BENFIELD EXCELLING STUDENTS TEAM

In 2009 Benfield School won ‘The YST Best Innovation in Providing for Talented Pupils Award’ as a result of the BEST Scheme.

The BEST scheme, Benfield Excelling Students Team, was set up in 2003 to support our talented athletes by giving them expert coaching in curriculum time. It started very small with two Gymnasts and six Badminton players but has developed to provide coaching for eighty three of our pupils in eight different sports.

During Physical education lessons talented pupils can be invited to trial for a place on BEST and if successful join the scheme and have the privilege of wearing the yellow tee shirt as recognition of achieving a place on the BEST scheme.

GYMNASTICS

Grace Imeson, a member of the BEST Gymnastics has just returned from Russia where she competed on the England team and finished in 4th place. She trains with the British Squad hoping to be selected for the next Commonwealth Games or even the 2012 Olympics.

BADMINTON

Our Badminton BEST pupils have also tasted success with both the junior and senior teams winning their age groups in the National Schools Badminton Championships, Newcastle Round and then the Regional Round. They travelled to Nottingham to take part in the finals of the competition. The Key Stage 3 team came 7th and the Key Stage 4 team came 9th.

BASKETBALL

The U16 Basketball BEST qualified for the National Schools Championships and got through to the semi finals. Jack Wilson, one of our players trains with the Newcastle Eagles in their School of Excellence and others have been selected to play and train with the Griffiths Basketball Team.

DANCE

Our Dance BEST is recognised in dance circles and the pupils are often asked to perform at important events. They have performed at the finish line of the Great North Run and in front of the Olympic Committee. Our links with Dance City have resulted in three of our dancers, Zoe Robertson, Ana Santos and Rosana Venda, being selected for Advanced Dance Training and several other were selected for the Foundation Dance Group.

MUSIC

In addition to the sports a music group has been added to the scheme and with our links with the Sage, thirteen pupils have received weekly vocal instruction again during curriculum time.