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Lateral Flow Testing in 3 Steps

We are performing Lateral Flow Tests on pupils and staff who are asymptomatic (they don’t have Covid symptoms) each week. Anyone who is in contact with a confirmed case is tested each day for seven days (this is called serial testing).

Here is how the testing works:

Step 1. Register your details using your own device (Sixth Formers and staff) or one of our iPads (Years 7 to 11) and collect your barcode. This uniquely identifies your test and ties it to your name and the details you have given. Registration takes around 5 minutes.

Step 2. The registration assistant will let the testing assistants know that you have registered and one of them will take you to a private booth, screened from anyone else. 

Step 3. Inside the booth, you will perform the swabbing of your tonsils and nose yourself, following the written instructions or by following the guidance from the testing assistant. They can offer any help you may request, for example by holding up a mirror or shining a torch if you are struggling to locate your tonsils.

And that’s it! You just take a seat for 30 minutes and wait for your result. Bring something to read! If your test is negative, you will be told you can go back to lessons. If it’s positive, you will be given further instructions.

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International School Award

Barr Beacon School is proud to announce that we have received reaccreditation for the International School Award. Our school is proud of its longstanding commitment to learning about the world and preparing our pupils to be global citizens. The assessors were impressed by the variety and scope of our application and agreed that we are school that opens doors to different cultures, communities and countries. 

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Year 7 Birmingham University Science Lectures

Just before the end of 2020, 90 of our Year 7 pupils participated in online Science lectures delivered by Birmingham University staff. These lectures combined topical science with Christmas and so the sessions were entitled ‘Pandemics, past, present and future’ and ‘Is Santa Claus a super spreader?’

The lectures explained the science behind global pandemics and the development of the Covid-19 vaccines. These festive lectures were full of  Christmas themed analogies. Barr Beacon pupils submitted 8 questions to the experts, all of which were answered, and our pupils were singled out for praise due to these contributions. 

Our pupils certainly seemed to enjoy the lectures:

  • 96% said the lectures were interesting.
  • 83% said that the lectures made them want to go to university when they were older. 
  • 100% said they learned things they didn’t know before. 

What our pupils said:

“It was really interesting and I enjoyed it immensely. I hope to do more lectures in the future” 

“I found the lecture very interesting and I learnt a lot of new things”. 

“It includes fascinating facts, and I would have never thought about how a virus affects our bodies. We also learnt that rabies is more likely to kill you than you surviving/recovering from it. I would have wanted to go to university anyways but now I am more excited to go!”

“I think it was very interesting as it taught me things I didn't know before and it was about a similar subject to something that is currently happening.”

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Walsall Council Winter Grant

Walsall Council are providing some financial support for Free School Meals pupils who attend Walsall schools. This applies even in situations where you don't live in Walsall but your local authority has not announced financial support (such as Birmingham). 

The Council will be writing to you directly. Click the buttons below to view sample letters. 


Please contact the Council if you need more information. Phone number: 0300 555 2855

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Exam Certificate Collection

If you would like us to send out the certificates in the post we will require you to send in a Large stamped addressed envelope with recorded delivery (it has to be sent recorded delivery as this is a requirement from the exam boards).

Please telephone the school and make an appointment with the receptionist if you would like to come and collect them or if you wish someone to collect them on your behalf. Please give them a letter of authorisation and ask them to bring a form of identification.

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Annual Awards Evening 2020

On Wednesday 2nd December we held our Annual Awards Evening. This year it took the form of a virtual event, however the significance of the event remained the same. We joined together to celebrate the achievements of our pupils during the last academic year and celebrate their successes.

Our Guest Speaker was Dr Dan Perry, a former Head Boy of Barr Beacon School in 1997, who is now a Children’s Orthopaedic Surgeon at Alder Hay Children’s Hospital and a clinical trial lead for the British Orthopaedic Association. Dan gave an inspirational speech which would have provided great motivation to our pupils.

We were also joined by Mr Mills, who had taught at Barr Beacon School for over 45 years, to present an awarded named in his honour to our most outstanding Mathematician.

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Remote Scholastic Book fair

This year Barr Beacon will be running a remote Scholastic Book fair. To give you the opportunity to buy books below is a list of all the books available to purchase. If you would like to buy a book, you will need to order over the phone at home where you will receive a transaction code. The order slip with the transaction code and book title will then need to be sent back into school where the book will be then delivered to the pupil.

There is also a range of stationary available to purchase. The list for this is also below.

When buying books from the Book Fair the money also raises money for the school to enable us to buy great new books for the Library.

When purchasing you will be asked for the school code. The school code is - 23400062.

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Remembrance 2020

Tyne in Year 11 produced this poem to commemorate Remembrance

Close your eyes,
Take a breath.
Just for a minute that’s my request.
Pay your respect to those who fought,
To give us the freedom we were brought.
To those who fell,
Those who cried,
Those who tried but sadly died.
So close your eyes
Take a breath.
Remember our heroes:
That’s my only request.

For our Remembrance Commemorations this year our Cadets performed a special ceremony which was introduced by our Flight Lieutenant (and Director of English) Mrs Muller.

Then Cadets read the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. The Last Post, played by music teacher Miss Chater, heralded the silence and her performance of Reveille concluded it.

The Kohima Epitaph was then read by a Cadet ahead of the wreath being laid by our Head Boy and Head Girl. The ceremony was broadcast to all form groups.

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English Speaking Assessments

In order to pass GCSE English language, each pupil needs to be assessed on their speaking ability. This assessment will take place during school time. Although it does not form a part of their GCSE grade, they will receive a separate grade for this element: either Pass, Merit or Distinction. This result will be reported on the GCSE certificate in addition to the grade 9-1.

For Year 10 only we are required to provide audio-visual recordings of the presentations of a sample of candidates. These recordings will not be shared with anyone other than the exam board and secured in accordance with GDPR regulations. Year 11’s assessments will not need to be recorded.


Each pupil has received a lesson about how to prepare and what to include in their assessment but, should they have any questions, they can ask their teacher or contact Mrs Kapcia or their English language teacher on Teams. We have also produced a video explaining how to prepare for the assessment, which is available here:

You can also view below some speaking and listening videos featuring pupils from other schools (these are materials sent out by the exam board).

This assessment was awarded a Distinction

This one was awarded a Merit 

You may want to support your child by helping them practise their presentation.

If you have any queries about these assessments, please contact Mr Lowbridge-Ellis, Deputy Headteacher.

Contact Info

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

Copyright 2025 © All Rights Reserved

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