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.

On Monday 3rd Feb 2025 six of our cadets attended a CCF Flying Day at RAF Cosford. The Flying events are one of our most-sought after activities within the cadet force. The weather gods had smiled upon us, suddenly our cadets took to the skies on their very own flying lessons.

For some of our cadets it was the first time they had been in a plane, let alone being able to control it themselves. All of the cadets enjoyed the day at RAF Cosford and are looking forward to more experiences in the future.

National Apprenticeship Week is approaching and there are lots of opportunities to explore your options coming up.

There are two apprenticeship exhibitions, one at Walsall College and another at the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton. This is your chance to meet employers in person and see what opportunities they have.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

RESERVE A SPOT HERE

Can’t make it in person? Why not try an online webinar instead. There are lots of online events to choose from on the National Apprenticeship Week Website. Employers include JLR, Mace, Network Rail, Babcock, Aldi, IBM and PwC. If the webinar takes place during school time then you can simply access the recording from home instead. You can also view the recordings from last year too.