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.  

Tuesday 7^th February 2023

Safer Internet Day is held every February in over 170 different countries. The goal of Safer Internet Day is to call on people across the world to work together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, but especially for young people. In the UK, the UK Safer Internet Centre run a campaign especially for the day which aims to start a national conversation about using technology safely and positively. 

Last year over half of children and young people in the UK heard about the campaign, but it also involves and influences government, charities, police forces and tech companies including social media and gaming platforms. 

This Safer Internet Day asks everyone to make space for conversations about life online, especially with young people.  

That’s why this year, the theme for Safer Internet Day is: 

Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online 

To help raise further awareness of the importance of keeping safe online, pupils in all year groups have written their own pledges about how they will keep safe online.    

So, this Safer Internet Day we are challenging everyone to talk about it. 

Talk to your friends. Talk to the adults you know and trust. 

Most importantly, tell them if something is worrying you. It’s never too late to share an online problem and get help and support that can make things better. 

Happy Safer Internet Day everyone!  

On Friday, 27th January 2023, it is Holocaust Memorial Day. It is a time of reflection and respect to those who gave up their lives, fighting against prejudice and discrimination. Despite this being in the past, it’s significant to learn from the Holocaust and find how we can challenge prejudice today. This is because not only was the Holocaust a historic tragedy, but a human tragedy. This year, the theme is ordinary people and it is important to acknowledge how ordinary people were not only witnesses and bystanders but also rescuers and persecutors. At Barr Beacon School we have been reflecting on how we, as ordinary people, have the potential to challenge prejudice and discrimination in today’s society. As part of our Beacon Values to act responsibly and to never discriminate we can spread awareness and share testimonies of those who sacrificed their lives during the Holocaust; sharing a part of history which we should all learn from-for a better future.

“Whoever hears a witness, becomes a witness.”-Elie Wiesel (Survivor)

Dilraaj Kang – 6^th form leadership team

Following a successful 2022, which saw a large increase in icentre book loans we welcome in 2023. 

The New Year brings new readers, and new books to accommodate! For our fans of football trivia, a fresh selection of ‘Football School’ seasons to bring our readers back to the pitch while the grass is buried in snow. This series encompasses a range of topics, from the rise of football icons, to the top moments in the history of the sport and practical tips for the forward-thinking player. Following the success of the Scholastic Book fair, the school has been happy to purchase some of the latest additions to the Five Nights at Freddie’s literary universe including ‘Lally’s Game’ and the Fazbear Frights graphic novelisation—one series you won’t read before bed.

As our Sixth Form dives back into their preparations for exams and university life, we’ve highlighted some student-requested texts for study skills geared towards those readers looking to balance their workflow between the academic and vocational. ‘Deep Work’ and ‘The 4-Hour Work Week’ both aim to cut through distraction by providing a blueprint for efficient working that takes into consideration the competing pressures of modern life. Alongside these practical primers, as we pass five years since the breaking of the Windrush Scandal, Barr Beacon would also like to highlight some of the Lit in Colour collection that we feel are particularly relevant to the modern discourse surrounding our global society and the intersectional awareness which we pride ourselves on in our school.

The countdown to the summer examinations has begun!  On Monday 9^th January, Year 11 and Year 13 started attending Period 6, their focused group sessions, between 3:15pm and 4:00pm to ensure that they are fully prepared for the road ahead.  Staff have worked hard on analysing student mock results, so they know what gaps are present and have grouped these sessions accordingly.  There are over 100 booster sessions running per week and students have found them very useful in supporting them to meet or exceed their targets.  Thank you to the dedicated staff who are giving up their time to go above and beyond to ensure that students are fully supported at this time.