It is my great pleasure to welcome you and your family to Bedale High School.

Located in the picturesque town of Bedale in North Yorkshire. Bedale High School welcomes students both locally and from far reaching locations across North Yorkshire. Families choose to send their children to our school not only because of our high focus on academic achievement, but also because of the exceptional opportunities that we offer to all young people in our school.

Bedale High School is a school on an exciting journey towards becoming one of the highest performing schools in the country. I personally joined Bedale High School as Interim Headteacher in September 2024 and have been delighted to be able to work with such wonderful students and highly talented staff and governors. Together with the Governing Board, we have set out a bold and ambitious plan for the future that will see us secure Ofsted Outstanding (or equivalent) at our next inspection, deliver a sustained position in the top 5% of all schools nationally, and undertake the full refurbishment of our school site. This is a plan that we are all deeply committed to delivering for our community.

The behaviour and attitudes of our students are exceptional. As a school we set the very highest expectations of our young people, and they willingly rise to those expectations. Students are kind and welcoming, and they actively go out of their way to support each other. This seemingly small thing is sadly all too rare in schools these days but further supports our belief that Bedale High School is a special place.

Members of staff in our school work tirelessly for the benefit of our students. Their loyalty to the school and its community is noteworthy. We have many staff who have worked at our school for 20+ years. We value and invest in our staff because we know that to do so is to provide young people with stability and routine. Students know that their teachers and support professionals will be there for them throughout their journey through school.

Whilst our school is growing thanks to our popularity within the community, it also remains a size that means that we really do have the opportunity to get to know every child exceptionally well. As a school we place a great emphasis on pastoral support. This begins with our exceptional team of form tutors, but where needed, extends into wide ranging support including mentoring and even counselling. We know that the journey to becoming an adult is different for every child and we make sure that we invest in that journey in every possible way needed.

Our core values as a school surround Courage, Commitment, and Compassion. We support our students to have the courage to overcome adversity, the commitment to achieve the very best outcomes at the end of year 11, and the compassion to support each other on their journey. Our core values are far from just words, they have meaning in our school and both students and staff seek to live up to our shared values throughout their time with us.

Whilst our goals for the future are ambitious, we are already seeing the impact of our work through significant improvements in attendance, behaviour, and academic achievement across our school. Students and staff are enthused by a culture of continuous improvement underpinned by the idea that moving forward all aspects of our work will live up to our motto of ‘Exceptional without exception’. Only the very best will do for our young people.

I very much look forward to working with you and your family in the years to come.

Mr C Stokes

Headteacher