Our very own Miss Marr had some netball training with professional Birmingham Panthers player Gabrielle Coffey, Miss tells us she we will be stealing some of her techniques and drills to prepare staff for a friendly netball game every Wednesday 3.30pm in the gym.

This week, staff have taken the time to complete our Stay Survey, giving their valuable feedback on what’s working well, what helps them feel included, and what supports them to thrive at work. The survey focuses on strengths and growth, allowing us to celebrate positives and make meaningful improvements.

We also appreciate colleagues sharing their career aspirations through the survey. Following this, staff will be invited to one-to-one careers meetings to discuss goals in more detail.

On Saturday 7^th February Matix staff participated in the Sutton 5k Park run.  

Beacon was valiantly represented by P Davies, Mrs R Haywood and J B

Staff Testimonial On Saturday 7th February, I participated in the inaugural matrix parkrun. As an avid park runner who has to date completed 140 park runs, I really enjoyed the chance to run with others from across the trust as well as those from Barr Beacon. Parkrun is an international event, and it is great to be part of the park running community. The benefits go outside of just the physical and it positively impacts my mental health also. No one ever finishes a run feeling unhappy! I would actively encourage anyone to get involved in the next Matrix Academy parkrun. P Davis

Barr Beacon Staff Panto Delights with a Magical Cinderella!

Oh yes it did!

Barr Beacon’s talented staff took to the stage for this year’s staff panto, Cinderella, and it was a truly spectacular success. Packed with laughter, dazzling costumes and plenty of classic panto chaos, the performance had the pupils thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

From the wicked stepmother’s dramatic “Boo! Hiss!” moments to the audience eagerly shouting “He’s behind you!” and a heart-warming fairy godmother transformation, the show delivered all the traditional panto magic we know and love. The Ugly Sisters stole the spotlight with their outrageous antics, while Cinderella’s journey to the ball had everyone cheering her on.

A huge well done to all the staff who gave up their time to rehearse and perform it was a fantastic showcase of creativity, teamwork and community spirit.

We can confidently say… it was a ball!

The staff at Barr Beacon attended the fourth Matrix Academy Trust Day — a day that brought together more than 960 staff to celebrate community, creativity and connection. Staff enjoyed listening to the inspiring Trust Choir performance and talks from Clare Balding and Mike Palmer, and the revealing the Trusts £47,000 fundraising total for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the day was filled with powerful moments.  Congratulation to all the staff at Barr Beacon who were nominated or won an award.

On Friday 23rd, our dedicated staff from Barr Beacon set off on this gruelling journey with other school across the trust, ready to tackle not only mountains, but everything else the challenge could throw at them. And throw it did! The trip began with a set of lost keys on the way to Scotland, followed by a minibus battery failure, and then a series of relentless challenges: bad weather, snow on the summit of Ben Nevis, and a dangerously slippery descent on Scafell Pike. Through it all, our teams displayed unwavering determination, teamwork, humour, and courage.

We’re incredibly proud to announce that, through this challenge, the Matrix Academy Trust community has now raised over £25,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This incredible amount will go toward supporting life-saving care, equipment, and services for children and their families. The generosity and encouragement from our schools, families, and supporters has been truly overwhelming—and we thank everyone who donated or cheered us on.

This was more than just a physical test—it was a powerful demonstration of the values we promote across our Trust: resilience, teamwork, and belief. Although the challenge was logistically complex and physically exhausting, every step taken reflected the strength and unity of the Matrix family.

Our incredible support drivers deserve huge thanks. Their driving, motivation, and care kept us going through the darkest (and coldest) hours. Without them, this feat would not have been possible.