It’s National Careers Week!
Alongside our assemblies and competition in school, pupils can access some great resources online.
Find your perfect Job or Apprenticeship with these BBC Bitesize Quizzes.
Explore your options with the National Virtual Careers Fair
After an epic 25-hour journey, our group finally arrived in the breathtaking Austrian Alps, ready to take on the slopes of Austria. What followed was a week of incredible progress, thrilling experiences, and unforgettable memories.
From the moment we clipped into our skis, it was clear this would be a trip like no other. Beginners who had never set foot on snow transformed into confident skiers, tackling the most demanding black runs by the end of the week—a truly phenomenal achievement! Meanwhile, those with prior experience made huge leaps in skill and confidence, mastering advanced techniques and testing their speed on the slopes.
Of course, skiing wasn’t the only activity on the itinerary. We swapped ski poles for bowling balls in a round of Austrian bowling, tested our balance and precision with curling, and took time to explore the charming town of Schladming.
The week concluded with a celebratory awards evening, where we recognised outstanding performances with medals for the fastest skiers. A huge congratulations to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners—it was a fierce competition!
Most importantly, every single pupil represented themselves exceptionally well, showing determination, resilience, and teamwork throughout the trip. Whether it was on the slopes, in the town, or during the long journey, their positive attitude made the experience truly special.
Wysa is an AI wellbeing coach that has been commissioned by the Black Country Health NHS Foundation Trust to give pupils a safe, non-judgmental space where they can talk about anything and everything that' s bothering them.
It contains 150+ exercises, with everything from mindfulness and meditation to therapy tools for anxiety and depression The app’s tools can teach pupils techniques that they can use day-to-day to understand their emotions and work through them.
Free premium access for 12 months when you download it using the QR code.
The curtain rises this week on an incredibly vibrant and energetic production of Roald Dahl's Matilda Jr. After weeks of rehearsal, countless hours of practice, and unwavering commitment, the pupils come together to bring Dahl's whimsical tale to life.
From the opening number, every cast member pours their heart and soul into this performance. The pupils consistently demonstrate not just performing talent but also teamwork, resilience, and determination. Many of these young performers have spent months learning their lines, rehearsing their songs, and perfecting their dance moves, all while balancing their academic responsibilities. Their commitment to this show was evident in the seamless way in which they worked together, making the production a true collaboration of young artistic talent.
A heartfelt congratulations to every student involved, both on stage and behind the scenes, for their hard work and creativity. This performance is a true reflection of their incredible talent and determination.
We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we will, and we look forward to seeing what these amazing students will accomplish next! Well done, everyone!
Barr Beacon School was once again lucky to be visited by WPR agency. Our Year 12 students had the chance to learn about a new career that they never knew existed, discovering how a career PR links to their current studies and the creative opportunities within the field. After learning about the career from two professionals in the industry, students then had the chance to create and pitch their own PR campaigns for a new bug restaurant in Birmingham. Our visitors praised the innovative ideas of our students and said that some of their ideas could easily be used by their firm on real projects.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Year 11-13 students attended a webinar from BMW with lots of advice on how to submit a successful application. Competition for apprenticeship is fierce, especially at the bigger firms, and the well-attended session at Barr Beacon alone shows just how much interest there is in the apprenticeship route.
University of Leicester visited Barr Beacon School to give an informative talk to Year 13 students on Student Finance in preparation for their university progression this summer. Students learnt about how the application, support and repayments work and were also given useful advice on budgeting.
You can find more advice on the UCAS website.
Our aspiring medics and dentists in Year 12 attended the 3rd annual In2Med School Hackathon. They presented a healthcare initiative to doctors at University of Birmingham, following 6 weeks of careful preparation and research. Our team ‘Healthy Horizons’ won Runner Up for their detailed research and innovate ideas on how to tackle diabetes in the local community. Our second team ‘The Plaques’ focused on the affects of vaping on dental health and certainly won the audience vote with their engaging performance. Both teams put a huge amount of effort into their projects and we are extremely proud of their achievements.
Year 11 and Year 13 French students took part in translation workshops with Jae Marple this half-term. Jae is a professional translator who specialises in translating texts from French into English related to sports, tourism and international development. Pupils were taught some of the techniques of translation and then had a go at some difficult texts. Pupils did really well anY year 11, in particular, demonstrated that continuing to study French at A-Level would open doors to many careers.
On Monday 3rd Feb 2025 six of our cadets attended a CCF Flying Day at RAF Cosford. The Flying events are one of our most-sought after activities within the cadet force. The weather gods had smiled upon us, suddenly our cadets took to the skies on their very own flying lessons.
For some of our cadets it was the first time they had been in a plane, let alone being able to control it themselves. All of the cadets enjoyed the day at RAF Cosford and are looking forward to more experiences in the future.
Barr Beacon School
Old Hall Lane
Aldridge, Walsall
West Midlands
WS9 0RF
T: 0121 366 6600
postbox@barrbeaconschool.co.uk
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
