Barr Beacon School is celebrating its best-ever Sixth Form results, with Year 13 students achieving outstanding outcomes across a wide range of A-Level and vocational qualifications. 

This summer, students demonstrated exceptional commitment and ambition, securing impressive grades that reflect their hard work and dedication. Nearly half of all grades awarded were at A*-B, while students studying Applied General and vocational qualifications also achieved excellent results. 

Among this year’s many successes, Joshua achieved an A* in History, an A* in mathematics and a Distinction* in Law. Ryan earned an A* in Mathematics, an A in Physics and a Distinction* in Information Technology. Jessica achieved an A* in Psychology, and Distinction* in both Business and Law. Emilia earned an A* in Chemistry and A grades in both Biology and Mathematics. Panni earned an A* in both History and Sociology and a B in Mathematics. Khadija secured an A in Psychology and Distinction* in both Health & Social Care and Law. Sami achieved straight A grades in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. 

The overall average grade achieved across all Level 3 qualifications was B-, with 93% of students securing a Distinction* or a Distinction in their BTEC qualification. This represents the strongest performance in the school's history, and highlights the high standards of teaching, learning and student achievement across the school. 

These results have opened exciting opportunities for students as they progress to leading universities, higher apprenticeships and a wide range of other positive destinations. 

We are immensely proud of everything they have accomplished and congratulate them on their success. 

Headteacher Mrs Hibbs said: 

"Today is a day of celebration for our students, and we could not be prouder of what they have achieved. These are the strongest Sixth Form results in our school's history, with students securing an impressive average grade of B-. Behind every grade is a story of commitment, perseverance and ambition, and it has been wonderful to see so many young people rewarded for their efforts. We are equally proud of the way our students have contributed to the wider life of the school, demonstrating maturity, leadership and character throughout their time with us. We congratulate every member of Year 13 and thank our dedicated staff, parents and carers for the support they have provided along the way.  We look forward to seeing our students thrive as they embark on the next exciting chapter of their lives." 

Miss Clarke, Assistant Headteacher for Sixth Form, said: 

"This year group has been an absolute pleasure to work with, and today's results reflect the determination and resilience they have shown throughout their Sixth Form journey. To achieve our best-ever Sixth Form outcomes and an average grade of B- is a fantastic accomplishment and one that every student should be proud of. What has always stood out about this cohort is their willingness to embrace opportunities, support one another and make a positive contribution to our Sixth Form community. As they move on to university, apprenticeships and a wide range of exciting careers, they leave with our warmest congratulations and every confidence that they will continue to achieve great things."

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We are looking forward to welcoming Year 11 into school on Thursday 20th August to collect their GCSE and BTEC results. We respectfully request that parents do not attend with their child to collect results and that you allow your child to attend school on their own or arrange a place away from school to meet them after they have collected their results.

A Level Results

We are looking forward to welcoming Year 13 into school on Thursday 13th August to collect their A Level and BTEC Level 3 results. We respectfully request that parents do not attend with their child to collect results and that you allow your child to attend school on their own or arrange a place away from school to meet them after they have collected their
results.

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Thanks to the incredible enthusiasm, determination and generosity of our students, staff, families and wider school community, we successfully raised £1,572 for the charity. In their letter, PAPYRUS expressed their sincere gratitude for the support shown by everyone involved, highlighting the significant impact that the funds will have on their vital work supporting young people across the UK.

PAPYRUS works tirelessly to prevent young suicide and provides essential services through Hopeline247, a confidential support service for young people experiencing thoughts of suicide and for those concerned about a young person. The charity noted that the money raised will help fund life-saving interactions with trained advisers and ensure that more young people can access support when they need it most.

In their message to the school, PAPYRUS thanked our community for the time, energy and commitment shown during the Mini London Marathon, stating that our support plays a vital role in helping them continue their mission and make a lasting difference to young lives.

The letter also highlighted the growing demand for their services, with more than 100 interactions taking place every day through Hopeline247. Our fundraising contribution will help PAPYRUS continue to expand its reach and provide support to an increasing number of young people and families.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the Mini London Marathon, sponsored our runners or supported the event in any way. This achievement reflects the strength of our school community and our commitment to supporting important causes that make a real difference.

We are delighted that our efforts have been recognised by PAPYRUS and are proud to have contributed to such an important charity. Together, we have helped provide hope and support for young people when they need it most.

Well done, Barr Beacon School!

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We are incredibly proud to share that, through their efforts and the generous support of our community, pupils have raised over £1,300 for Papyrus, a national charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.

Every step taken and every donation made will contribute towards supporting young people and raising awareness of such an important cause. Thank you to all pupils, families and supporters who helped make this event so meaningful.

Our Trust fundraising total is now just a few hundred pounds from hitting £20,000.

#MiniLondonMarathon #Fundraising #SchoolCommunity #Papyrus #MentalHealthMatters #ActiveSchools

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This year we are proud to be fundraising for Papyrus, a national charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.

Last year our school community raised over £7,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital to join a total of over £50,000 from the Trust and this year we’re aiming even higher!

We are encouraging every pupil to try and raise at least £10 in sponsorship. If we achieve this together, we could raise over £8,000 for this incredibly important cause.

If you would like to support our pupils and donate, please use the link below:
https://bit.ly/bbsfundraising

Every donation helps support young people and their mental health. Thank you for supporting our pupils and helping them be part of something truly meaningful.

#MiniLondonMarathon #Fundraising #SchoolCommunity #Papyrus #MentalHealthMatters #ActiveSchools

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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.

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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.

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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!

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