News

Ofsted Inspection

The school had its Ofsted Inspection between 15th and 19th November 2004 and we are waiting for the report on the inspection. However, the initial feedback is that Benton Park is a good school with some very good features.

Rita's Big 12

Rita Prajapati attained a magnificent 12 in this year's GCSE exams. Reflecting Benton Park Technology College's record breaking results, Rita achieved an A* in every subject. She said, 'I worked hard, they weren't easy. I have just tried my hardest, especially in the sciences because they are the ones I enjoy the most.
Principal, Anne Clarke, said, 'It's always a delight when pupils reach their potential. It shows that Rita is an exceptional young woman. With our best results ever, many of our students were rewarded with excellent grades.

National Poetry Day

On National Poetry Day in October, Drama students Tom Marsh, Faye Wiggins, Gemma Almond and Victoria Leathley performed poems all around the school during lunchtime. Many pupils wrote food poems and 'spooky' stories were told in the library during lunchtimes, notably by Head of History, Dave Welbourne (pictured above) who held his audience in rapt attention.

Anna for Beijing Olympics 2008?

Year 12 student Anna Blyth won three gold medals at the National Track Championships which took place at Newport, Wales in August. In doing so she broke Olympian Nicola Cooke's junior record in the Flying 200m sprint and the 500TT sprint. Her other gold was in the 2km pursuit.

Pupil Broadcasters

Radio Leeds dropped in to school in September to discuss a report by Leeds University on smoking and teenagers. Two year 11 students (Luke Cruse and Kim Greenhalgh), along with three year 7's (Zeynep Akkul, Henry Aspden and Abbie Swales) gave their forthright views on the topic live on the breakfast show.

Deputy Head Richard Hoban suggested that though the school has a strict non-smoking policy, it is very difficult to persuade children that killing themselves is too high a price to pay for looking cool.

Design & Technology Star

Scott Myers reached the National final of the Audi Young Designer of the Year competition. He designed and made a Tow Life to move Robinson R22 helicopers around an airfield. Scott represented the school at the finals at the Baltic Centre in Gateshead and finished just outside the top five, a magnificent achievement considering over a thousand students entered. Scott won £200 and an all-expenses paid trip to the Audi factory in Germany.

So farewell then...

Last summer we said farewell to Benton Park stalwarts, David Brewis and Fred Ratcliffe. David, who had been Head of Maths for many years, had worked here for 33 years and Fred, of our Technology department, had served 36 years. We wish them a well deserved rest during their retirement.


For more news see individual 'Subject' areas within For Pupils section.

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