welcome
BECKET KEYS
Local Brentwood MP and Becket Keys sponsor, RET, attend Prime Minister’s Easter Reception in Downing Street
Eric Pickles MP and RET’s Chief Executive, Karen Lynch were both guests at the Prime Minister’s Easter Reception in Downing Street this week . In his address to the assembled guests the Prime Minister, quoted from the Gospel of Luke:
"This is the time when, as Christians, we remember the life, sacrifice and living legacy of Christ. The New Testament tells us so much about the character of Jesus; a man of incomparable compassion, generosity, grace, humility and love. These are the values that Jesus embraced, and I believe these are values people of any faith, or no faith, can also share in, and admire.
"It is values like these that make our country what it is – a place which is tolerant, generous and caring. A nation which has an established faith, that together is most content when we are defined by what we are for, rather than defined by what we are against. In the book of Luke, we are told that Jesus said, 'Do to others as you would have them do to you' – advice that when followed makes for a happier, and better society for everyone."
He told the assembled guests that he welcomed a Christian "fightback". He said: "I think there's something of a fightback going on, and we should welcome that. The values of the Bible, the values of Christianity, are the values that we need."
2012 Application Offers
Parents of applicants for places at Becket Keys for Septmber 2012 have been contacted with offers of places by email and letter. Parents have been advised how to respond both to our letters and the places they have been offered by Essex. Late applications can still be made and will be dealt with after the first round of offers have been accepted.
For details of how to apply please visit our admissions page.
Preparations for September
Becket Keys is pressing ahead with preparations for its first intake in September 2012. Decisions on the site, curriculum and uniform are well advanced and parents and new students have already visited the site during half term – with more visiting this Saturday.
With regards to the site, the Headteacher Designate, Mr Scott-Evans said “The discussions around the site are continuing with the DfE and Essex County Council (ECC) and the headteacher at Sawyers Hall, Mr Capper has been very generous with his time. It is likely that the majority of the site will be for Becket Keys and we expect to secure the areas of the site that we want. This includes the main teaching rooms, science block, technology suite, art rooms, drama and dance studio, and sports hall. It also includes the fitness studios, the assembly hall, the dining room and the important outside areas. We are fortunate, because of most of the teaching for our new Year 7 in September 2012 will be carried out in the newest block. The rest of the site will be developed over the subsequent 12 months so that by August 2013, the entire Becket Keys site will be completely refurbished. Effectively we will have 300 students on site in 2013, in a school that will eventually serve 1050. It is an amazing opportunity for those first groups of students.
Becket Keys site will have its own boundaries and the remaining Havering College uses of the site (including the excellent Hair and Beauty College) will have a separate entrance and facilities.
Parents that have attended one of our tours will have seen the areas of the site that we will be using in 2012 and will have seen for themselves the excellent facilities there already. With extra targeted investment over the next two years we are confident that Becket Keys will have one of (if not the) best sites of any of the Free Schools opening this year. We are running another tour and talk this Saturday 25th February at 3pm for parents and prospective students. The last tour was attended by around 150 people and we look forward to similar numbers on Saturday.
Funding Agreement Consultation
The Funding Agreement consultation started on 7 March and will run until 20 April. Further details can be found on our consultation page.
Mr Andy Scott-Evans appointed as Founding Headteacher
The Russell Education Trust (RET) and the Diocese of Chelmsford are delighted to announce that Mr Andy Scott-Evans has been appointed as our Founding Headteacher when the school opens in September 2012; he is one of the two headteachers who originally proposed the new school in Brentwood.
The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford said: “Andy has made a huge contribution to education in Brentwood by running an outstanding CofE primary school. He is one of the driving forces behind the new Becket Keys CofE Free School. He is a person of faith and vision and his appointment as Founding Headteacher will be good for everyone in Brentwood as this new school works alongside others to serve the needs of the wider community.”
An RET spokesman, Richard Elms, said “RET have been working very closely with Andy and the other Becket Keys proposer, Iain Gunn(head of St Peter’s) for the past eighteen months, to plan every detail of the school and its curriculum. We have been hugely impressed by the way Andy and Iain brought their understanding of two outstanding primary schools to bear on the planning of a new secondary. When Iain and an RET director suggested that Andy be approached to consider the post of Founding Headteacher himself, we were delighted. Last week RET, the Diocese and Department for Education conducted an intensive assessment and interview process. Andy came through with flying colours, impressing us with his vision and his determination to build an outstanding secondary school from Year 7 upwards. We have no doubt that he will lead Becket Keys brilliantly”.
Andy Scott Evans said “I am relishing the opportunity to lead Becket Keys and to bring the community’s hopes and dreams to fruition. I will be sorry to leave St Thomas’ in the Summer – I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time there and have so much to thank my governors, staff, parents and children for. I believe that by moving on to Becket Keys I am continuing to serve those families – and many more – by ensuring that there is an outstanding Anglican secondary school for Brentwood in the years ahead. I feel uniquely blessed to be working not only with Iain Gunn; the Diocese; and local parents; but also with the exceptional secondary expertise of the Russell Education Trust. With this combination, I believe that we can make a great contribution to the family of schools in Brentwood.”
