What’s On
2023 – 2024
Outstanding Artwork
It has been an amazing year for our pupils here in the art department.
We have had a record number of pupils entering the GCSE looking at a wide range of artists, subjects, and mediums, including landscape, portrait, and photography. We wish all our year 11s the best of luck in the future, very well done!
It has not only been our leavers who have produced wonderful work though, our Y7s, Y8s and Y9s have also been getting creative. I think you will agree the standard is very high and we have great expectations of them for the coming year. We are very proud of you all! Wishing you a fantastic summer holiday.
Ofsted Rating “Good”
Greys School Achieves “Good” Ofsted Rating
We are thrilled to announce that Greys Education Centre – an alternative provision for excluded pupils, partnerships and medical needs – has achieved a “Good” rating in its latest Ofsted inspection, a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff, pupils, and the wider school community.
Under the steadfast leadership of Clare Breare, Headteacher of Greys, the entire team has tirelessly pursued excellence in education, fostering an environment where every pupil can thrive.
Clare expressed her gratitude, saying, “This achievement is a reflection of the commitment and passion of our amazing staff, who go above and beyond every day to support our pupils in reaching their full potential. We are incredibly proud of this recognition and remain steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality education.”
CEO Catherine Assink added, ” Greys has been on an incredible journey from Requires Improvement to Good in a matter of 3 years. The ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted underscores BILTT’s unwavering dedication to delivering outstanding education and support to all our pupils regardless of their starting points. It is a result of the collective efforts of our entire school community, and we are determined to build upon this success as we continue to strive for excellence.”
BILTT looks forward to opening their new school, Rivertree Free School, later in the year.
Science Workshop
This term we attended a science workshop in the main hall along with other students from Greys Primary and The Hive. It was hosted by Caroline from Anglian Water.
She spoke to us about all things to do with water.
We were then presented with a team challenge. Mr Gentle-King’s team from The Hive were pronounced the winners…but only just as the other teams had also used sparingly little water!
The presentation was rounded off by a question-and-answer session which elicited many interesting questions from the audience.
We thanked Caroline with a big thank you and a rousing round of applause!
Please see our newsletter (31st January for full article).
Archery
On Wednesday 10th January 10 pupils from Primary visited the John Bunyan Sport Centre to participate in an afternoon of Archery. The pupils enjoyed a range of different shooting activities and worked well within their teams.
All pupils enjoyed developing their skills and achieved a certificate.
Please see our newsletter (17th January for full article).
Science Workshop
As part of a two-day careers event Year 10’s and 11’s were able to explore their career options. It started first with a local trip to The Bedford Corn Exchange on Tuesday 7th November where students attended the ‘Preparing for Adulthood Festival’ organised by Bedford Borough Council.
The second part of the two-day event we went to Birmingham to the largest national careers and skills event in the UK.
Please see our newsletter (8th December 2023 for full article).
Richard Fuller MP Visit
Greys Education Centre, an Alternative Provision based in
Kempston, invited Richard Fuller MP to their secondary department. Students have been studying Government and Politics in their Citizenship lessons and were armed with lots of questions.
Mr Fuller asked the students how they felt in Lockdown, as for him it was an unbelievable time that had affected everyone who was in the government.
He finished by explaining that it is up to individuals to make choices in their lives, but most importantly make sure you can look back when you are older and be happy with what you chose.
Please see our newsletter (8th December 2023 for full article).
2022 – 2023
Art News
Students at Greys have been working hard in Art this year.
They have been to an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge to see the ‘Defaced’ exhibition and were inspired by many of the unique exhibits.
Year 10s and 11s are working hard on their portfolios for their GCSEs and this last term has seen some beautiful abstract painting influenced by Rothko, Pollock, Hokusai and Kandinsky.
There are some very talented and creative students in the school and we wish the Y11s lots of luck with their coming exams.
Planetarium Visit
On Friday 24th March Greys Primary and Hive pupils visited Grange Academy to experience a planetarium.
The pupils arrived unsure of what to expect and were excited to see the big dome sitting in the hall. With the zip closed the screen suddenly came alive and the pupils were transfixed watching the dome come to life. The pupils were taken on a journey back in time to walking with the dinosaurs.
David a keen dinosaur loved every minute. “ This is amazing”.
Kye stated “It was amazing, sitting in the dark”.
Carly stated “it looks like a hot air balloon.”
Harley thought the creatures were so real “they were scary.”
Staff Member Supports Chelsea Fan on Dream Visit
Life-long Chelsea fan, John Smith and his wife Maureen were given an exclusive tour of the Premier League ground thanks to a brainwave by his carer from Right at Home Bedford, Munir Al-Busaidy Picariello.
John, a retired Chartered Surveyor, is living with Parkinson’s disease which affects his mobility and ability to manage aspects of daily living. Carers from Right at Home Bedford support him a few times a week, enabling John to remain in his own home.
The idea for the day came from carer Munir, who, during the World Cup in December, visited John at home voluntarily to watch the England games together.
As John’s birthday approached, Right at Home Bedford care manager, Shelley Lowden, contacted the football club to see if they could arrange a special treat.
The club promptly organised complimentary tickets for John, Maureen and Munir, who were all given the full VIP treatment with a private tour of the Stamford Bridge stadium, pitchside, the dressing rooms, trophy room and press areas.
Greys Education Centre receives prestigious UNICEF UK award
Grey’s Education Centre, which has sites in Kempston and Bromham, is to be awarded the Silver Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK.
The prestigious award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Greys Education Centre now joins over 1,300 UK schools who have achieved the Silver Award which is given to schools that make excellent progress towards embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into its ethos and curriculum.
As a specialist education provision providing hospital education and working with primary and secondary pupils who are excluded or at risk of exclusion from mainstream schools Greys is especially delighted to receive this award.
Headteacher Clare Breare commented” Greys Education Centre is so proud to have achieved this award. The impact of embedding UNICEF’s Rights of the child articles into our school life has made a positive impact on the pupils and the school. We are very grateful to the staff who have embraced the ethos of the rights of the child in all aspects of Greys and the students who have really benefitted in their learning and understanding.”
Working with nearly 5,000 schools including pupil referral units across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales Unicef has reported a positive impact on pupil behaviour, relationships and well-being by enhancing pupils’ self-esteem, leading to less truancy and bullying, better learning and improved academic standards.
Click on the links below to read the press articles:
Beds Bulletin Press Release
Bedford Independent Press Release
HIVE Opening
On Friday 25th November 2022 we were very pleased to invite visitors, including Mohammad Yasin MP, to the opening of the two new HIVE classes in Bromham last week. We are delighted that we will be able to welcome new pupils to the larger provision. The pupils are really enjoying working in the new classrooms. Elijah said that it helps him to focus better as he has more space and doesn’t get as distracted. Luca said that he enjoys the space and Carly is pleased that there is air conditioning in the new classroom. The staff are looking forward to displaying lots of work completed by the pupils when the new display boards arrive.
BILTT Pupil Fun Day
Pupils from all BILTT schools came together early in autumn term to enjoy a day of fun learning activities hosted by Grange Academy.
Primary and secondary classes from Greys Education Centre, St John’s Special School and Grange Academy experienced new activities and workshops throughout the day including drumming and singing, Forest School, crazy science workshops, face painting and outdoor games. Ark-Farm visited with cute and cuddly rabbits and guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep and their friendly and playful Labrador dogs.
Feedback from pupils was hugely positive and one class teacher reported that her class “found the Crazy Scientist show so funny, really thinking he didn’t know what he was doing”.
Grange Academy’s Elm class reported they were especially fond of the free ice-cream van, the animals and the visit from both a police van and fire engine through the day.
Parents also fed back on how much pupils had enjoyed the activities “I heard all about today on the way home. It sounds like a fantastic day and a fun time had by all”
Grange Academy chef Bev and her team provided delicious snack bags for all attendees and planning has already started for our next BILTT Pupil Xmas Fun Day. Click on any image to access the full gallery.
BILTT’s First Summer Fayre
Visitors enjoyed the autumn sunshine at the first BILTT summer fayre hosted by Grange Academy and over £1,000 was raised to be shared across our schools.
Families enjoyed a wide range of activities including a birds of prey display, bouncy castle and a great range of games and craft stalls as well as delicious hot food from Grange’s talented chef Bev.
This first all school family event was only possible thanks to the support of staff, stall holders, families and all our visitors who made the event such a success. Click on any image to access the full gallery.
Greys Education Centre is a Unicef Silver Rights Respecting School. Ofsted rated ‘Good’ (February 2024).
Telephone: 01234 408477 – Office Email: greys@biltt.org
Greys Education Centre is part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Company Number: 08156641