At Barr Beacon School we aspire for you to speak clearly and confidently at all times. We also want you to be able to have a discussion with others, expressing your views maturely while being sensitive to others’ viewpoints. We often have such discussions in school but, while you are at home, you can enjoy lively, topical and relevant discussions with the people you live with. We will be posting suggested ‘Talking Points’ here, often linked with what’s going on in the news. Have a go at leading a discussion at home!

Read more guidance HERE or download and watch our Powerpoint with narration HERE.

Our first talking point is a very sensitive and important topic so make sure everyone listens respectfully to everyone’s views – Click Here.

Our second talking point centres around some of the points raised by Marcus Rashford in his open letter to the government. Take a look here and get talking! – Click Here.

Our next talking point is around the different ways people have been affected by lockdown. Click Here.

When UDOIT Dance Foundation advertised the UK National Dance Championships was going to be held online this year as a virtual competition, dance teacher Miss Salmon messaged the pupils to ask if they would like to participate virtually. 

The pupils their videos through for checking prior to sending them off and we have had some success. We have four students who are now through to the next round! 

• E Tivnan Year 11
• D McGuirk Year 10
• E Sammons Year 8
• R Mardenborough Year 8

Miss Salmon said: “They have represented Barr Beacon in a professional manner and I’m very proud of them.”

We will keep you updated after the next round.

We are very proud of H. Hussain, one of our Year 12 students.  She has used Lockdown as an opportunity to put her baking skills into practice and earn money for charity.

What started as a hobby to give her something to do besides schoolwork has turned into a successful cake selling venture with all proceeds going to the Penny Appeal, which aids people in more than 30 crisis-hit countries. So far she has raised £1042.55!

Next on the agenda is to bake cakesicles for NHS staff at Walsall Manor Hospital to thank them for all the hard work they continue to do during this difficult time.

You can find out more about the Penny Appeal charity HERE.

Katie in Year 9 has recorded this splendid rendition of World War 2 classic ‘We’ll Meet Again’ to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

We’ll meet again

Don’t know where

Don’t know when

But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day…

Advice for keeping mentally healthy

Pupils: The most important thing during this time is to stay healthy – and that includes in your mind as well as your body. Everyone’s mental health is different. Some of you will find it comforting to do lots of school work and some of you will find having a long ‘to do’ list makes you anxious. Listen to your body – and your mind. For most, maintaining some kind of routine is a good idea. Perhaps do a mix of reading, exercise, school work and fun stuff. Use this time to learn a new skill or develop an interest. Here is further advice from children’s charity UNICEF: www.unicef.org/coronavirus

Parents: It’s natural to feel worried about what’s happening with COVID-19. Here is some NHS advice you might find useful yourself: www.nhs.uk/oneyou

Here is some advice from the Universities of Oxford and Reading about how to help your child talk about their feelings: HERE

And here is advice along similar lines from Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk

We love keeping in touch with former students and they love to keep in touch with us.

Jack Evans graduated from Barr Beacon in 2015 after completing his A levels here and now works as a Senior Parliamentary Aide in the Houses of Parliament. His top tip for succeeding in education is to “try your best, one day at a time. In the end, the results will be worth it.”  For the world of work, he recommends that you “always remember that you are your own person and strive to be the best version of yourself.”

There are more alumni profiles in our most recent newsletter.

Advice for all early years providers, schools and further education providers.

The government is closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus and is taking action at home and abroad.

The overall risk of Coronavirus to the UK remains moderate. However, we understand that people may be concerned where there are children, students or staff returning from or visiting China.

Public Health England and the Foreign Office have issued advice for anyone travelling to the area. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china

Advice for parents/guardians

You should not be unduly worried about the possibility of your children catching the Coronavirus.

There is no reason why your children should not continue to attend their early years, school or further education setting as normal.

We recognise that some families or children may be planning to travel to China during the forthcoming half-term period. If so, please refer to the FCO’s latest travel advice via the link above.

What action you can take?

A UK wide campaign has been launched to provide clear advice on how to slow the spread of Coronavirus.

Please help to support the campaign which promotes basic hygiene practices, such as regularly washing hands and always sneezing into a tissue, to stem the spread of viruses.

A group of pupils experienced a live orchestral performance by the world-renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) at Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

After opening with a thunderous rendition of Alan Silvestri’s theme from The Avengers films, the orchestra played pieces by Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Pärt and more.

This is what some of the pupils said:

Sami: “I liked the heavenly sounding one. The piece Tchaikovsky wrote for a bet with his friend.”

Mercedes: “I really liked it but I’m not sure why. It was a new experience.”
Nicole: “It was really interesting watching them and seeing how they played their instruments.”