Full Service
Extended School
Action Plan 2006/08

Whistle While You Work
Jan 2008

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ABOUT BENFIELD SCHOOL

Ofsted November 2006

Examination results, attendance, pupil behaviour and numbers opting for the school have all shown steady improvement, clearly confirmed in the recent Ofsted report. Eight years ago the school achieved Sports College status against national competition and its sponsor Newcastle United F.C. has provided money for a new all-weather pitch. A new world class standard £3 million Sports Centre was opened in November 2001, making our sporting facilities the best in the City if not nationwide. Our aim is to use sports college status to drive up standards ‘across the board’!

Benfield is an 11-18 mixed comprehensive with 895 pupils on roll situated in the East End of Newcastle. Our 2007 GCSE examination results are the best the school has ever achieved with 55% of Benfield pupils achieving at least 5 A*-C grades and 88% of pupils gaining at least one grade A*-G. Contributing to this success were a number of initiatives such as our target-setting strategy and close monitoring of pupils progress throughout Years 10 & 11.

Specialist Sports College Status achieved 1998

Benfield School is a centre of excellence for physical education and community sport, providing a disciplined learning environment where academic and sporting success is celebrated and rewarded. We provide a curriculum which nurtures the talents of individuals with differing abilities, to raise levels of attainment across the school and not just in sport.

Through partnership and additional funding we create unique opportunities for all our pupils and can add to our already impressive list of facilities, such as the Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence which opened in December 2001.

As a specialist Sports College we are the hub site for the Newcastle School Sport Partnerships. We believe that participation in High Quality PE and Sport can improve pupil concentration, commitment and self-esteem; leading to higher attendance and better behaviour and attainment. It will also help fitness levels; active children are less likely to be obese and more likely to pursue sporting activities as adults. We also provide clear pathways for children from participation to elite sport, whatever their circumstances.

Redesignation April 2006 – 2010

In April 2006 Benfield was successful in obtaining Phase 3 Redesignation as a Specialist Sports College with second specialism in ICT. We are now well on our way to becoming a Centre of Excellence for ICT as well as Sports. Benfield intends to be at the forefront of technological change with state-of-the-art computer hardware within all curriculum areas.

Full Service Extended School Status achieved 2003

The provision of Full Service School status has helped to raise attendance and cut truancy, which in turn has helped to raise standards. The multi-agency approach has helped to develop the whole child. Increased community provision and support has helped to develop the whole family and the perception of the school as the heart of the community. In collaboration with a number of partners a wide range of activiies and services have been provided. These include early years and childcare, health and social care, study support, family learning, lifelong learning, parenting support, sports, art and ICT. Benfield is committed to the expansion of the community programme and in working with other partners to expand provision.

The multi-disciplinary team will meet national and local guidance objectives, such as National Service Frameworks, Quality Protects, the DfEE Special Educational Needs Programme of Action, The Special Needs and Disability Act and the Connexions Service as well as the Every Child Matters framework.

Inclusive Education & Pastoral Care

We believe that it is not only essential to create a caring environment at school, but that the quality of pastoral care has a strong impact on levels of academic attainment.

The interest of the students is at the heart of all our work. The school’s inclusive nature provides for all students with a range of special needs – physical, learning and behavioural. Indeed, Benfield is the City’s Secondary ARC (Additionally Resourced Centre) for physically disabled pupils.

The East End Education Partnership Action Zone , based around Benfield and involving Heaton Manor, St. Mary’s and 6 primary schools is similarly based on a sharing and learning ethos. The zone has been a huge success achieving the set objectives.

The school continues to work with the LEA on a number of initiatives. Our Skillforce programme for KS4 ‘disaffected’ pupils has gone from strength to strength over the last year and is now acknowledged as a model of good practice. We get many visitors to see what we are doing, and all leave impressed.

The Excellence in Cities (EiC) programme is now in its eighth year. Last year saw many significant developments in all three strands. Our Gifted and Talented provision is extensive and many pupils are receiving enhanced opportunities as a result. Through the LSU strand of EiC the school has a Student Support Centre (SSC ). The reduction in exclusions can be attributed to the work of the Student Support Centre (SSC).

Post 16 Provision

Benfield School has an expanding Sixth Form, currently there are 112 students on roll, with an average pass rate of 98%. We provide a high standard of teaching along with a wide variety of ‘A’ level courses and also cater for students working at Level 1 and Level 2. Consequently almost every student wishing to progress on to college or university does so. Students receive excellent support and guidance through a high quality PHSE programme. We have a stimulating environment for our students to work in with all the necessary resources to enable them to achieve their full potential, along with a packed activities calendar which enables students to visit universities and countries all over the world. Benfield Sixth Form provides a well balanced learning experience to all of its students.

Additional Information

Investors in People Award holder since 2003 (Renewed April, 2006)

School Facilities

An ARC provision for physically disabled pupils was completed six years ago and we now have eleven such youngsters in school that can access all aspects of school life. We are delighted with the extra ‘dimension’ they have brought to the school.

The school is well resourced with several unique features, including a swimming pool, drama workshop, multimedia room and seven computer suites. I am sure that you could not fail to be impressed by our staff and our pupils who are largely very pleasant and try hard. Obviously as an inner city school that serves an area that has high levels of deprivation, we do have youngsters who can be difficult. However, these are in the minority and through the hard work of staff, a firm discipline policy and an extremely efficient pastoral structure, we do manage these pupils well.

In January 2007 we successfully obtained a £300k grant from Sport England to completely refurbish our 20m Swimming Pool. The pool re-opened in May, 2007 and has continued to be an invaluable resource for the school and local community. Benfield is now a regional training centre for the Amateur Swimming Association.

What are our plans for the future?

Brilliant News - £15m to rebuild, remodel and refurbish Benfield School

I am delighted to be able to inform staff, pupils, governors, parents and community users that Benfield has been identified as one of the first schools to be rebuilt, remodelled or refurbished within the Government’s Building Schools for the Future initiative.

We are currently well into Phase 1 of the complete refurbishment and remodelling of our school as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Local Authority Early Education and Childcare Service have been working closely with Benfield School in relation to the Full Service Extended School and in developing Early Years Provision. We have been awarded a further £280k grant to provide a new 22 placement crèche and playgroup. This has been built as an extension to the Sports Centre and is due to open April / May 2008. Benfield’s new crèche / playgroup will enable parents and children to access sports centre activities and events whilst strengthening the schools identity.

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