News and Events

Index Archive

Peter Tatchell Inspires Barking Abbey Students
17 Nov 2025

Barking Abbey School was honoured to host internationally renowned human-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, whose powerful talk encouraged our students to see themselves as active citizens and changemakers. Tatchell, who has spent 59 years campaigning for human rights in Britain and around the world, urged students to believe that they too can make their school, community and world a better place. Tatchell shared highlights from his extraordinary life of activism: taking part in over 3,000 protests, being arrested 103 times in several countries, and even being violently attacked for standing up for justice, including by President Mugabe’s bodyguards. Despite all this, he reminded students, “I am still here, and I am still campaigning.” What resonated with the audience was how early his journey began.
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Talk The Talk
07 Nov 2025

Expert trainers from Talk The Talk came into school on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th November to work with Year 7 students. Talk The Talk’s mission is to develop students’ oracy skills and communication confidence to support positive interaction in all life situations and improved social outcomes. Talk The Talk has trained over 115,000 students to be confident communicators across England and Wales since they began in 2013. Talk About Transition uses oracy-based activities and strategies to help students develop greater self-confidence and resilience.
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Black History Month
06 Nov 2025

Last half term, Barking Abbey School proudly celebrated Black History Month with a vibrant and heartfelt showcase that brought our school community together in the spirit of creativity, unity, and cultural pride. Students from across the school took to the stage to share their incredible talents through a wide variety of performances, from powerful speeches and soulful singing to captivating dance routines and live instrumental performances. Each act reflected the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and achievements of the Black community, both past and present. The evening was hosted entirely by our students, who dedicated countless hours rehearsing and preparing to ensure the event was a success.
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Race and Social Justice Celebration Evening
21 Oct 2025

On Thursday 16th October, Barking Abbey School hosted a joyful Race and Social Justice (RSJ) Celebration, honouring the achievements, successes, and ongoing journey of inclusion that continues to shape our school community. The Sixth Form canteen was transformed into an elegant, welcoming venue, black tablecloths and colourful Diwali decorations designed by the Art Department created a perfect setting for the evening. Staff and students worked tirelessly throughout the afternoon to prepare, decorate, and rehearse, ensuring everything was ready for guests to enjoy a truly memorable event. The celebration opened with beautiful live piano performances by Mr Audifferin and a Year 10, while JLT students greeted guests and served refreshments with professionalism and warmth.
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Sixth Form Success
17 Oct 2025

We have received confirmation that our fantastic, record-breaking A-Level and Vocational Results place us in the Top 10% of schools Nationally for Progress. This is an exceptional achievement for a Comprehensive State School in London.
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Staff vs Parents Exhibition Series – Badminton Showdown
16 Oct 2025

Another fantastic instalment of our Staff vs Parents Exhibition Series took place on Wednesday 15th October – and this time, the sport of choice was badminton! The competition format saw all participants placed into groups of four, with each parent playing two singles matches against staff members, followed by a doubles match pairing parents and staff together. Players earned three points for a win, and the total points were combined to produce an overall team tally. What really stood out was the wonderful TeamBA spirit throughout the event.
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A Visit from Local MP Nesil Caliskan
06 Oct 2025

On Friday 3rd October, members of the Junior Leadership Team (JLT) and members from our ARP department had the privilege of sharing the school’s BEST Habit values with local MP Nesil Caliskan. The pupils spoke proudly about their bravery in embracing new challenges such as indoor skydiving, caving, and activities at Trewern including gorge walking. They also discussed how they have demonstrated Self-Discipline through their involvement in shaping school uniform policies and other initiatives, as well as their strong TeamBA spirit in organising events such as the Great BA Bake Off, BA’s Got Talent, mental health awareness activities, and fundraising efforts for Great Ormond Street Hospital and other charities through sponsored 5K walks. Ms Caliskan also took the time to listen to the pupils’ thoughts on the challenges they face and their ideas for overcoming them, offering valuable advice and encouragement.
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GCSE Results Day
21 Aug 2025

Today, we proudly celebrated the achievements of our incredible Year 11 Class of 2025 as they received their long-awaited GCSE results. These grades are a powerful reflection of the hard work, determination, and resilience our students have shown throughout their time at school. The journey was not easy – these qualifications demanded deep understanding, constant focus, and months of consistent effort. Our staff couldn’t be prouder.
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Celebrating Student Success on A Level Results Day
14 Aug 2025

Barking Abbey is celebrating remarkable, record shattering results this morning. 150 A*/A Grades were achieved, one-third of all results; and two-thirds were graded A*-B. Vocational results were similarly higher than ever before. 3 students achieved all A* Grades; a further 22 achieved all A*/A Grades.
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Summer ‘Breakdown’ Showcase
18 Jul 2025

Our Dance Department’s Summer ‘Breakdown’ Showcase was a spectacular success once again, selling out with an at-capacity crowd! Huge thanks to our amazing dancers across Years 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12, our alumni students, and a special shout-out to our Year 11 dancers who returned after their final exams to rehearse and perform with us. Everyone’s passion, commitment, and hard work never goes unnoticed, and it truly shows in every performance. The journey to the showcase was as inspiring as the show itself — full of creativity, fresh ideas, and incredible student choreography.
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