ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST EVER TRUST-WIDE SPORTS DAY 2025!

We are thrilled to announce a landmark moment in our trust’s calendar — the very first Trust-Wide Sports Day, bringing together more than 3,000 pupils from across Matrix schools.

Venue: The iconic Alexander Stadium, Birmingham – home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Date: Wednesday, 9th July 2025

This incredible event will be a full day of competition, celebration, and community spirit. As part of our Healthy Competitions Initiative, the day will showcase the power of sport in promoting teamwork, resilience, and ambition. Schools have now completed their in-school heats and successful participants will receive letters to notify them of their involvement as a participant. Additionally, this event provides a unique opportunity for pupils to showcase their talents in front of athletics club scouts, potentially opening doors for future athletic opportunities.

What to Expect:

• 456 student athletes battling it out in a range of exciting track and field events
• Live performances from our talented performing arts pupils to energise the crowd
• A cheering audience of 2,600 spectators from Years 7 and 10, supporting their teams with pride and passion (details will be shared In a letter in the coming weeks)
• A chance to claim the prestigious title of Trust-Wide Sports Champions 2025

Parents and carers of participants are warmly invited to attend and spectate this exciting event! With over 2,000 spectators expected, the day promises an electric atmosphere — and your support will make all the difference to our pupils. A full schedule of events is below so you can plan when to attend to cheer on your child. Spectators will be seated in the East Stand. Tickets are available via Eventbrite at £3 per person. All proceeds will be donated to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, our Trust charity for the year.

So you can plan when you would like to arrive and watch a particular event - a schedule of events will be confirmed on the trust website HERE closer to the event. Follow us on social media for the latest timings.

Book here: https://bit.ly/matsportsday

This is more than just a sports day — it’s a celebration of talent, teamwork, and trust unity. Whether you’re competing, performing, or cheering from the stands, get ready to be part of something unforgettable.

Let the countdown begin.

The auditorium at Millennium Point was once again filled with excitement and pride as the third annual Matrix Pupil Awards Ceremony took place. Now a firmly established tradition, the event recognised outstanding academic achievements across all our schools while celebrating the unique talents and character of each of our pupils.

The evening was opened by CEO Lynsey Draycott, with Headteachers from across the trust taking to the stage to present awards to their proud pupils. Among the honours were five standout titles: Most Creative, Most Resilient, Most Selfless, Continuous Improver, and Most Enthusiastic — each highlighting the remarkable qualities shown by pupils throughout the year.

The ceremony also featured captivating performances from pupils who triumphed in our trust-wide talent competition. Their musical skills added an unforgettable touch to the evening and demonstrated the breadth of talent within our schools.

Special recognition was also given to pupils involved in our Combined Cadet Force and those who successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, celebrating their commitment, resilience, and leadership beyond the classroom.

The awards were presented by our Chair of Trustees, Sir Mark Aspinall. A big thank you to our special guest Beth who gave some very inspiring words.

A heartfelt thank you and congratulations to all of our award winners, performers, dedicated staff, trustees, parents and carers who made the evening such a success. A highlight video will be posted shortly.

On Friday 4th April, Barr Beacon's School Choir came into being! With nearly 40 pupils, the choir formed under the tutelage of Choir Master Mrs C Williams and the support of Mr M Bagshaw and Miss R Porter.

Pupils took part in masterclasses aimed to build identity as a choir, teach about singing in harmony and unison and starting to polish a finished product. Pupils from across the school relished the privilege of working with Mrs Williams and trying out complicated 2, 3 and even 4-part harmonies. Pupils learned more about their own vocal range and whether they would be soprano, mezzo soprano or altos and worked together to develop confidence in our 'sound'.

The choir performed for the first time ever in the afternoon to headteacher Mrs Hibbs and blossomed in confidence.

We will meet every Wednesday morning during registration and continue to develop our repertoire!

It’s National Careers Week!

Alongside our assemblies and competition in school, pupils can access some great resources online.

Find your perfect Job or Apprenticeship with these BBC Bitesize Quizzes.

Explore your options with the National Virtual Careers Fair

Wysa is an AI wellbeing coach that has been commissioned by the Black Country Health NHS Foundation Trust to give pupils a safe, non-judgmental space where they can talk about anything and everything that' s bothering them.

It contains 150+ exercises, with everything from mindfulness and meditation to therapy tools for anxiety and depression The app’s tools can teach pupils techniques that they can use day-to-day to understand their emotions and work through them.

Free premium access for 12 months when you download it using the QR code.

The curtain rises this week on an incredibly vibrant and energetic production of Roald Dahl's Matilda Jr. After weeks of rehearsal, countless hours of practice, and unwavering commitment, the pupils come together to bring Dahl's whimsical tale to life.

From the opening number, every cast member pours their heart and soul into this performance. The pupils consistently demonstrate not just performing talent but also teamwork, resilience, and determination. Many of these young performers have spent months learning their lines, rehearsing their songs, and perfecting their dance moves, all while balancing their academic responsibilities. Their commitment to this show was evident in the seamless way in which they worked together, making the production a true collaboration of young artistic talent.

A heartfelt congratulations to every student involved, both on stage and behind the scenes, for their hard work and creativity. This performance is a true reflection of their incredible talent and determination.

We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we will, and we look forward to seeing what these amazing students will accomplish next! Well done, everyone!

Year 11 and Year 13 French students took part in translation workshops with Jae Marple this half-term. Jae is a professional translator who specialises in translating texts from French into English related to sports, tourism and international development. Pupils were taught some of the techniques of translation and then had a go at some difficult texts. Pupils did really well anY year 11, in particular, demonstrated that continuing to study French at A-Level would open doors to many careers.