Daniel Caines, ex-commonwealth 400 metre runner and record holder, came to Barr Beacon School on Thursday 24^th March. During the day year 9 and Year 10 both had the opportunity to listen to Daniel speak about the difference between winning and losing, which could be a difference of as little as 0.019 seconds. What Daniel made abundantly clear, is that we are responsible for our own success, and that success is there for all of us providing that we have the right mindset.

During the day, some pupils in Year 7 and 10 were also invited to take part in workshops with Daniel, that explored team work and self belief. Pupils unanimously enjoyed the day and were grateful to have had the opportunity to have met Daniel.

A reminder that we are closing to pupils on Tuesday 22^nd March 2022.

Years 7,8 & 9 depart 12.40pm

Years 10, 11, 12 & 13 depart 12.35pm

10C I.T., 11C Film Studies & 11B Media will remain on site with their class teacher

School buses will be on site to collect pupils at the departure times. 

Year 7 pupils had the chance to watch a theatre in education performance from theatre company, Saltmine, as part of their PSHE programme. The play led pupils through the story of two friends, both with bright futures. Whilst Daniel began to turn t oa life of violence and crime, the other friend, a footballer, ends up dead as the result of a brawl. Much like Romeo and Juliet, when Mercutio is killed under Romeo’s arm whilst duelling Tybalt, both deaths were senseless, fuelled by unjustifiable paranoia and fear. 

Echoing our Beacon Values, the production and workshops afterwards, promoted the message of ‘Be Yourself’, being true to who you are and what you know is right. To think for yourself and not as a group. The message also linked to the values of ‘Acting Responsibly’ and ‘Owning your actions.’ 

Pupils valued the workshops after the performances in which they learned the truth about knife crime, the myth that carrying a knife protects you, the fact that most people that carry a knife end up hurting a friend or themselves. Pupils left the sessions very clear that knife crime is completely avoidable. The final message that if you ever encounter a knife, the best, and only proper response, is to run as fast as you can, hit home hard. 

Year 10 pupil Rio Jhalli has presented his own TED talk!

It is called ‘Three Generations of Beating in Time’ and it’s about his passion for playing the tabla drum. 

It’s amazing to see how self-assured Rio is; how talented he is and this is obviously a massive achievement.

To celebrate our most enthusiastic readers, 20 pupils across Year 7 and 8 were selected to enjoy a morning of Easter-themed activities, treats and socialising as a reward for their efforts in our Accelerated Reader programme. The Mini-Millionaires, pupils who have read (or almost read!) one million words, were drawn together to praise their dedication to reading and encourage a healthy competition among the most prolific readers in the school; as a result, we have readers topping the leader board between 700,000 and 2,000,000 words read.

We know that the more we read, the more readily pupils access the curriculum. Reading over a million words is a brilliant commitment not only to academic success but also a lifelong love of reading which will continue to open doors for our pupils for many years to come. Congratulations to all pupils selected and good luck to pupils who nearly ‘made the cut’ this time!