About the school
Benedict Biscop Academy is a Church of England school within the Diocese of Durham and serves the Wearmouth (Sunderland) Deanery. It is an average size primary school with 215 full time pupils from September 2021 and 45 part-time nursery pupils on roll currently. We provide education for children from 3 to 11 years. The Academy’s standard admission number was changed for September 2021 to 45, following an extension of the school provision. On average we cater for around 280 pupils. Over the next 6 years, our pupil numbers will increase by 15 pupils every year, to create a one and a half form entry school.
The school became an Academy in 2012, and a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) – The Northern Lights Learning Trust in 2016. In 2021, we were awarded the lead school status in the Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead Teaching School Hub [Northern Lights South Tyne and Wear Teaching School Hub].
The Academy was built in 1972 and opened as a Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School. It has been extended to create a Foundation Stage, a learning centre, a new library, disabled facilities, medical room, an entrance which is very safe and welcoming and a meeting/training room. Our ‘postinia’ provides quiet space for reflection and prayer.
Benedict Biscop CE Academy achieved an OUTSTANDING judgement for their SIAMS inspection 2017. We hold several awards, recognising our excellence. We have Anti-bullying Platinum Charter Mark (2021), Rights Respecting Gold Award (2019), Early Years Basic Skills Award (2018), , Investors in People PLATINUM Award (2017), International Award (2017), Basic Skills Award 7 (2017), RE Quality Mark (2017), Gold Arts mark Award (2016), and Governor Mark (2016).
The Academy is designed in three blocks of teaching areas separated by a central hall. The areas of the Academy are very closely linked and staff know all the children through daily contact.
The policy of the Academy is to register the children, in mixed ability classes within each year group. Each class has its own teacher who is responsible for general progress across the curriculum and for pastoral care. There are full time teaching assistants in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. There are full time teaching assistants who support each class in Key Stage 2 for some of the weekly timetable.
The Academy has partnerships with a school in Harbin, China and through European Comenius Awards we have developed links with schools in France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria. This is developing global links and an understanding of our diverse culture.
