WELCOME

WE LOOK FORWARD
TO MEETING YOU
Welcome to Barr Beacon School. Thank you for choosing us and congratulations on securing a place for your child.
We are about to embark on a journey that could last up to seven years as your child begins in Year 7. During their time with us, your child will have a range of opportunities to achieve and excel. I encourage you to make the most of the provision we have in place and seize each moment.
My staff work tirelessly to ensure that every child succeeds and achieves their potential. The teaching and support staff are led by strong leaders who are just as ambitious for your child as you are. We firmly believe that every child should have high aspirations and we will work relentlessly to enable this for all Barr Beacon pupils.
We have high expectations of our pupils from their conduct and behaviour in school and out in the community to the way that they wear their uniform with pride. Alongside this we expect them to work hard to achieve success while enacting the Beacon Values.
Our website is an important source of information and communication holding a wealth of details for you to learn more about us. We use this platform to share and celebrate the wonderful achievements and successes of our pupils.
I know that you have chosen Barr Beacon School for our values and determination for your child to succeed. I look forward to welcoming your child on their journey with us and to working with you.
As you start to think about leaving Primary school and the move to Secondary school, you should remember why you chose Barr Beacon.
Proud to Succeed
Our school community is proudly diverse and we do not tolerate bias, prejudice or discrimination of any kind – whether conscious or unconscious – and we instil in our pupils nothing less than the urge to go out into the world and make it a better place.
Beacon Values
At Barr Beacon School we are proud that our pupils embrace the BEACON values in everything they do. Our Beacon Values Representatives help to promote our core values; each value is linked to the British values.Read More HERE.
Uniform Expectations
Dress for Success
What Will I Learn?
You will study a varied and exciting curriculum. Click the button below to see what you will be learning about in each subject. In addition to your subjects, some pupils will have extra literacy, numeracy and spelling support.
House System
When you start at Barr Beacon School you will be placed into a ‘House’. This will be like your family at school and your Head of House will monitor all of your successes and any areas you might struggle with.
They will contact home to discuss ways in which we can work together to ensure that you achieve your best.
If you have any worries on a day to day basis, you’ll be able to talk to your Form Tutor who will work with your Head of House to help you resolve them.
Breaktime
At school you will have a 20 minute break in the morning. You can socialise with friends in the amphitheatre. If you want to buy food, you can purchase and eat refreshments in the school hall.
You can read in the iCentre or play table tennis with friends.
Lunchtime
All of Year 7 have lunch at the same time so you will be able to see your friends. You can buy a meal deal which includes a drink for £2.40. You will need money on your Parent Pay account to buy refreshments.
You can bring a packed lunch or buy a sandwich or sub roll at lunch time. Members of Leadership will be on duty during break and lunch time. You can view the school’s menu at HERE.
Where to Go?
Many new pupils worry that they will get lost at secondary school. However, it is very easy to find your way around Barr Beacon, as each block is recognisable by a letter.
The different blocks are; A block, B block, C block, D block, E block, Success Centre and the Sports Centre. Every room has a room number on and your Form Tutor will take you on a tour of the school before your timetable begins when you start school. You can ask any me
Our school must be seen as part of a wider community which includes parents, carers, friends and neighbours, upon whose cooperation we depend.
We feel that home-school contact is important if pupils are to obtain the full benefit from their education. If you wish to contact the school on any matter, please write to or phone your child’s Head of House or email: postbox@barrbeaconschool.co.uk.
If you wish to see the Headteacher about a most serious matter, please write to, email the school postbox or telephone and make an appointment for a mutually convenient time. Relatively routine matters should always be referred to the Head of House in the first instance. Conversely, if serious problems present themselves at school, the Head of House or a senior member of staff will ask to see you. If this happens, the problem is serious and we ask for your full support in the interests of your child.
The school Newsletter and school letters are published electronically on our website to keep you informed about all school matters. We use a text messaging service to share updates with parents and carers. It is pivotal that you ensure the school has your most up to date contact details at all times to enable us to communicate and update you via our text message service.
Parents are expected to attend all Progress Evenings which are held virtually for each year group. Details will be sent out in advance and these meetings are seen as a vital part of the communication process between home and school. Other information evenings are also held for parents and details are published separately for these events on our school website.
At your child’s virtual Progress Evening you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and discuss their progress. If for any reason you are unable to attend your child’s Progress Evening, please inform the school. However, research has shown that children of parents who attend benefit greatly and we would urge you to support your child in this way.
Dates and times for virtual Progress Evenings are published on the school’s website. All appointments are booked and take place using an online platform, meaning that you will attend meetings online from anywhere that is convenient to you.
Year 7 Progress Evening will be held in the Spring Term.
All pupils are required to do homework and it is expected that parents will ensure that an area at home is identified as suitable for completing homework.
Year 7: At least 20 mins per subject
Year 8: At least 25 mins per subject
Year 9: At least 30 mins per subject
Years 10 & 11: At least 45 mins per subject
A homework timetable is given to each pupil at the start of the school year, as well as a pupil planner where pupils record their homework and which parents / carers are asked to sign each week. Pupil planners are monitored on a regular basis by Form Tutors, Heads of House and Leadership.
Find out if you are eligible for Free School Meals
The School Day
Extra-Curricular
Careers
Using Your Planner
- Record a copy of your personal timetable.
- Make of note of homework that is set and when it is due.
- Show your parents/carers what work is being set and pass messages to your Form Tutor.
- Record any detentions that might be set.
- Record any Catch Ups or Redo sessions with your teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will have a timetable that you will write into your planner which will include 5 lessons each day. Every day you will need your stationery (see equipment here) and you will need the books and homework for the lessons of the day. Your bag should be packed and checked against your planner each evening.
Don’t bring every book you have every day because that is a lot of books to carry. It’s a good idea to keep a box at home where you store your books so that they don’t get lost when you take them out of your bag.
You will have PE each week. You must remember to wash your kit ready for the next week so that it is clean and fresh. When you are deciding on which school bag to buy ready for September make sure you consider being able to fit your PE kit, your books and even your lunch in at the same time.
Important Procedures
If a pupil has a special educational need or disability and have received additional support at their Primary school for this need, they will be supported by the SEND Coordinator (SENDCo) and the Learning Support team. The support offered to pupils will be decided in communication with parents, and staff will be provided with a pupil profile which details the best way to support pupils in lessons.
The pupil profile is the child’s voice in the classroom and will be written with the support of parents and the SENDCo.Pupils will be assigned a key worker that will be involved in the process of reviewing the provision for the pupil and they will decide, with the agreement of the SENDCo, whether the pupil needs additional support from specialist staff to develop skills in the classroom by providing additional scaffolding so that pupils can access the topic in lessons. Some pupils will need special provision in addition to lessons to develop literacy and numeracy skills which could mean the pupil attends spelling bee or sum buddies after school for a 6 week intensive programme.
Pupils could also be invited to a range of programmes that would develop their confidence and social skills such as TEAM club where pupils work on their self-esteem and leadership skills through physical activity. Some pupils might be invited to attend our Lego club where they can develop friendship and communication skills. These interventions are by invitation only to ensure the groups are small allowing for us maximise the impact for pupils.
Where special educational needs of a registered disability are identified, every effort is made to make special provision for pupils within the resources available.Please note that Barr Beacon School is a multi-level site with six separate buildings. Wheelchair access is currently only available on the ground floor, except in the B block, C block and E block where lifts are available.
At Barr Beacon School we recognise the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils. Our whole school approach includes an extensive PSHE programme, assemblies, form time activities, pupil voice through the Well Being Team, a school counsellor and pastoral support as well as working with external agencies. These include CAMHS (Child and Adolescent, Mental Health Service) and the School Nursing Team. We complete weekly activities to allow pupils to reflect and build a toolkit of support strategies through Thoughtful Thursday. Along with our ‘Action for Happiness Calendar’ which helps people take action for a happier and more caring world.
Barr Beacon is a Telling School and we encourage all pupils to talk about their experiences, thoughts and feelings. Bullying has no place in our school and it will not be tolerated. There are well-developed procedures for staff and pupils to follow if incidents do occur. The topic of bullying is explored in assemblies and during tutor time so that pupils are reminded they should tell someone if they do not feel happy about a matter. Our pupils know that there is no need to “suffer in silence”. Our Anti Bullying Mentors are also available and they are trained to support pupils too.If you believe that your child is being bullied please contact their Head of House immediately.
Pupils take responsibility for their own personal property and should never bring expensive items into school. The school cannot accept responsibility for valuables. Mobile phones, electronic tablets, computer games, electronic mobile devices such as kindles and other expensive items MUST NOT be brought into school.
As pupils must carry books around the school and between the school and home, it would be appreciated if parents/ carers would ensure that a suitable school bag is provided. Books represent a very significant element of the school’s expenditure and it is essential that they are properly looked after.
Pupils are expected to pay for a new book where one is lost or defaced. Each pupil is issued with a planner at the start of the academic year and we expect them to remain in an excellent condition. If a planner is lost, a new planner can be purchased via the House Office. The cost to replace a planner is £5.00.
Pupils must cross the Beacon Road at the crossing. Parents are asked not to park near the school gates or on the school site as this makes it dangerous for pupils crossing the roads and accessing the bus bay.
Any pupil riding a bike to school MUST wear a helmet. If a pupil does not bring and wear a helmet they will not be allowed to bring their bike to school.
In order to safeguard pupils, staff and visitors, all external gates will be locked during the school day. The gates will be locked at 8.30 am and re-opened for pupils exiting school at 3.00pm. At 3.30pm the pedestrian gate near the pelican crossing and the field gates will be locked for the evening; pupils leaving school after this time will need to use the main school reception gates.
The school has qualified first aiders to deal with on site emergencies. Where there is a more serious accident and it is necessary for a pupil to be transported to hospital, parents/carers are contacted as soon as possible.
Where both parents are absent from home, the mother, father or carer is contacted at their place of employment. If a child is unwell, parents/carers will be expected to collect their child.
It is vital that the school has up-to-date information to enable us to contact you in cases of accident or illness. An essential information and medical form is issued to parents, on which you should indicate clearly the telephone numbers by which quick contact can be made, and any other emergency contact details. You must provide the school with at least two emergency contact numbers.
ANY CHANGES TO THIS INFORMATION MUST BE MADE ON AN ESSENTIAL INFORMATION AMENDMENT FORM AND GIVEN TO THE HEAD OF HOUSE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.
Whilst accidents and serious illnesses that occur in school will be dealt with by school staff, incidents that happen out of school hours or at the weekend should be dealt with by parents.
If your child has a medical condition, please ensure that the school is aware in the first instance by entering it on the essential information form before your child begins at Barr Beacon School.
If your child has a condition that requires a Care Plan such as epilepsy, diabetes or asthma for example, or a potentially life threatening severe allergy that requires them to carry an EpiPen, it is vital that you provide Barr Beacon School with the care plan and medication prior to them starting in September. This is to ensure the school is fully equipped to support your child when they are in school.
Barr Beacon School is a cashless school. We use a web payment provider for the payment of all trips, visits, peripatetic lessons, dinner money for our cashless catering system and any other services the school offers.
Parents will be provided with login details to get into their child’s parent pay accounts. Parents are requested not to send large sums of money into school with pupils.
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Contact Info
Barr Beacon School
Old Hall Lane
Aldridge, Walsall
West Midlands
WS9 0RF
T: 0121 366 6600
postbox@barrbeaconschool.co.uk
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 3:30 pm