Design note 4 - what do we mean?
In addition to the similarities between our new icon and the real Northern Lights, we particularly liked some of the themes of what the Northern Lights icon represented, namely:
CEO Welcome
After working in Bradford for almost 30 years, I was privileged to be appointed as the Chief Executive of Beckfoot Trust in September 2021. This is the only trust that I would have left my previous role for and that is because of mission and values alignment. This trust has always been committed to the Bradford District and making a difference in our local community. I have spent my career striving to deliver exceptional outcomes and I have always been determined to succeed because our children deserve nothing less. With 25 years’ experience in senior leadership, I am a great believer in deferring to the brilliance of others and the best part of my job is that I can do that every day. I am surrounded by people who genuinely care and retain applied optimism regardless of the challenges; ‘things will get better because we will make it so.’
Shirley Watson
One Trust Where All Belong –
10 Core Features of Our Trust
We have clearly set out what we believe makes a school remarkable in our Trust Contract.
· We enjoy belonging to Team Beckfoot Trust and we are optimistic about our future.
· We learn together in our vibrant, creative and diverse family of schools.
· We are highly ambitious for our staff and students and believe that through hard work, all can succeed.
We know that a deep sense of belonging is an irreducible need for all people. We genuinely celebrate all aspects of diversity and we believe that where staff and students feel an authentic sense of belonging they will flourish. The recruitment and retention of mission-aligned people is absolutely key to our continuing success. Please read our Workload and Wellbeing Pledge to learn more about how we value our employees.
We understand that people (staff and students) have different needs. If we are to meet our mission, we must acknowledge and dismantle the structural barriers that some groups may experience. We will know we are truly inclusive when our equitable processes mean that we there are no patterns of differential outcomes or progression for students and staff.
We genuinely collaborate as equal partners across special, primary and secondary settings. As leaders we are all signed up to the same principles set out in our Trust Contract. We fundamentally believe we are only as strong as our weakest.
We believe that ‘some things work everywhere’ and we are evidence-informed. We value the economies of scale and benefits of scale that working together brings. Through developing clarity on alignment we are able to support each other on our continuous journey to remarkable.
Although we are One Trust Where all Belong, each of our schools has a distinctive character and we value authenticity of culture. Leadership and personal accountability are founded on ownership and self-determination therefore we do not strive for uniformity. The rich diversity of our Trust means that we can learn from one another and thereby accelerate innovation and improvement for the benefit of the communities we serve.
All our leaders are mission-aligned and values-driven and are proud to belong to our one Trust. They are signed up to our principles of alignment however, we want our leaders to have the power to lead their own unique setting and to create compelling school cultures where all are motivated to achieve. Beckfoot Trust leaders all demonstrate integrity, humility and professionalism.
Where leaders and their teams work in challenging circumstances, we know that our trust must particularly support and be a protective structure for all. Many of our schools are located in areas where there is a high level of deprivation. In some instances our schools joined the Trust with a legacy of sustained underperformance and community mistrust. Breaking that cycle of deprivation is what drives us forward. We will never use context as an excuse, yet we understand that communities are different and we work positively with those we serve.
The culture and opportunities afforded to the young people that are in our care are hugely important to us, we are celebratory and inclusive schools with a strong emphasis on personal development and team. Ultimately we know that to truly transform lives and meet our mission, we must have relentlessly high expectations. Our aim is for our schools to be in the top 10% of all schools nationally for achievement. To find out more about our ambitions, see our Mission Document.
Working and Living in Bradford
Bradford offers excellent opportunities for teachers due to high demand and diverse cultural experiences. As the youngest city in England, nearly a third of its population is under 20, making education crucial. The city’s diversity, with about half the students from minority ethnic communities, enriches teaching experiences. School leaders are dedicated to providing top-notch education, supported by research schools and multi-academy trusts, offering strong career prospects. Teachers can significantly impact, especially since a quarter of the children live in poverty, aligning with Bradford’s mission to offer equal opportunities.
Bradford is a vibrant cultural hub and award-winning destination. As a UNESCO City of Film and World Heritage Site, it features attractions like the Brontë Country and the National Science and Media Museum. The city’s rich history is reflected in its striking architecture, including the 19th-century Wool Exchange and Little Germany. The city center boasts the multi-award-winning City Park and historic St George’s Hall. Excellent transport links make exploring Bradford easy, enhancing its appeal as a place to live and work.
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Find out about roles and opportunities available in our schools and our central team.