecosystem preservation. Learners interested in sustainability can apply for the Eco Committee via Ms. Dunkley by Friday 12 June.
  • Word & Idiom of the Week: Is Foresight (anticipating and planning for the future). The connected idiom is "Light at the end of the tunnel". Learners caught using the idiom "All good things come to those who wait" will receive a positive "Connection" point.
  • Job of the Week: Commercial Diver (Requires a Grade 4+ in English and Maths, or Grade 6+ in Maths for engineering pathways).
  • Extra-Curricular Clubs: PE Clubs (Volleyball and Taekwondo on Mondays; Mixed Sports and Darts on Tuesdays) are open to all years in the Sports Hall (3:00–4:00 PM). Art Club for Key Stage 3 runs on Mondays from 3:00–4:00 PM in Room 45.

   

  2. Year Group Specific Updates & Leaderboards

  • Year 7: Reminded to wear full uniform with ID badges at all times. The ParentPay system is opening for an upcoming Alton Towers over the next few weeks. Form group 7EAT won the attendance award with 98.75%. Multiple learners won a lunch-queue skip pass for 100% attendance.
  • Year 8: Form champions are currently competing in an attendance challenge. Learners with 5-minute early exit passes must seek permission before leaving and must not wait around in corridors.
  • Homework Reminders (All Years): All homework is set via Class Charts. Late or poorly completed homework will trigger a "Study and Support" (SAS) detention. Learners facing ICT issues must contact Mrs Hendry.

   

  3. The 5 Cs Community Positive Points (w/c 02.02.2026)

  Learners accumulate positive points on Class Charts by demonstrating the school's core values: Character, Creativity, Collaboration, Community, and Connected.

  • Community Leaderboard: Cumulative point totals are tracked across house groups named after inspirational figures. Rosa Parks led the weekly count with 4,597 points , while Jo Cox holds the highest overall term total with 74,324 points.

• Headteacher's Blog - Edition 27

  Mon 01 Jun 2026

  We are delighted to welcome back staff and learners to school following the half term break. Year 11 and 13 learners are in the middle of their exams and it was perhaps fitting that the citizenship exam should be today as we unveiled our new ‘Book Hub’ boxes in the Learning Resource Centre. 

   

  Avid followers of this blog will recall that in April, I outlined the efforts of four of our year 11 learners who presented to Batley Multi Academy Trust Heads to establish a Book Hub so that learners could donate unwanted books for others to take home and keep and of course take some new exciting reading material for themselves. We will be swapping boxes with other Trust schools to try and provide a variety of materials over this half term and beyond. A similar idea had also been championed by our year 9 Kings Trust finalists who also focused on literacy. It is fantastic to see the level of importance our learners have placed on literacy and the simple pleasure associated with reading a good book. 

   

  The points below summarise the information shared with learners this week. 

   

  Key Learning & Personal Development Topics

  • D-Day Remembers (6th June 1944): This week, learners are discovering the historical importance of the D-Day Normandy landings. They are learning how this huge, complex military operation marked a major turning point in World War II, leading to the liberation of France and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.
  • Celebrating Community Values: The school community extended its warmest wishes to all families who celebrated Eid al-Adha over the half-term break. In school, learners are exploring the values of this festival, focusing on trust, kindness, charity, and caring for those who are less fortunate.
  • Word and Idiom of the Week: To build vocabulary, learners are exploring the word “falter” (meaning to lose strength or momentum) alongside the idiom “fall at the final hurdle” (meaning to fail near the end of an attempt).
  • Job of the Week: This week’s featured career is a Herpetologist (a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians). To pursue this path, learners are reminded that achieving a Grade 4+ in English, Maths, and Science is essential, alongside developing teamwork and resilience.

   

  Attendance & Homework Reminders

  • Attend and Achieve: There is a powerful link between high school attendance and exam success. The school target for every learner is 98%. If there are any underlying issues impacting your child's attendance, please reach out to their group tutor or Achievement Leader so the school can provide support.
  • Uniform Check: As the new term begins, all learners must return to full school uniform, which includes wearing their ID badges at all times.

   

  Year Group Specific Notices

  • Year 7: The ParentPay portal for the upcoming Alton Towers visit will be opening in the next few weeks, so please monitor your account to finalize arrangements. Form group 7EAT took the top spot for attendance before the break at 98.75%. Learners have also been issued a "Form Champions" challenge to earn extra group points this week.
  • Year 8: Form tutors have selected individual "Form Champions" who will spearhead weekly challenges for their tutor groups. This week's objective is a personal challenge to secure the highest number of positive points.
  • Year 9: This is a pivotal final term for Year 9, packed with core subject assessments, a rewards visit, parents' evening, and graduation events. GCSE option choices have now been finalized; due to the complexity of the scheduling process, these choices cannot be moved or altered.
  • Year 10: As learners enter their final term of the academic year, they are being encouraged to step up as school leaders. Official mock exam dates will be confirmed soon; in the meantime, learners should actively prepare and organize their study materials.