On 23rd March, Year 11 had their second PSHE day. Pupils rotated between themes, half the year group learning about relationships and sex education including sessions about contraception provided by Umbrella, sessions on STIs provided by NHS nurses and a session from Walsall Street Teams about consent and healthy relationships. In addition to this, pupils learned about how to self-check for cancer and marriage and parenting. In the other rotation, pupils learned about ideas and beliefs around animal testing and abortion as well as the environment and wealth. There were also sessions on democracy and government, international law and human rights as well as personal finance, tax, investment and pensions.

We believe that preparation for life after school and personal development are essential to our pupils’ success and pupils have worked hard, discussing important issues and considering matters that they will have to make life decisions about in their futures.

We would like to extend our gratitude to our staff for their hard work and the outside agencies that joined us to make the day such a success.

Barr Beacon School has lots of exciting and fun activities to help raise money for this year’s Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day:   

From Monday 13^th March pupils can pre-order samosas from our 6^th Form House Captains who will be visiting all form groups every morning this week.  Samosas cost £1.  On Friday 17th March, during both breaktimes, all pre-ordered samosas can be collected from the iCentre or purchased in the Bistro. Cash payments only.  

On Monday 20^th March pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a ‘keepie uppie’ competition. This will take place during both breaktimes in the Sports Hall and will cost 50p. The top three winners will receive a prize.    

Pupils will also have the pleasure of watching Mr Townsend and Mr Brennan have their legs waxed live by our very own Head of Houses; Miss McGoldrick and Miss Busby. This will take place during both breaktimes in the Sports Hall and will cost 50p.  

And finally, all staff and pupils are welcome to wear their red noses on Friday 17^th March.   

All money raised will go directly to Comic Relief.    

Over the past two weeks, 15 of our Sixth Form students have successfully completed presentations as part of their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). An EPQ is a Level 3 qualification, equivalent to half a full A-Level, awarded to students who complete a particular type of research project, about a subject they are really interested in. It gives students a chance to show they can manage independent research and project management, which looks impressive to universities and employers.  

This year students have completed their projects on a range of interesting topics including: “Is solitary confinement conventional to today’s ethical and psychological standards of imprisonment?” “Would Birmingham, being a capital city, relieve London?” “The future of high-rise structures which included a 5ft model of the Burj Khalifa.”  

The presentation is an assessed part of the EPQ and is an excellent opportunity for students to not only practise their presentation skills, but also demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have gained throughout their course such as: researching, referencing and developing and applying problem-solving skills. Mrs Cornwall, EPQ co-ordinator, was especially impressed by the high quality and standards of this year’s presentations.  Well done to all students who took part.  

SNOW UPDATE – School will be CLOSED today (10/3/2023) due to adverse weather conditions. Lessons will take place on Teams at their normal times. We thank you for your support.

#snowupdate #schoolclosure

Charity Managers Amber and Thomas led on this year’s sweet sale for Valentine’s Day.

We raised £95.50 which will be shared between our chosen charities this year:  Freedom From Torture and Precious Dreams.

Thank you to everyone who supported this event.

Thank you and well done to our Year 13 ambassadors for organising the delivery of sweets on the day.

This year for World Book Day we had a series of events and competitions happening across school.

Pupils were invited to complete a poster celebrating reading and during PSHE pupils watched ‘Authors Live’ with Sue Cheung and reflected on how reading can encourage us to be ourselves (one of our Beacon Values!) In English lessons pupils also competed in a series of quizzes and took part in our Book Review competition. See some of our amazing entries below.

To celebrate World Book Day, we also launched the Barr Beacon Reading Challenge Card. Pupils will be receiving these over the next week in their English lessons and we look forward to seeing pupils displaying their Reading Champion badges on their blazers.

Do you have a special talent you wish to showcase at our next big live event.

You will have the chance to perform on stage in front of a live audience in Birmingham at Millennium Point in their state-of-the-art theatre on Thursday 20^th April 2022.  Whether it be singing, dancing, juggling, stand-up comedy or anything and everything in between, we want to see all your wonderful talents.

How to enter:

• Have one of your performing arts teachers record your performance (or film it yourself and email to your teacher). 
• A snippet of your performance can be submitted, please do not worry about submitting a performance in its entirety. 
• Your teacher will be able to submit your performance video to the Matrix judging panel.
• Finalists will have the opportunity to perform at our next big trust event and some school events this year. 
• Solo entries and group entries are welcome. 
• Submit your entry by 4pm on Wednesday 15^th March.