Exciting news of a mathematical nature! Two pupils from Year 10 have been selected for impressing with their mathematical reasoning and ability.
Maria R, having previously achieved a Gold award on the UKMT Intermediate Challenge, has been invited to a Summer School with the UKMT. Whilst Zach T-S has won an award from the University of Southampton Mathematics Challenge! Congratulations from a proud Maths department!
Well done to all applicants who delivered their manifesto speech in the Year 12 assembly this morning.
Students and staff enjoyed listening to what each of the 14 applicants had to offer as they shared their vision for the role of Head Boy and Head Girl.
Next stage: panel interview. We wish them all the very best of luck!
Barr Beacon is proud to announce that due to the school’s commitment to diversity we have been successful in being awarded position as ambassadors to Pearsons Lit in Colour programme!
Pearson, the world’s learning company, has joined forces with Penguin Random House UK and race equality think tank The Runnymede Trust to become part of the Lit in Colour programme.
As the UK’s largest awarding body, Pearson will work with Penguin and 100 secondary schools to offer support and resources to encourage the integration of English Literature set texts by writers of colour at both GCSE and A Level.
Year 10 pupils who took part in a workshop from Aggreko are the proud winners of a competition to design their own renewable home.
Pupils first took part in a workshop where they discovered more about Aggreko, their renewable energy solutions and their power delivery for big events like the Commonwealth Games. Following this pupils were tasked with creating their own renewable home and presenting their ideas to the group. Pupils were not only competing against other Barr Beacon teams, but also other local schools. Four pupils impressed Aggreko so much that they won the competition! They have each won tickets to Edgbaston Cricket Ground this summer to watch a Commonwealth Games match. Congratulations to Lewis, Mataeo, Kuran and Arjan!
On Wednesday 30th March, the bitter wind, downpours of rain and hail showers did not deter some of our Year 12 and Year 13 students who took part in the Colour Fun Run. They thoroughly enjoyed the event that was organised to raise money for the three charities that Sixth Form are supporting this year: Young Minds, Barnados and the RSPCA.
Here are some comments from students after the event:-
“I loved it! It was great fun for a Wednesday afternoon. I think the weather made it better! Thank you for organising it”
“Thank you so much for organising the colour run. It was so much fun even though my ears are still a little bit blue!”
“Thank you for organising the colour run this afternoon. I really enjoyed it,”
We have been raising money for UNICEF’s Ukraine appeal with a range of sponsored activities. In Art, pupils have been painting hundreds of plastic bottles (massive thank you to everyone for collecting them for us!) to create an Art Installation piece (coming soon!).
The Sunflower is the national symbol of Ukraine and pupils have been writing messages of solidarity with the children impacted upon by war there.
Our lucky 10 year 8 pupils, who were selected to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany in summer as part of the Turing project, have started their adventure already. The excited year 8s met for the first time as a group to talk about their likes and dislikes; what they were looking forward to and what they were nervous about; and their travel history. They also had an opportunity to virtually meet the other 40 year 8s from other schools within Matrix Academy Trust who would be joining them in Germany. Approximately a month after the initial meeting, all 50 pupils had the opportunity to go on a school trip together: the group travelled to The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham to watch The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Pupils made the most of the opportunity to enjoy the company of the other pupils and to share in the excitement and sense of adventure of the characters in the play. Pupils represented their 5 schools brilliantly and both theatre staff and members of the public commented on the exemplary behaviour of pupils. Since then, our year 8 pupils who are going to Germany had a chance to meet the year 9s who are going to Spain at an event where parents were given more information about the trip and passports were ordered- making the trip seem very real! We look forward to more pre-departure events where pupils will taste German food and have a chance to practise their essential German phrases before we finally board the plane (for some of our pupils, for the first time) and head over to Fulda, Germany for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to remember.
Small number of places still available!
Ski USA 2023 was opened up to Year 7 pupils this term meaning that a lucky 46 pupils will get the chance to travel to USA in February half term 2023. These pupils will be able to have expert ski tuition every day as well as a one night stop in New York. We look forward to hearing about their adventures in the 2023!
We still have room for about 3 pupils to join the trip. Please contact as soon as possible via postbox@barrbeaconschool.co.uk if you are interested.
A group of Year 10 pupils took part in a work experience day, organised by Barhale, a civil engineering and infrastructure specialist. They learnt all about the company and were then set to work on a project: designing and building a water tower. Pupils created their own bid for the project, including an environmental impact report and health and safety precautions. They had to carefully work towards a budget and under strict time constraints. Pupils then moved from design to construction of a model and presented their feedback at the end. This experience allowed pupils to develop skills of leadership, communication, innovation, adaptability and teamwork.
Selected Year 10 pupils have so far attended three Big Quiz events at Birmingham University for Mathematics, Physics and Biology. Our Year 10 pupils have scooped numerous awards and plaudits during these events and have received lectures from leading experts in these academic fields.
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
