CREATING A CLIMATE FOR GREAT LEARNING, SUCCESS AND OPPORTUNITY

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

Headteachers’ Column

As we reach the end of a very busy term we the learning experience for our students, either would like to thank you for your continued as teachers or as valued members of our support in ensuring your child is ready and support team. We wish them well in their new prepared for their school day. ventures. As always this newsletter highlights some of the As you are aware we continue to work hard to excellent activities that are going on throughout maintain and improve our learning environment. the school. The range of opportunities is We regularly meet with the Local Authority to invaluable in ensuring students develop not just improve aspects of the building and ensure that academically but personally too. We continue Health and Safety, for all, is paramount. We are to develop our programme of enrichment across continually pushing for capital investment in our the faculties and would welcome any feedback buildings and are hopeful that this will be fruitful from parents and carers on any aspects of our in the coming months. We look forward to wel- extra-curricular work. It is great to see our new coming Dawn Harding in January as our new Drama Studio being put to excellent use beyond Facilities and Health and Safety Manager. the school day. We ask you to encourage your Dawn joins us with a wealth of experience in a child to take part in as many aspects of school similar role from another school. life as they can. We would like to remind you that we have a 4pm bus that goes via, We would just like to wish you all a very happy Greengates, Calverley and Stanningley for Christmas and we look forward to working with students who are staying for extra-curricular you to ensure your child reaches their potential events or intervention session. We would like to in 2016. thank all staff and students involved in these excellent additions to school life. Delia Martin and Steve Dixon We would like to say a huge thank you and Co-Headteachers goodbye to staff who are leaving us this Christmas. Mr Scarlett and Mrs Elmsley have supported the students of our school and we thank them for all their work over the years. Mr Fleming, Director of Performing Arts, who has worked tirelessly to put Drama back onto the Benton Park curriculum, leaves us to start a new life in Australia and we wish him all the best in this new and exciting adventure. Mrs McKenzie, Director of Science who is going to be leading the Science Department at Ilkely Grammar School and we wish her well in her new role. We would like to thank all of them for their hard work and commitment to improving

Faculty of Maths and ICT

UKMT Senior Team Maths Challenge The STMC is a competition testing mathematical, communication and teamwork skills. Students compete against teams from other schools and colleges from their region, completing extremely challenging Maths problems against the clock. The competition was held at University on the 19th November and comprised of three .UK Mathematics Trust Senior Mathematical rounds; a Group Round, a Challenge 2015 Crossnumber and a Shuttle. Congratulations to Benton Park’s The UKMT Senior Maths Challenge is aimed at all 16-19 year Team of Oliver Welsh Year 13, Seb olds studying Maths. The challenge involves 25 multiple Shannon Year 13, Ethan Higgott choice questions and is sat under normal exam conditions. Year 12 and Elisei Ulrich-Oltean th The top 10% of students nationally receive a Gold award, the Year 11, finishing 8 out of 19 next 20% Silver and the next 30 % Bronze. schools from the region. The Challenge was taken on 5th November 2015, Oliver Welsh Glen Taylor and Jeremy Naylor– Wardle achieved Gold, Seb Shannon, Teacher of Maths Heather Hudson, Isabel Barber, Shannon Addy, Chris Hulley and Elisei Ulrich-Oltean achieved Silver and Philip Liu, Lianna Spalding, Joshua Parker, George Cliffe, Jemma Woodcock, Georgina Bennett, George Harvey, Ethan Higgott, Thomas Willoughby and Andreas Marshall achieved Bronze. Congratulations to all students who took part and particularly those who achieved an award. Oliver Welsh qualified for the British Mathematical Olympiad, the top one thousand students in the country. Jeremy Naylor-Wardle qualified for the Senior Kangaroo Mathematical Challenge, the top three thousand students in the country. Well done to all students involved. Maths Challenge Important Dates for your Diary.

 W/c 11th January: Year 8 Assessment Week

 Wednesday 13th January: Friends of Benton Park Meet- ing

 Thursday 14th January: Parent Forum 6pm

 W/c 18th January: Year 7 Assessment Week Faculty of Science  Monday 18th January: This term has been an exciting one for Science, not only have we Year 13 Parents’ Evening seen our numbers in Geek Club increase to around fifty pupils from Year 8 to Year 12, as well an increase in our Year 7 Science Club  Thursday 28th January: numbers, we have also had some interesting trips and visits. Enrichment Day On the 21st October John Warrick from the skin research company  Wednesday 3rd February: Innovenn came into school to deliver a presentation on the Year 8 Parents’ Evening structure of skin and the use of skin models to Year 12 pupils and Year 11 members of Geek Club.  Thursday 4th February: On December 3rd thirty nine Year 10 and Year 11 students went to SLT Parent Drop-In 4.30pm - Leeds Town Hall for ‘Science Live’. A number of Scientists, 6.30pm including Robert Winston, discussed their career and scientific works. Students attended a talk from the Chief Examiner for Sci-  W/c 8th February: ence from the AQA exam board who gave students tips and advice Year 9 Assessment Week on their GCSE examinations. We look forward to more exciting events in 2016! Hannah McKenzie Director of Science Faculty of Social Sciences Business Studies

Everyday Money- Finance Education at Benton Park

Finance education is one of the key skills our students are develop- ing as part of our PSHE curriculum here at Benton Park School. Our Year 11 students enjoyed a visit from more than thirty RSP Synagogue Visits volunteers from Legal & General and Leeds Building Society, who gave up a day of their time to coach students from Year 11 about Year 12 students money. from Benton Park and Hors- forth School enjoyed a visit to The students had a fantastic day working with financial two local synagogues as part professionals completing a range of tasks to educate them about of their AS Level Religious earning, spending and saving money. There were prize draws throughout the day and our students thoroughly enjoyed this Studies course. They were opportunity. given a tour of both an Orthodox synagogue and a Reformed synagogue. This Debbie Jackson, Director Partnerships, Legal & General, said: really made their learning of “What a fabulous opportunity to work with the young adults from Judaism 'come Benton Park, helping them understand the financial challenges and alive'. Students asked a opportunities ahead of them when they enter the work place. The range of challenging students put a lot of effort into a very thought-provoking day around questions, including asking earning money, spending and saving choices. It was good to see the Rabbi of the Reformed how highly they rated their knowledge at the end of the day synagogue why he believed compared to the beginning, hopefully they’ll take this knowledge to in God despite the atrocities help them in the future. Benton Park are clearly committed to of the Holocaust. A very preparing students for adult life and it’s great that we could play a interesting and enjoyable day part in this.” out! Trevor Garside, Head of Direct Distribution, Leeds Building So- Rachel Garthwaite ciety, said: “I thought the day was a great success with our colleagues getting as much value from the day as the students did. It was an interesting and rewarding day in which some often-complex Health and Social Care Visit concepts were delivered in a way which was more easily The year 12 Health and understood by the students. This was more than confirmed at the end of the day by their answers during the final exercise and their Social Care students baked own rating of their new knowledge.” cakes and delivered them to a local care home they also A huge thank you to all the external visitors involved, the fantastic sang carols and organised a efforts of our Year 11 students and all the Benton Park staff game of bingo. This was a involved in the day. great success and all con- cerned had a fabulous time. Charles Briggs Leader of Business Studies Sarah Scarlett Director of Social Studies Faculty of Humanities

What our students thought….

 "It was educational and fun. It opened my eyes to the true conditions of the Holocaust." Harry Pilling

 "We got a better understanding about the way of life in Nazi Germany."Lavar Holmes

 "Helps to gain new knowledge and understand different peoples' opinions." Danny Taylor

 "Helps me understand different elements of our History topic" Becky Wakefield

Year 11 Historians enjoying an evening visit to the Brandenburg Gate

History trip to Berlin Geographers on Tour!

Forty-two Year 11 GCSE history It has been a busy term for geographical visits. The Year 13 students took an educational trip to Geography students went on a residential to Manchester in Berlin to focus on aspects of The October to research urban regeneration and gentrifica- Third Reich and The Cold War. tion. The students investigated developments within the city Visits included; the Berlin Wall, centre and undertook fieldwork in the 'Northern Quarter' and Checkpoint Charlie, Stasi Prison, 'New Islington' areas of the city centre. They also went on the Olympic Stadium, Holocaust Metrolink urban transport system and visited Salford Quays, Museum and Sachsenhausen Media City and the Trafford Centre. Concentration Camp. In addition to much reflection about the lessons of The Year 12 students went to the Yorkshire Dales to conduct a the past, pupils enjoyed a visit to the river investigation. This study investigates the changes that Reichstag Dome for a panoramic occur in a river as it travels downstream and is a crucial part of view of present day Berlin and their 'skills' exam at AS Level. The Year 12 students are now soaked up the festive atmosphere looking forward to the annual Geography field visit to of the German Christmas markets. Switzerland in April 2016. Garth Watson In December Year 13 were invited to Assistant Headteacher/Director of Humanities join Leeds University students at their annual guest lecture. Professor Colin Jones from Oxford University delivered an interesting viewpoint on Robespierre's downfall during the French Revolution. Karen Garvie Teacher of History

Year 13 enjoying the sites Manchester has to offer Faculty of Performing Arts

Macbeth Performance at the Carriageworks

In October, twenty nine of our Year 8 and 9 students wowed audiences on the professional stage with a stunning, stylised performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth.’ The performance was part of the national Shakespeare Festival and Benton Park School were proud to be in- volved. The performance received exceptional feedback from parents, staff and festival organisers with the strong ensemble work, professional creativity and fluency of the piece all highly complemented. Parents and Staff were given two opportunities to see the piece as it was performed at The Carriageworks Theatre and then again in the new drama studio at Benton Park.

Mr Fleming would like to take this final opportunity to say a huge con- gratulations to all the cast involved, you were a genuine delight to work with and direct.

Lee Fleming Musical Soloists Director of Concert November Performing Arts 2015

In November Mr Pritchard George Reynolds as King Duncan and Miss Pendred hosted a Musical soloist’s concert in the new Drama Studio with some wonderful performanc- es from students across Years 7 – 13. The evening produced performances from students on Piano, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet, Flute and Bass Guitar. Many thanks to all the students involved and thank you to the excellent support from parents who al- low their students to partake in private music tuition. Ewan Cooper as Macbeth Dave Pritchard Leader of Music

Abbie Eccles as Lady Macbeth

Saatchi Gallery Entries from Lily Beck, Calum Armstrong and Milly Smith

Technology Craft Club Creative Arts at Benton Students in Key Stage 3 have been getting into the festive spirit by creating a Rag Wreath for Christmas or a celebration event. Park The materials used were recycled from unwanted clothing and curtains. They were a huge success and we will be carrying on On Wednesday 16th with more craft activities into the New Year. Keep a look out on December the Year 13 the clubs notice board for more activities! Photography students attended a full day workshop Year 8 students have been very busy over the past term, at Leeds College of Art and designing and making a monster from upcycled materials. Design. Students were given Students had to focus on using a variety of techniques on their the chance to work with the monster, including applique, hand embroidery and sewing latest studio photography machine skills, to ensure their monster stood out from the rest. equipment and traditional Monsters are always a huge success in year 8 and are getting dark room techniques more creative and scarier by the year! including Cyanotype. Amber Wilson Teacher of Technolo- Miss Stateman is currently uploading some of our best student work as entries for the Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for Schools. The selected top twenty students will take part in a high profile exhibition in March and the competition has prize money totalling £24,000... fingers crossed!

Adam Davenport Director of Creative Arts Rag wreath created in Design and Technology Faculty of English and MFL

Creative Writing Success

Creative Writing Club is becoming increasingly popular and is now enjoying some winning success: Elisei Ulrich-Oltean came second in a regional writing competition organised by the The Big Bookend, he had to write a creative piece about WW2 and chose to create a short story. His work was judged by published author Susan Burnett who stated that ‘This story has a fantastic ending that leaves you thinking Benton Park Film Club about the main character’s future – not just immediately as The inaugural Film Club took he has to tell his mother who he is, but his life over the place on the 25th November many years to come.’ A brilliant achievement. Creative within the newly refurbished Writing Club takes place every Monday lunchtime in S20 Drama Studio; the comfortable and is open to any year group. seating, HD projection and

surround sound gives the Here’s a link to the winning entries: impression of a cosy cinema.

The first film chosen was http://www.bigbookend.co.uk/our-ww1-writing-competition- Jurassic World with many more winning-entries-12-16-year-category/ titles in the offering over the

coming months. Film Club offers Lynn Wearing students opportunities to Director of English increase their enjoyment of films by watching, reviewing and creating their own films. Film Club takes place every Wednesday after school in the English Speaking Board Drama Studio from 3pm – 4pm.

Martin Pilkington Students in the Year 12 were given the opportunity again Teacher of media Studies this year to undertake the Advanced Certificate in Spoken English qualification. All twelve students who took part produced fantastic results, with all students achieving the levels of Distinction or Merit, the highest grades available in the exam. They deserve every credit for their efforts. The students gained a lot of skills from English Speaking Board, gaining the 65 UCAS points which comes with a Distinction, as well as being a huge confidence booster for the future, whether going to an interview for a job or university course or public speaking in general. The qualifications were a huge personal achievement as an enhancement activity.

Lynn Wearing Director of English Faculty of English and MFL

Frankenstein!

Year 12 Literature students studying Othello attended a lecture given by a Professor from Oxford University. This was a real taste of what studying English at university would be like as well as valuable insight into their upcoming exam. Year 13 Literature students studying Gothic fiction watched the National Theatre’s production of Frankenstein starring Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch which was streamed through the internet into the Drama Studio. We are very excited to have access to some of the best theatre in the country through the National Theatre Live programme and there will be more opportunities coming up for students to see fantastic productions. Lynn Wearing Director of English

Of Mice and Men

Year 11 students were treated to a live production of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men in the school hall. Manchester Actors are a touring company and gave a brilliant Debating Matters performance to our students. The actors then stayed in role while the Our Debate Club had some fantastic suc- students were able to ask them cess earlier this term when they took part questions about the motivation of in Debating Matters at Leeds Beckett Uni- their characters and how they felt versity: Grace Stephenson, Ryan Powell, during particular actions. Feedback Tess Saunders and Sarah Jones were ab- from the actors afterwards was that solutely brilliant and just lost in the final the young people in our school round to Allerton High School. Sarah Jones were some of the ‘most intelligent was awarded the Best Speaker prize and and insightful’ they had ever met, the team are looking forward to challenging which we completely agree with and students from and we were especially proud of Year Abbey Grange School in January. 11 that day. Rachel Probert Assistant Director of English Lynn Wearing Director of English Faculty of Sport and PE

It has been a jam packed sporting term for us here at our school to develop the sport in the Faculty of Sport & PE. We started with our annual the area and given us £1500 of Sports Awards Evening where over one hundred brand new table tennis students picked up an award for their sporting equipment. We now have a week- achievements from our guest of honour, Rugby ly club with over forty students League star Robbie Hunter-Paul. A great night was attending regularly. had by all and it was truly fantastic to see so many young people recognised for their commitment to Girl’s football and trampolining continues to go from school sport. strength to strength at our school with over one hundred students attending these extra-curricular It looks like we already have some candidates for next clubs on a weekly basis. I would also like to take this year’s award as this term has seen our first ever Girls opportunity to remind parents of the extra-curricular Rugby League Team take part in competitive school bus that has been arranged to provide matches. I would like to extend a special thank you to students with transportation home after their clubs. It the Leeds Rhinos who have supported this new team operates Monday to Thursday and leaves the bus by providing us with a specialist coach. park at 16:05 and the route goes via, Greengates, Calverley and Stanningley. We are hoping to see We are also immensely proud of our students’ even more students attend our after school sporting individual achievements we are immensely proud of activities in the New Year. Merry Christmas from all at Year 9 student, Lauren Webster, who is now the York- the Faculty of Sport & PE. shire Level 3 Gymnastic Champion and also Year 8 students Harrison Batty and Harry Widdop who have Dan Furniss impressed at Huddersfield Town Academy and been Director of Sport and PE awarded junior contracts.

Another highlight of this term has been the school’s work with Table Tennis . They have chosen

Lauren Webster: Yorkshire Gymnastic Champion Girls 5 A Side Football Team