BENEDICT BISCOP CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY Information

Benedict Biscop Academy is a Church of England school within the Diocese of Durham and serves the Wearmouth (Sunderland) Deanery. The school became an Academy in 2012 and is an average size primary school with 210 full time pupils and 30 part-time nursery pupils on roll. We provide education for children from 3 to 11 years. The Academy's standard admission number is 30. The Academy was built in 1972 and opened as a Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, which was extended to include a nursery in 2000. Further building work has created; a Foundation Stage in 2011, a learning centre, disabled facilities, medical room, extended 3 classrooms, an entrance which is very safe and welcoming and a meeting room. Our 'postinia' provides quiet space for reflection and prayer. Benedict Biscop CE Academy holds several awards, recognising our excellence. We have Basic Skills Award 6 (2014), several Achievement Awards, Investors in People GOLD Award (2014), Healthy School Award, Advanced Quality in Study Support Award (2012), Every School Day Counts Awards - for highest attendance in the City, Sport England Award, International Award (2014) and Gold Arts mark Award [2013]. 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. In addition we have IT support throughout the Academy. The Academy is currently developing a partnership with a school in Harbin, China. Through a European Comenius Award we are developing links with schools in France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Greece. ...