This week has been another wonderful reminder of the talent, dedication and commitment of colleagues across Upper Batley High School and I am delighted to share two pieces of fantastic news with our school community.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate two outstanding members of our SEND team, Gemma Sinclair and Denita Raw, who were nominated by Kirklees Local Authority for the prestigious Jaz High Five Excellence Award. This award recognises individuals who go above and beyond to make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.

The awards ceremony took place at Huddersfield University, where the inspirational Dr Jaz Ampaw-Farr personally presented Gemma and Denita with their certificates. It was a fitting celebration of the incredible work they do every single day to ensure that our learners receive the care, encouragement and support they need to thrive both academically and personally.

Anyone who has worked alongside Gemma and Denita knows the genuine passion, compassion and determination they bring to their roles. They consistently place the needs of our young people at the heart of everything they do, building positive relationships with families and ensuring that every learner is given the opportunity to succeed. Their nomination and recognition are thoroughly deserved, and we are immensely proud of both colleagues for representing Upper Batley High School so brilliantly.

I am also delighted to share some excellent news from our Science Department. Our Senior Science Technician, Terri Halliday, has successfully secured £2,500 through the Sea-Changers Main Grant programme. This funding will be used to enhance the equipment available within our Science Department, providing our learners with even greater opportunities to experience practical, engaging and high-quality science lessons.

This is a fantastic achievement and reflects Terri's commitment to continually improving the learning experiences we provide for our learners. By securing this external funding, she has helped ensure that our young people will benefit from improved resources that will support their scientific curiosity, practical skills and understanding for years to come.

These achievements perfectly reflect the values we hold as a school. Whether it is supporting our most vulnerable learners or creating exciting opportunities within the classroom, our colleagues consistently demonstrate exceptional professionalism, care and ambition for every child.

I hope you will join me in congratulating Gemma, Denita and Terri on their outstanding achievements. They are a real credit to our school and wonderful examples of the positive difference that dedicated staff can make every single day.

Aman Singh Kang