We ended last half term by bidding farewell to our Year 13 students as they prepare to sit their final examinations over the coming weeks. Students enjoyed a Mexican themed lunch supplied by Buenas Burritos before settling down for their final formal assembly.

Teachers shared ‘good bye and good luck’ messages reflecting on their time with this cohort. Students were then reminded of the day that they started their journey with us, which for most of them was back in September 2017, to how far they have come, through a slideshow of photographs.  Some haven’t changed at all whilst others are unrecognisable!

The Headteacher addressed the students and presented the Head Student Team with a token of our appreciation for all their contributions over the last twelve months. Following farewell messages from Form Tutors and the Sixth Form Team, a video of ‘out takes’ put together by the students themselves was also viewed! The event ended with the traditional ‘hat throwing’ photograph.

We wish the students all the very best for the remainder of their examinations and we are looking forward to marking the end of an era with them at the Leavers Ball later this month before celebrating their successes on Results Day in August.

On Monday 20^th May, students from years 9 and 10 took part in a two-hour workshop with the dance artist Jade from Fabric and the CAT Dance scheme. Jade came to Barr Beacon to discuss the fantastic opportunities the CAT (Centre for Advanced Training) offers. Fabric is an organisation that runs from Birmingham Hippodrome and offers students aged 11 to 17 the opportunity to train with professional artists. All of the students that participated were professional and really shone, demonstrating their own wonderful abilities in Dance. It was great for the Barr Beacon students to work with a professional dance artist and the confidence the session gave students in their own abilities was great to see! Well done Dancers!

On Tuesday 14^th May, Year 10’s ‘Most Able’ students had the opportunity to experience a day in the life of an Oxford University student. Students initially had a lecture detailing the best routes to take in order to access a Russell Group university and then were able to quiz three current Oxford university students, linked to their experiences in studying at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Students were fascinated to hear about their courses, seminars, learning habits and even the social aspect of university life. Students then had a tour of the university, allowing them to capture both the beautiful views and historical significance of the campus. Finally, students then had time to look around the hugely impressive Oxford University museum, before returning back to school. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed their day and it inspired teach of them to be aspirational in what they could achieve within their academic studies.

We were pleased to see the sun shining on Tuesday 7^th May 2024 as this meant Sixth Form students were able to go ahead with the planned charity fun run.

Over 150 students took part in this fun event, where they ran a lap of the school field whilst throwing coloured powder over each other!  They raised £256.50 which will go into the pot to be shared between the 2 charities we are supporting this year – Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Humanity First.  

Here are some feedback comments from the students:

“The anticipation was worth it! It was such an amazing time filled with happiness and every worry left all of us as we just got to be kids again whilst raising money for charity! I will never forget this day or the memories created and I hope to do this again next year!” Z. Barkat (12M2)

“It was a great way to spend time with my friends.  I enjoyed running around and throwing colours at each other! I had a lot of fun and cannot wait to do it again.”  T. Vu (12W1)

“The colour run was a really fun and memorable way of spending the afternoon and raising money for charity. It was definitely something that the Sixth Formers had been looking forward to and it was brilliant to be able to spend time with friends, enjoy the weather and have some good fun, all in the interest of charity. I will definitely be participating in next year's event!”  A. Bains (12W2)

“I wish the colour run had lasted longer because we all had so much fun! As I was walking out of school, there were a lot of compliments on my colourful clothes.  When asked how the event went, the words that sprung to mind were: Absolutely perfect!” K. Stevenson (12W1) 

“I am not a keen runner but the colour run was one of the best experiences I’ve had! 10/10 – I would definitely do it again!” Z. Inman (12M2)

“I really enjoyed watching how I gradually became coated in thick powder and started to resemble  a rainbow - a time before being stained blue exists!” R. Lee (12W2)

“The colour run, once again, was an amazing experience! It was such good fun with my friends and we raised more money for charity!”  I. Caley (13C2)

“It was a welcome break from the pressure of revision and exams.  I am glad I took part in this event again.  The weather was beautiful which made it even more enjoyable!  It is humbling to know how much we raised for charity.”  J. Coley (13B1)

On Wednesday 24^th April over 50 Students were involved with the BTEC Performing Arts Showcase. The evening celebrated the talents of our BTEC Performing Arts students as well as other students from across the upper years of the school. Students showcased their Dance, Musical and Dramatic performances to a full audience. The support shown to students was fantastic to see and the Creative Arts Department are incredibly proud of the hard work students put into the showcase. As you will see from the photos students performed with confidence and focus throughout. Well done to all the students that performed and supported the showcase. The Creative Arts Department.

Embarking on a journey beyond borders can be a transformative experience for students, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures, languages, and traditions. Recently, a group of 35 adventurous pupils from across Matrix Academy Trust had the incredible opportunity to explore the city of Stockholm, Sweden through the Turing Scheme. This government-funded scheme enables pupils to experience other cultures. 

Our first activity was a visit to the Paradox Musuem, which offers an engaging exploration of optical illusions. Visitors are invited to pose for some great pictures as part of these illusions, before walking to the Avicii Experience, where our pupils enjoyed DJing alongside the groundbreaking DJ and producer, experiencing his music in a unique and immersive setting. 

Later that afternoon, our students had the opportunity to visit Gamla Stan, Stockholm's charming Old Town, exploring landmarks such as the Royal Armouries. They also delved into the world of Nobel laureates at the Nobel Prize Museum, learning about the importance of science, literature, and peace in shaping our world.  

On our second day, we visited the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. As you step into the museum, you're greeted by the Vasa ship, a preserved warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged centuries later. Our pupils also enjoyed exploring Lego versions of the world's most famous shipwrecks. 

Following this, our students had the pleasure of exploring the iconic music of Sweden. At the ABBA museum, they were immersed in ABBA's iconic costumes and memorabilia, exploring interactive exhibits and singing and dancing along to timeless hits.  

On day three, we paid a visit to the Tekniska Museum of science, technology, and innovation. Here the pupils enjoyed interactive exhibits, followed by lunch at Max Burgers – Sweden's (significantly better) answer to McDonalds.  

In the afternoon, we took a scenic boat tour around Stockholm's archipelago, where we got to see the city's iconic landmarks from a unique perspective. And in the afternoon, the competitive natures of staff and pupils kicked in with an outdoor escape room adventure around the historic town. Divided into teams, pupils navigated their teams and their teacher through the narrow cobblestone streets, solving clues and unravelling mysteries, where only one of our groups solved the clues to find the final code! 

On day four, our pupils had the opportunity to visit Töjnaskolan, a Swedish school located in the suburbs of Stockholm. Stepping into the classrooms of Töjnaskolan, our pupils were struck by the differences between British and Swedish educational systems. Aside from being instant celebrities, they noticed smaller class sizes, a longer lunchtime and no school uniform. The visit sparked discussions between both sets of pupils about the different educational models, encouraging our students to reflect on their own learning experiences and cultural perspectives. 

On day 5 was a visit to Skansen, the world's first open-air museum, showcasing Swedish life from centuries past to the present day. Our students were delighted to explore the native animals of Sweden, with the highlight of the visit being the opportunity to hand-feed some of the friendly birds that call Skansen home. 

On our final day, our pupils experienced an adrenaline rush at Skypark Vaxholm, an exhilarating outdoor adventure park. They navigated treetop obstacle courses, zip-lined across forests, and conquered thrilling challenges, pushing their limits and building confidence. 

As our pupils bid farewell to Stockholm and boarded their flight back to London Heathrow, they carried with them memories that will last a lifetime. The trip embodied Matrix Academy Trust’s ethos of Education without Exception. Through experiences like the Stockholm trip, we empower our students to open their minds to endless possibilities and shape them into compassionate, informed global citizens.