Dear Parents/Carers

As we settle into the new academic year, I wanted to take a moment to share how proud I am of our students and the fantastic start they’ve made. It has been a real pleasure to see BCS come alive again with energy, enthusiasm, and a genuine love of learning following the summer break.

A special well done must go to our new Year 7 students, who have settled in brilliantly. Their confidence, curiosity, and kindness have already made a strong impression, and they are quickly becoming an integral part of our school community.

We’ve also been delighted to welcome a large number of last year’s Year 11 students back into our Sixth Form — it’s wonderful to see them continuing their journey with us. Alongside them, we extend a very warm welcome to our new Year 12 students who have joined us from other schools. We’re thrilled to have them as part of our community and look forward to supporting them as they thrive both academically and personally.

Our current Year 11 students have made a fantastic start to what is a very important year for them. They’ve been working incredibly hard and making the most of the additional support sessions we’ve put in place, including revision strategy workshops and exam masterclasses during tutor time. Their commitment and focus have been impressive, and we will continue to support them every step of the way.

One of the best parts of my day is chatting with students during break and lunchtime — hearing about what they’re learning, what they’re enjoying, and what’s on their minds. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do, and it’s a joy to see them growing not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.

During lesson time, I’ve been out and about visiting classrooms and have seen some truly inspiring teaching and learning taking place. Our staff have been working incredibly hard to further develop their teaching strategies, ensuring that every lesson is engaging, inclusive, and challenging. We’re also grateful for the continued support from the central team at Embark, and we’re looking forward to welcoming Mr Crawford, our Trust Leader, next week as we launch the Embark Awards programme — a fantastic opportunity to celebrate student achievement across a wide range of areas.

We’ve made some exciting investments in our IT infrastructure, with brand new smart boards now fully functioning in all classrooms and new computers installed to support high-quality learning experiences. These upgrades are already making a real difference.

We’re aware that there have been a few teething issues with our lunch arrangements and the transition from ParentPay to Arbor Pay. Please be assured that we are working hard to resolve these as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience and understanding.

Already this term, we’ve seen students taking part in a number of trips and visits, and we’ve had some great successes in our sporting fixtures. These experiences are so important in helping our students develop confidence, teamwork, and resilience — and we’re proud of every single one of them.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to a brilliant year ahead, full of learning, growth, and achievement.

Mrs Sam Jones - Headteacher