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

• Goodbye 2025 and Welcome 2026

  Fri 19 Dec 2025

  As we say goodbye to 2025 and look ahead to 2026, I would like to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable year for our school community and to thank parents and carers for your continued and valued support.

   

  Although this academic year began in September with the deeply distressing news that our Forest School provision had been deliberately destroyed by vandalism, the response from staff, learners, parents and carers, governors and partners was both swift and inspiring. While this was a significant loss, what could have remained a wholly negative experience instead brought our community closer together, united by a shared sense of purpose and determination.

   

  Overall, 2025 has been a year of many successes. These include a record number of admission applications, with the school now oversubscribed and operating with long waiting lists; national and DfE (Department for Education) recognition for our work on parental engagement; visits from local and international educational leaders, including colleagues from as far afield as India; and significant fundraising to support the rebuilding of our Forest School. We were also proud to welcome Baroness Royall, whose visit resulted in an invitation for our learners to visit the Houses of Parliament. Most recently, the school was awarded the Leading Parent Partnership Award, recognising the strength of our work with families.

   

  I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers once again for the vital role you play in supporting our school and our learners. Have a lovely winter break and here’s making 2026 a fantastic year for everyone in our community.

   

  Aman Singh Kang

   

  

• Putting Wellbeing First - Supporting Every Learner to Succeed

  Mon 15 Dec 2025

  At Upper Batley, the wellbeing and safety of our learners is always our number one priority. We believe wholeheartedly that “children learn best when they feel safe, supported and understood,” and this belief underpins everything we do as a school. Our compassionate and highly committed staff work tirelessly to ensure every learner feels valued, listened to and encouraged to be the very best version of themselves. Alongside this, our excellent facilities allow us to deliver a rich, creative curriculum that is carefully tailored to meet individual needs.

   

  We are proud to offer a wide range of unique opportunities that support both emotional wellbeing and personal development. Our Forest School, Barnyard, horticulture area and on-site gym all play an important role in helping learners to develop resilience, confidence and a sense of calm. We understand that the demands of school life: particularly exams, coursework and assessments can sometimes feel challenging, so we place a strong emphasis on teaching learners practical strategies to manage stress and look after their mental health.

   

  Central to our approach is our outstanding support network. Our Pastoral team, strong SEND provision, dedicated school Counsellor who work closely with learners every day to create a safe, caring environment where everyone knows there is always someone they can talk to. This consistent, trusted support helps learners to feel secure, builds their confidence and enables them to engage positively with their learning.

   

  We also recognise that true success is about more than academic outcomes alone. Developing resilience, determination, empathy and a positive work ethic is equally important. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to nurture these qualities across all subjects. Whether learners are solving problems in Maths, building perseverance and teamwork in Forest School, or caring for animals in the Barnyard, each experience helps to prepare them for life beyond the classroom and supports them in becoming confident, well-rounded individuals.

   

  We are incredibly proud of our commitment to nurturing the whole child. Our work in the area of mental health and wellbeing is recognised as best practice, and we are delighted to hold Gold status from the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools. This achievement reflects our ongoing dedication to ensuring that every learner at Upper Batley feels safe, supported and ready to succeed.

   

  Aman Singh Kang

   

  

• Staying Safe Online

  Tue 09 Dec 2025

  The online world is now part of everyday life for both adults and young people. While technology brings many benefits, it also comes with risks. Online safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it is vital that we all work together to help young people use the internet safely, confidently and responsibly.

  At UBHS, online safety is a key priority. We support learners through assemblies, lessons and clear rules, including not bringing mobile phones onto the school site. However, keeping children safe online works best when schools and families work in partnership.

  To support parents and carers, we are offering FREE digital parenting sessions focused on online safety. The session will cover topics such as.
  
  - Understanding gaming, online communication, and hidden risks
  - Social media dangers, trends, emojis
  - Issues around mental health, cyberbullying
  - Digital boundaries
  - Building open communication with children
  - Improving online safety at home
  
  Date: Thursday 11 December 2025
  Time: 1.15pm or 4.15pm (choose one session)

  These sessions will provide practical advice on social media, gaming, privacy settings and how to have effective conversations with your child about staying safe online.

  Sign up here: https://forms.gle/PSvPs4kUB1fzENpP6

  We strongly encourage all parents and carers to attend one of these sessions and join us in supporting our young people to stay safe online.

   

  Aman Singh Kang

  

• Doors of Opportunity - Careers Development

  Mon 01 Dec 2025

  At UBHS, we firmly believe that leadership is not a title reserved for the few, but a set of skills and qualities that can be nurtured in every young person. Developing the leaders of tomorrow sits at the heart of our work, and we are committed to building confidence, character and essential skills from the very beginning of a child’s educational journey.

   

  Across UBHS, learners are provided with a wide range of meaningful opportunities to develop leadership and workplace-ready skills through lessons, enrichment activities and positions of responsibility throughout the school. These experiences support learners in developing key skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience, skills that are vital not only for future careers, but for life beyond the classroom.

   

  A cornerstone of this work is our use of the Skills Builder programme, delivered during Inspire form time. Skills Builder offers a clear, structured framework that enables learners to practise essential skills regularly, reflect on their progress and understand how these skills are relevant both now and in their future pathways. This consistent approach helps to build confidence, foster independence and empower learners to recognise and believe in their own potential. As we say at UBHS, we provide doors of opportunity for every learner to grow, excel and flourish.

   

  Crucially, this commitment to leadership development does not stop at secondary school. As a Trust, we work collaboratively with our primary schools to nurture leadership from a younger age. By introducing leadership opportunities and essential skills early, we help our youngest learners build confidence, develop a strong sense of self and begin to see themselves as future leaders. This joined-up approach ensures clear continuity and progression as learners move through our schools.

   

  This collaborative work was brought to life last week when our Year 10 learners supported Year 6 learners at Field Lane Primary School by conducting mock interviews and providing constructive, supportive feedback. This experience was invaluable for both groups of learners; strengthening confidence, communication skills and leadership capacity across our Trust.

   

  By working together and embedding essential skills throughout our curriculum, we are not only preparing our learners for employment, but empowering them to thrive, lead and make a positive contribution to society. This is a vision we are immensely proud of at UBHS.

   

  Aman Singh Kang