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 and now high quality coaching takes place in Badminton, Basketball, Dance and Music.

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.

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. This year both teams have qualified in the local rounds and are looking forward to another final at Centre Parcs.

BASKETBALL

The U16 Basketball BEST qualified for the National Schools Championships and got through to the semi finals. Christopher Coussins, 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. A junior section to the squad has been started this year and this includes two female players, who train and play with the boys in the squad.

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. Recently the group performed in the Interval at one of the Newcastle Eagles basketball matches. Rosana Venda is part of the Dance City Advanced Dance Training Programme and others train with the Foundation Dance Group.

MUSIC

In addition to the sports a music group is part of the scheme and they perform at many of the school functions such as the Carol Service and Pride Evening.