At Barr Beacon School, we are passionate about instilling a love for books, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate World Book Day with a special visit from an award-winning author Ben Davis. 

Ben Davis, author of a variety of engaging books for children, visited us on Monday, 3^rd March, to share his passion for storytelling and the writing process with Year 7 and Year 8 pupils. This was an exciting occasion for our pupils to interact with a real-life author, ask questions, and gain insight into the world of literature. 

Ben delivered two assemblies where he read excerpts from his books. Through his readings, he not only entertained but also gave students insight into the creative process behind his works. He shared stories of how his own adventures, both big and small, sparked ideas for his characters and plots. The students were fascinated by how everyday moments could transform into powerful narratives.

Ben also led two exclusive writing workshops for selected Year 7 students and pupil librarians. These interactive sessions were designed to nurture their creativity and help them find their unique voices as writers. Students were encouraged to think outside the box, brainstorm ideas, and experiment with storytelling techniques. Ben shared tips on developing characters and using real-life experiences to inspire writing.

We asked pupils for feedback and this is what they said: “I rate my experience a 5/5! Ben Davis coming into our school was a really amazing experience. It is such a privileged opportunity that not many people have.” – R.Sidhu (7C1), “The assembly was useful because it helped us understand that we don't need big ideas to create stories/books.” – Z.Umer (8M3), “It was very informative and he told us a lot about how he writes books” – I.Khandakar (8C2), “I enjoyed the part where I got to ask Ben Davis questions about his books.” – G.Nyathi (7W2).

A huge thank you to everyone who donated and showed their support at the Charity Bake Sale and Competition last Friday. The Wellbeing Ambassadors are excited to announce that we raised a total of £239.36 for YoungMinds, a charity dedicated to supporting mental health for teenagers!

Here are the winners:

First Place: 

E Clarke 8C1, A Goring 8C1, & J Mather 8B1

Second Place:
L Beasey 7B1 & L Llewellyn 7C1

Third Place:
L Wacogne 7C1

After an epic 25-hour journey, our group finally arrived in the breathtaking Austrian Alps, ready to take on the slopes of Austria. What followed was a week of incredible progress, thrilling experiences, and unforgettable memories.

From the moment we clipped into our skis, it was clear this would be a trip like no other. Beginners who had never set foot on snow transformed into confident skiers, tackling the most demanding black runs by the end of the week—a truly phenomenal achievement! Meanwhile, those with prior experience made huge leaps in skill and confidence, mastering advanced techniques and testing their speed on the slopes.

Of course, skiing wasn’t the only activity on the itinerary. We swapped ski poles for bowling balls in a round of Austrian bowling, tested our balance and precision with curling, and took time to explore the charming town of Schladming.

The week concluded with a celebratory awards evening, where we recognised outstanding performances with medals for the fastest skiers. A huge congratulations to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners—it was a fierce competition!

Most importantly, every single pupil represented themselves exceptionally well, showing determination, resilience, and teamwork throughout the trip. Whether it was on the slopes, in the town, or during the long journey, their positive attitude made the experience truly special.

145 Year 7 pupils travelled to Whitemoor Lakes for a residential on 27th-29th January accompanied by a staff team of 13. This was the largest residential trip that Barr Beacon School has taken and we hope it will continue to grow with our incoming pupils in the future!

Pupils embraced the opportunity to learn about themselves, get stuck in with teamwork and problem-solving activities and overcome personal challenges. Abseiling, zip line and Leap of Faith were popular with many but there was also the chance to take part in orienteering, buggy building  and team games too. Many pupils found ‘Night Line’ highly amusing as they donned black-out masks to work as a team to make their way around an assault course!

At breaks and lunch times, pupils restocked and refreshed and generally ate very well throughout! With cooked breakfasts, lasagna, sausage and mash and chilli amongst the choices available.

Pupils acquitted themselves excellently throughout, drawing compliments from the site staff for how they conducted themselves. We look forward to celebrating with the pupils in our Whitemoor Lakes Assembly later this term when pupils will win awards such as Consideration for others, Acting responsibly, Team Player and being the biggest Dare Devil.

We would also like to thank the staff who gave up their evenings to make this wonderful event possible for the pupils.

A group of Year 9 pupils had the opportunity to visit a music studio as a taster for BTEC music and to learn from professionals within the music industry. The studio team delivered a ‘question and answer’ session and a studio tour before splitting the pupils into bands to rehearse and perform to one another.

All pupils represented the music department and school superbly. Pupils commented on how happy they were with the trip, which was evident as they were all humming the Seven Nation Army riff (the song they performed in the studio) on the journey back! 

This week we celebrate the success of our Key Stage 3 pupils with our annual ‘Key Stage 3 Awards Assemblies.’

It is wonderful to see the resilience of our pupils and how they demonstrate our Beacon values daily - both in their subjects and in their personal activities. #ProudToSucceed