St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy

Biscop Baducing was born around 628. He served King Oswui of Northumbria as a warrior until 653 when he accompanied St. Wilfrid on a pilgrimage to Rome. He made a second visit with Alcfrith, Oswui's son, when he became a monk and renamed himself Benedict. On his third trip to Rome he returned in 669 with Theodore of Tarsus, the newly appointed archbishop of Canterbury. Theodore appointed him abbot of Sts. Peter and Paul monastery, which is now known as St. Augustine's Canterbury. He founded the monastery at Jarrow, in 682. His last trip to Rome in 685 resulted in the adoption of the Roman script and in many additions to the libraries at Wearmouth and Jarrow,[2]

Northumberland used to have a middle school system (three tier) and this was the site of the Catholic upper school. It was reorganised in 2000 and became St Benet Biscop Catholic Voluntary Aided High School. Inspections judged this to be a good school in 2007, 2010 and 2013.[3] It converted to an academy in March 2015 and has sinced been judged twice in 2016 and 2019 as requiring improvement [4]

Virtually all maintained schools and academies follow the National Curriculum, and are inspected by Ofsted on how well they succeed in delivering a 'broad and balanced curriculum'.[5] Schools endeavour to get all students to achieve the English Baccalaureate (EBACC) qualification- this must include core subjects a modern or ancient foreign language, and either History or Geography. As a Catholic school Religious Education is central to the curriculum.[6]

The school operates a two-year, Key Stage 3 where all the core National Curriculum subjects are taught. Year 7 and Year 8 study core subjects: Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science. The following foundation subjects are offered: Art & Design, Computing, Technology, Drama, Core Skills , French, Spanish, Geography and History, Music and PE.[6]

In years 9, 10 and 11, in the three-year Key Stage 4, students study a core of Religious Education, English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science and PE with three options that are studied for five hours a fortnight. These are chosen from a pool that varies each year. In 2019 BTEC Sport, BTEC Children’s Play Learning & Development and GCSE were offered in Drama, French, Spanish, Individual Sciences, IT, Product Design, Food and Nutrition, Health and Social Care, Business Studies, Geography, History, Music.[6]

• Jamie McClen, footballer; ex-Newcastle United player

• Creative students celebrate success with business initiative
• Article from the Journal newspaper on Princess Anne's visit to St. Benet Biscop High School
• Minsteracres