World Book Day – Secondary Site

2nd March 2023Lisa Burrows

To promote Reading for Pleasure, staff at the Beacon Centre Secondary site have dressed up to inspire and promote reading for World Book Day. Students were not asked to participate in the dressing up event this year given the current cost of living crisis, however, the event has not gone uncelebrated with some of our teachers dressing as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey from Matilda, Jacob Marley from a Christmas Carol, Professor Snape from Harry Potter and A Woman in Black. Each pupil received a £1 National Book token which can be redeemed against special World Book Day books.

Super Sewers

12th January 2023Lisa Burrows

Pupils in Key Stage 3 are completing a module in textiles this term as part of their STEM curriculum; pupils’ final outcome will be an apron with side straps and a pocket. 


In their first lesson pupils learned how to sew; this is an important skill that maybe needed later in life!  Pupils completed a running stitch, back stitch, blanket stitch and cross stitch; they also learned how to thread a needle which was rather tricky. Staff were incredibly impressed with the enthusiasm and resilience that the pupils demonstrated and believe that we may have some talented sewers amongst us!


This term students will be looking at the following key words: 

Aesthetics- How the product looks.

Adornment- Something that adds decoration.

Decoration- Details that are added to make something look more attractive.

Functionality- How well the product works.

Product- The result of an action or process.

Quality- How well the product has been made.

Specification- A detailed description of the design used to make something.


Stay tuned for our final products!

Graffiti Art – Child Criminal Exploitation

11th January 2023Lisa Burrows

Pupils have been working with Northumbria Police’s Violence Reduction Unit to educate themselves about the consequences and dangers of Child Criminal Exploitation. Pupils have been creating showpiece work to warn other people about the dangers; some pupils chose to share their messages in the form of graffiti art. Local graffiti artist Tyler spent the day in school working with pupils to bring their designs to life and we’re sure you’ll agree that the results are phenomenal!

Come on England!

21st November 2022Lisa Burrows

Pupils at the secondary site enjoyed an afternoon of football today. Our Hair and Beauty students ensured that football fans looked the part with face paint and nail art and everyone enjoyed watching England’s win against Iran in their opening game of the world cup!

Children In Need

21st November 2022Lisa Burrows

Our secondary pupils took part in cake and biscuit decorating for Children In Need on Friday 18th November. Mrs Pattison set the bar high with her exemplar prototypes and the pupils tried their best to match her high standards!

Gratitude Week 2022

4th November 2022Lisa Burrows

The Beacon Centre celebrated Gratitude Week between the 17th and 21st October 2022. Students took part in different activities exploring their gratitude for themselves, others, and their lives. During tutor times they completed activities including listing their favourite things, creating gratitude pizzas, considering what they love about themselves, writing thank you notes to others and recognising how their five senses can bring them joy. At the end of each day students completed a gratitude journal reflecting on the people/things that had made them happy.

Prizes were awarded to the Most Grateful Student and the Most Grateful Tutor Group at both the primary and secondary sites. The Most Grateful Students each won a £20 Amazon voucher and the Most Grateful Tutor Groups were treated to a lunch at a venue of their choice.

The winners were:

Primary:

Most Grateful Student: Mark

Most Grateful Tutor Group: Blue Group

Secondary:

Most Grateful Student: Leon

Most Grateful Tutor Group: Redwoods

Take a look at some of the amazing work our students produced!

Proudly Working Towards The Rainbow Flag Award

6th October 2022Mr Barnes

At the Beacon Centre we are Proud to be working towards achieving the Rainbow Flag Award.

The Rainbow Flag Award is a national quality assurance framework for primary schools, secondary schools, SEND schools and colleges. The award focuses on positive LGBT+, (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, plus other related identities), inclusion and visibility.

The Rainbow Flag Award encourages a whole organisation approach to LGBT+ inclusion, as well as developing strategies to effectively challenge and combat LGBTphobic bullying.

The Rainbow Flag Award is a commitment to improve the lives of all the young people that we work with, as well as the LGBT+ young people in our care, those from LGBT+ families, and LGBT+ staff members.

Secondary Students Pay Respects to Queen Elizabeth II

16th September 2022Mr Barnes

Students at secondary school have been paying their respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II.  Students have also,  took part in an assembly which identified they huge role the Queen played in our country as well as the rest of the world. Student wrote a message on the bottom of a candle to share a message and remember the Queen. 
Some students from secondary have also visited the Town Hall to sign the book of condolence. A lovely message was left on behalf of all staff and students at The Beacon Centre Secondary. 

After School @ Secondary

16th September 2022Mr Barnes

Miss Lambert’s After School Club, where Young People were given the opportunity to create tasty and healthy breakfasts.

Overnight oats were a huge success. The Young People enjoyed a mixture of nutritious and exotic fruits making delicious breakfasts they can eat at the breakfast club the next day!

Sumdog Champions!

18th July 2022Lisa Burrows

Last week our Aspens, Blossoms and Evergreens groups competed in Sumdog’s South Tyneside competition. Students spent their Maths lessons competing against 15 other classes in various schools across the borough and became the overall winners of the competition!

14 students from the Beacon Centre competed, they correctly answered 2500 questions! We had 8 students finish in the top 50 students out of 156 students that took part and 3 of those finished in the top 10!

Well done to those student who made it into the top 50:

Ryan S 6th

Shea L 7th

Liam J 9th

Daniel P 11th

Mason W 13th

Mark B 19th

Jack B 24th

Harvey E 37th

Miss Burrows and Mr Paterson have been so impressed by the efforts of those students involved; there has been a real buzz in the Maths classroom this week with students eager to compete!