Benfield School
Encyclopedia
Benfield School is a 11–18 state comprehensive school
in Walkergate
, Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
.
Its pupils come from a large area of Newcastle's east end including Byker
, Heaton
, Walker
, Walkergate
and Walkerville
.
Benfield was opened in the 1960s as one of the first purpose-built comprehensive schools in England, and over the years has built up a reputation as a sports college. The school currently boasts the North of England gymnastics centre and all-weather floodlit football, rugby and basketball pitches, badminton courts along with ordinary pitches, tennis courts, a gym and a recently renovated swimming pool.
Benfield has recently undergone a makeover which saw the school completely refurbished with wider corridors, extra work areas for staff and students and a modern appearance.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in Walkergate
Walkergate
Walkergate is an area and electoral ward in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It is in the east of the city, north of Walker proper, east of the Heaton area and west of Wallsend. Areas within the Walkergate ward include Daisy Hill, Eastfield, Walkerdene and Walkerville...
, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Its pupils come from a large area of Newcastle's east end including Byker
Byker
Byker is an inner city electoral ward in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It is in the east of the city, south of the Heaton area and north of St Peter's. Byker Metro station serves the area.The area also contains the Byker Wall estate. The population of the ward is...
, Heaton
Heaton, Newcastle
Heaton is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards located in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, about from the City Centre. It is bordered by the neighbouring areas of Benton and Cochrane Park to the north, Walker and Walkergate to the east, Byker to the south and...
, Walker
Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker is a residential suburb and electoral ward just east of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Walker's name is a hybrid of Old English and Viking Norse, "Wall-kjerr", where "kjerr" is Norse for "marshy woodland"...
, Walkergate
Walkergate
Walkergate is an area and electoral ward in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear, England. It is in the east of the city, north of Walker proper, east of the Heaton area and west of Wallsend. Areas within the Walkergate ward include Daisy Hill, Eastfield, Walkerdene and Walkerville...
and Walkerville
Walkerville
Walkerville is a name given to several places:Australia*Town of Walkerville, a local government area in South Australia**Walkerville, South Australia, a suburb in north-eastern Adelaide*Walkerville, Victoria, a town in southwest GippslandCanada...
.
Benfield was opened in the 1960s as one of the first purpose-built comprehensive schools in England, and over the years has built up a reputation as a sports college. The school currently boasts the North of England gymnastics centre and all-weather floodlit football, rugby and basketball pitches, badminton courts along with ordinary pitches, tennis courts, a gym and a recently renovated swimming pool.
Benfield has recently undergone a makeover which saw the school completely refurbished with wider corridors, extra work areas for staff and students and a modern appearance.
Notable alumni
- Steve BruceSteve BruceStephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
, English football manager and former footballer - Lee Clark, English football manager and former footballer
- Lee Hall (playwright)Lee Hall (playwright)Lee Hall is an English playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for the 2000 film Billy Elliot.-Early life:...
, English playwright and screenwriter most famous for his Academy Award nominated screenplay for the 1999 film Billy ElliotBilly ElliotBilly Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in the fictional town of "Everington" in the real County Durham, UK, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older...