On Tuesday 18th June, 7M2 had a fantastic day at the University of Birmingham. The purpose of the visit was to broaden our understanding about the emerging world of Artificial Intelligence. We looked at both the positives and dangers of AI and how we can develop our skill set to thrive in a modern society. Our pupils represented the school superbly well and we all had a really great day!
A key part of our Careers Programme is to give every Key Stage 3 pupil a chance to experience a taster day at university. This mission continued with an enjoyable trip to the University of Worcester. Pupils learnt more about what university has to offer and explored a day in the life of a student. They enjoyed a Campus Tour, which opened their eyes to the range of facilities on offer at a university, visiting lecture theatres, the Student’s Union, the Wellbeing Hub, the Sports Centre and Student Accommodation.
Year 12 students with an interest in pursuing healthcare careers visited Birmingham Women’s Hospital to take part in Basic Life Support Training. Students used the specialist training facilities to learn about effective CPR, the safe use of an AED and how to prevent choking. After testing their skills, the students then received certificates. All 12 students are now ready to help save a life.
Pupils in Key Stage 3, with an interested in pursing careers in the construction industry, got a sneak peek behind the scenes of our new build project. Pupils had the chance to meet with the contractors transforming C Block into new office spaces. Our pupils have aspirations to pursue careers as builders, plasters, electricians, plumbers and architects. They were able to see the progress made so far and gain advice about the varied and exciting careers in the industry.
Want to try something new?! Want to make friends? Learn a new skill?
A full list of all the extra-curricular activities available at Barr Beacon can be found HERE
SPORTS CORNER
Year 10 Football Cup Final - Barr Beacon 2-5 Walsall Academy
Match Report: Walsall started the game extremely well with a beautiful worked goal for their left winger. After an avoidable mistake at the back for Barr Beacon it was the left winger who pulled out Walsall’s second of the day. Shortly after a counter attack Barr beacon put K.Jacques through, after dribbling past the keeper he hit the side
After half time Beacon came out stronger than ever and with beautiful passing and teamwork it was O.Nash to take the ball round the keeper like he wasn’t there and place the ball into the goal. After another 10 minutes of domination in Beacon’s favour the players had thought they had done it with a shot blocked of the line from N.Siadatan. It was then Walsall’s turn and with a swift counter attack and an unbelievable dribble from the Walsall’s number 10 resulted in the 3rd goal for Walsall. After a 4th goal went in for Walsall, Beacon’s heads dropped and Walsall’s score turned from 4 to 5. Very late into injury time L. Kemp pulled of a consolation goal after a poor pass from the opposition keeper.
Next up: Barr Beacon Year 10 v Grace Academy Darlaston
Maths Paper Society:
“Just wanted to say that we had 36 year 10 pupils in the maths paper society extra-curricular club on 6th June!”
When does this happen? - Thursdays after school with the Maths Department
Our pupils said:
"Good Vibes"
"I like playing EAFC24 on the PS5”
"There are 2 Nintendo Switch's"
“It’s fun and enjoyable, I get to meet new people and play games”
From Friday 24th May - Sunday 26th May Year 10 pupils completed their practice silver expedition in Church Stretton and on the Long Mynd. Pupils were tasked with erecting their own tents on Friday and then packing them down on Saturday morning to complete their walk where they had to self navigate as a group on a route that would bring them back to camp.
Pupils worked as a team through some extremely hot weather to navigate back to camp where they pitched their own tents again and cooked their meals for the evening.
There were some great budding chefs amongst the group with some delicious meals being cooked.
It was lovely to see pupils cooking meals for their friends and then sitting down to dine together after long hard days walk.
Pupils made the most of the blissful evening and used a stick that they had found along with a tennis ball and created their own game of cricket.
Once pupils had exhausted every ounce of energy, they settled into their sleeping bags ahead of the downpour we were to expect.. And boy did it downpour.
A few spots on the tops of the tent were followed by a few hours of rain that made the morning wake up that much harder. But this didn't phase our silver Duke of Edinburgh candidates.
Each pupil was up, cooking breakfast for the day ahead and already packing down their tents without the need to be asked by any staff.
Pupils were briefed on their walk and they were set off on their journey back to Church Stretton train station where the coach would be waiting to take them home.
The weather was kind on Sunday with beautiful rays of sunshine make the trek much more pleasant and easier to navigate.
Pupils were able to successfully navigate back to Church Stretton before the rain poured down once again.
A fantastic weekend witnessing some huge successes from our pupils.
Well done to tall those who took part.
We are both extremely excited for the upcoming year as we plan to work closely together to turn our visions into reality and put forward our ideas that will strive to most effectively aid the students. We are also excited to combine our alternative perspectives and believe that we will complement each other, granting us the ability to access a wide range of insights and perspectives so we may attempt to address all students’ wellbeing creating a more inclusive and dynamic environment.
We are eager to begin this journey and begin accepting our new responsibilities as we attempt to bring something new to the roles and make our individual impact. Our commitment to the school and its students remains our paramount responsibility and passion as we vow to do everything in our power to support the entire school community.
Tobias and Kyreece
As Deputy Head Students we are thrilled to embark on a new adventure with the Head Students and believe that, across this next academic year, we will be able to provide a supportive outlet for concern and promote student voice. This will enable us to achieve our aim of being a close-knit team that prioritises the voice of students and takes advantage of first-hand experiences to provide a personal note on events and celebrations. We also promise to offer more exhilarating openings that students can use as examples when they are demonstrating leadership skills, helping them with their future careers and moulding them into young people fuelled with success and determination. We strive to embody the Beacon Values in an environment where diversity is celebrated, kindness and compassion are the norm and excellence is the standard, whilst always remaining ‘Proud to Succeed’ so that we can inspire others to do the same.
Aum and Zahira
I am incredibly honoured to have received the title of Head Student, yet this is not just a title to me but rather a commitment to serve, represent and uplift our student body and foster my vision to create a supportive, accepting and forward-thinking environment within school. I aim to promote further opportunities for students to embrace on their journey to reach their greatest ambitions.
The experiences and opportunities that have been presented to me at Barr Beacon School have shaped me in ways I could never have predicted, and it is because of these that, as I step into the role of Head Student, I can assure you that I will endeavour to give back to the school community and continue to foster an environment where people feel encouraged to achieve their aspirations, just as I have. As I reflect on the experiences I have been granted and remember those who inspired me, I feel a profound sense of responsibility to become the role model for younger students as they begin their journey and set their sights on reaching their full potential.
My passion for this role and my unwavering desire to help people drives my initiatives and dedication to make a meaningful impact that hopefully, after I pass on the badge next year, will be a lasting legacy added to a long list of accomplishments of the Head Students before me.
T.Hunt (Head Student)
Since the beginning of my journey at Barr Beacon School I have always had uncertainties about where I want to find myself in the future. However, I have always known the person who I want to be and the impact that I want to have on others. I was given an environment in which I could not only excel academically but as an individual too, allowing me to learn the great significance of leadership, empathy and success. With the ability to act as a liaison between faculty and students, I will pride myself in displaying an approachable and considerate attitude towards my peers and the school.
I have always been driven to demonstrate commitment, enthusiasm and integrity both academically and in extracurricular activities. By representing Barr Beacon School as a musician at Awards Evening, as a prefect at Open Evening and as a sportsman at tournaments, I have learnt to enhance such spirit throughout all aspects of school creating comfortable environments which place great emphasis on the achievements and success of the student body.
Having been granted such a prestigious role, I will dedicate myself to enhancing our school environment by promoting diversity and inclusivity whilst also soliciting feedback to better understand the desires of Barr Beacon students. With a genuine ambition for student achievement, I intend on bringing a different yet determined personality to this role.
K.Bynoe (Head Student)
From the moment I appealed to gain my place in Barr Beacon School in 2018 to making my way on to the Head Student Team in 2024, I have always been proud to say that this school has helped me to gain so much. From achieving a range of outstanding GCSEs to attaining skills in public speaking, team leadership and critical thinking, I have been encouraged to embrace these opportunities, allowing me to develop my confidence and grow, shaping me into the person that I am today.
Throughout the years, this school has also provided me with many opportunities: work experience days, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, the Diana Award, subject workshops and career fairs, all contributing to my progression from a boy who was anxious about his future, to a young adult who is now striving towards a career in architecture.
These experiences have made me an advocate for embracing new things and encouraging others to take every opportunity that passes their way, embodying the Beacon Value to ‘Own What You Do’! That one opportunity could be the one that sparks an interest in something that may never have crossed your mind previously.
J.A.Rajput (Deputy Head Student)
I am proud to have been entrusted with the role of Deputy Head Student, a position that will enable me to continue to represent the school I have come to love and that has provided me with ample opportunities all of which have helped to curate the character I am today.
During my time at Barr Beacon School, I been given the opportunity to travel, immersing myself in new cultures alongside my peers. I was also tasked with the position of prefect. These experiences have instilled skills in me such as independence, perseverance, and collaboration that I now intend to use as I progress through the next few important chapters of my life. I believe that in seizing all the opportunities I have been presented with, I have become someone who will thrive in all future endeavours. It is for this reason that as Deputy Head Student, it will be an objective of mine to ensure that others have the strength to do the same whilst allowing them to communicate any adversities or apprehensions they encounter along the way.
I eagerly anticipate the responsibilities that this role entails and hope that my desire to serve those within the school community will contribute to the extensive list of attributes found in prior members of the Head Student Team.
Z.Copeland (Deputy Head Student)
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.
Year 9 pupils visited Birmingham City University STEAM House for Innovation Fest. The festival showcased the work of the university students in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
Pupils were able to get involved in a number of interactive sessions throughout the day such as 3D printing, structural challenges, gaming and coding, to name a few. There was also an interesting talk from an AV Engineer who works at Holovis in the East Midlands. His job is to engineer the sound, storytelling and imagery for roller-coaster rides. It is a job that takes him all over the world, most recently Orlando and Abu Dhabi, where he helped design a new rollercoaster for Ferrari World.
K. Choomer said: “I enjoyed the variety of activities and that so many were hands on”.
S. Wilkes said: “I really enjoyed using the VR Headsets but I found building the structures the most interesting”.
F. Palmer said: “I didn’t think I wanted a job in these areas, but games and roller-coaster design looks really fun.”
Year 12 and 10 pupils were visited by Randip Bahra, a Chartered Surveyor and Fellow with RICS. Pupils learnt about the numerous different career opportunities within surveying and learnt about Radnip’s journey into the his career and his passion for helping disadvantaged individuals progress into the heights of surveying careers. He is currently working with the Department for Education on building projects within schools across the region.
Pupils were introduced to sustainable projects, not just those that are environmentally friendly, but projects that have a wider social and economic impact too. For example, a project in Snow Hill in Birmingham has helped create a living space for the homeless, but the building also holds training hubs and meeting spaces for local employers, giving tenants the skills and contacts to progress their futures: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-18007879
K. Bynoe (Year 12) said: “I learnt a lot more about what a surveyor actually does and I now know about lots of different career opportunities that I didn’t before.”
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
