News
December 2003
Cutting Edge Finance
The Business Studies department launched the Certificate
in Financial Studies this year in a bid to improve ytoung adults'
skills in handling their finances. We are only one of five comprehensive
schools nationally who are piloting this scheme, developed by the
Institute of Financial Services in response to the government's
plea for improved financial literacy.
The course is the equivalent of an AS level and
is also innovative in that materials are delivered online. Teacher
input is also supplemented with visits and mentoring from the financial
industry. Two of the three modules are assessed online and students
find out immediately if they have passed the exam. All the students
passed the first module, six with grade A. There will be a presentation
ceremony at the Guildhall in London next June for successful students.
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Superheroes
Two Benton Park pupils distinguished themselves
with heroic deeds this term. Year 7 student Reece Kirby (pictured)
cooly checked on the condition of a BMX cyclist who was lying unconscious.
He then rang for an ambulance and calmly followed the operators
instructions.
Another hero is Dale Bell, Another hero is Dale
Bell, Year 11, who reported a burglary to police which thwarted a
robbery at a local school.
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Euro Parliament Sixth Form Success
Benton Park represented Yorkshire and Humberside
at the National European Youth Parliament UK at York University
2003.
The team comprised Ben Partridge, Tom Melia, Calum
Joughlin, Alice Dehl, Peter Scott, Laura Wilson, Hannah Lyons,
Tom Gant, Ruth Morris and Becky Ogden. The event was designed to
give students an opportunity to debate and contribute to policy
on key European issues that are increasingly central to our lives.
Following weeks of intensive Economist reading,
EU web site browsing and frantic lunchtime meetings, the teams
displayed incredible expertise on issues as divers as European
economics, animal rights, media and military policies, while Benton
Park led the debates on a common social policy. There was also
a debate in French.
The Benton Park students were outstanding in the
face of opposition from some of the top independant schools in
the country, including George Watson Academy Glasgow and Haberdashers'
Aske's. Undaunted, Benton Park hit back with an equally high standard
of debate, a sharp wit and Tom Grant on a Digery Doo.
In all, our delegation took part in fifteen debates
in an intensive three-day period, writing as well as giving speeches,
and displaying outstanding organisational and leadership skills
in the process. Alongside all this academic labour came intensive
teambuilding activities, the stuff of corporate training weekends
and general committee work. Bonding with fellow schools took on
many levels, from the initial group based games, to the final presentations
and disco. We narrowly missed the top two places, out of 14 fellow
committees - saving Mr Cresswell and Mrs Scarlett from the extensive
risk assessment of the next round destination, Tallinn - but the
judges described as excellent our well researched contributions,
sympathetic approach to the other delegations and teamwork. The
students' conduct was exemplary and they have returned having had
a unique experience. Jon Cresswell and Sarah Scarlett.
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Classic Car Caretaker
David Hudson, the site manager, is often seen arriving
at school driving one of his classic cars. His collection consists
of a 1956 Hillman Minx and a Morris. Dave has been renovating cars
for over twenty years now all from his garage at home. His fine
collection of plaques has come from the many charity rallies he
has attended in his career, which he enters every weekend in the
summer. He was featured in the Telegraph and Argus newspaper earlier
in the term. Joe Barker, Year 11
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Head Researcher
Last year Mrs Clarke was engaged by the National
College for School Leadership (NCSL) to produce a research project
on the two leadership programmes for which she is a tutor. These
are the National Professional Qualification for Headship, for aspiring
Heads, and 'New Visions', which is designed for school leaders
in their first two years of leadership. She gleaned her evidence
by delivering the programmes and by interviewing nine heads who
had completed both. The finished report was presented to the directors
of these courses at the National College.
In September Mrs Clarke attended the British Educational
Research Association conference at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh
and presented her findings there. She visited the National College
again in November and spoke to fellow heads about what she had
gained from following the NCSL's Research Associate programme.
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African Choir Brings Harmony
The African Childrens Choir performed for pupils
and staff in November. The Choir is composed of children between
seven and twelve years of age from five African Countries: Uganda,
Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and Ghana. Many of them are from very poor
backgrounds or are orphans. The Choir helps raise funds to pay
for children's education in these countries and so secure a better
future for children in Africa. £1258 was raised.
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New Staff
Back row left to right: Charlotte Knights (Eng);
Tracy Hamilton (Head of German); Pauline Bartlett (Eng); Jonathan
Rhodes (Music); Front row left to right: Karen Webster (Science);
Tayyab Ditta (ICT); Eleanor Burdon (Religious and Philosophical
Studies); Celine Moine (Modern Foreign Languages). back
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History Made
Dave Welbourne, Head of History, has co-written
an 'A' Level textbook with Charlotte Evers. 'Britain 1783 - 1851,
From Disaster to Triumph?'. Dave has also written for Bradford
City FC's 'City Gent' and even finds time to write stories for
his grandchildren.
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Charter Mark Renewed
The school was awarded its second Charter Mark
for Excellence in Public Servise at a ceremony in London in October.
Over 500 organisations were represented with Benton Park being
one of the very few schools in the country to receive this prestigous
award.
The Prime Minister made a surprise visit and spoke
about his plans for public service reform. He stresses that the
award of the Mark reflected the efforts of everyone in the school.
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Head's Column
We were absolutely delighted that on 21st November
David Miliband, the MInister for Schools, came to spend the afternoon
with us. Mr Miliband was a pupil here in the late 1970s, and still
keeps in touch with his old school. He actually came back in 1997
and presented the awards at our Prize Giving during my first year
of headship. I am pleased to say that I have kept him informed
over the years of our developments. When he was in the area, therefore,
he chose to include Benton Park as part of his tour. Mr Martin
Wainwright , former parent and chair of the Yeadon and Rawdon Technology
in the Community Fund, and Mr Paul Truswell, our local MP, were
also here to greet Mr Miliband.
During his afternoon with us we focussed on two
aspects of recent change. Mr Miliband visited our 'Meadows Park
Centre', where we work with the pupils who come to us from Green
Meadows Special School. He also saw some of the developments that
have taken place since we acquired Technology College status. One
magical moment was when he paid an impromtu visit to a history
lessonwhich was being delivered by Mr Welbourne, Head of History,
who remembered Mr Miliband from his time at Benton Park. Within
seconds Mr Welbourne had included himin the lesson and he was part
of a role-play about the history of the Romans. Nobody enetrs Mr
Welbourne's classroom without being invloved!
Later in the afternoon he enjoyed a relaxing cup
of tea with staff who remembered him as a pupil and the leadership
groups of both Benton Park and Green Meadows. He concluded his
visit with a meeting of local Heads and Mr Chris Edwards, the Chief
Education Officer. It was a busy afternoon for everyone but a wonderful
experience for us all. A huge thank you goes to Mr Miliband for
taking time out to see us. A. M. Clarke
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Sixth Form Building for the Future
With the Sixth Form bigger than ever before, space
has been at a premium. A 'guardian angel' appeared in the form
of Martin Wainwright and the Rawdon and Yeadon Technology in the
Community fund which has donated £50,000 towards the cost of expanding
the sixth form block.
Following a successful bid to Education Leeds a
major building project got underway in October. The first phase
will add two classrooms/study areas; the second stage will refurbish
and enlarge the common room and library. It is planned that all
parts will have state-of-the art computer facilities. Dave Spalton
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Dramatic & English Speaking Triumphs
Our Drama and Theatre Studies department has been
exceptionally busy this term with the highlight undoubtedly being
the Shakespeare Schools Festival. 26 of our pupilds in years 8
to 11, were at West Yorkshire Playhouse. They joined 350 schools
and 10,000 pupils nationwide who performed Macbeth in front of
a full Courtyard Theatre and received a glowing report from the
adjudicator.
Other events have included numerous visits to theatres
including A Midsummer Night's Dream, at the Crucible, and Blood
Brothers, at the Leeds Grand. The lower 6th have been involved
in an 'Aim HIgher' project with Leeds University Bretton Hall students.
Congratulations to the 25 pupils, some of whom
are pictured, who achieved fantastic results in the English Speaking
Board exam. After months of preparation, with Karl Moat and Penni
Turner, the pupils were rewarded with the highest grades for their
poems, book reviews and exteded talks.
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In Brief
- Sixth former Jonathan Algar won a prize in Challenge
2 of Southampton University's National Cipher Challenge. Jonathan's
was one of only 50 correct solutions.
- Benton Park has sent two sets of Leeds United
football shirts to Meetsethehla School in Vaalwater, South Africa.
- Radio 4's Any Questions? came to Benton Park
this month - full report next issue.
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