Benton Park School
Benton Park School is a comprehensive school in Rawdon, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Formerly a technology college, it is for children aged 11–18. It has 1,392 students.
Benton Park School | |
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Benton Park School in 2009 | |
Address | |
Harrogate Road , , LS19 6LX England | |
Coordinates | 53.8558°N 1.6829°W |
Information | |
Type | Comprehensive |
Motto | "Creating a climate for great learning, success and opportunity" |
Local authority | City of Leeds |
Department for Education URN | 108083 Tables |
Ofsted | Reports |
Headteacher | Delia Martin |
Gender | Mixed |
Age | 11 to 18 |
Opened | 11 March 1961 |
Website | http://www.bentonpark.org.uk |
Status and awards
The school achieved Beacon status in 1998.[1] The school gained Technology College status in 2002, after the head teacher advertised in Private Eye for sponsorship for the Technology College application[2]
Awards received include Sportsmark Award, Artsmark Gold and International School Award.[1]
History
Benton Park school was built in the grounds of old Benton Park house. The school was established by Joseph Riley in 1838 and by 1851 he had 33 boys in residence. His son John was also a teacher there.[3] In the 1860s it was bought by the Milligan family for use as a private home and was not used as an educational establishment until Littlemoor School utilized the premises as a senior department until 1957 when the building was demolished.
The new school was built in contemporary brutalist style by Sir John Burnet, Tait and Partners in the late 1950s and early 1960s, being formally opened by Lord ST. Oswald on Saturday 11 March 1961.[4]
In 2015, the Yorkshire Evening Post published an investigation into the risks posed by asbestos in the structure of the main school building.[5] Consequently, in February 2019, Leeds City Council approved a £20 million project to rebuild the school, citing the poor condition of some of the school buildings.[6]
Notable alumni
- Anna Blyth, member of Great Britain Cycling team and past British Track Champion[7]
- Elizabeth Keates, actress
- David Miliband, former UK Foreign Secretary and MP for South Shields[8]
- Billy Pearce, comedian (Known then as Stephen Cookson)[9]
References
- "Prospectus 2006" Archived 14 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Benton Park Technology College
- Sarah Cassidy (9 June 2001). "School head advertises in 'Private Eye' for sponsors". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
- "Benton Park House 1875". Airborough Historical Society. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- "Benton Park School Invitation". Airborough Historical Society. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- "Leeds School's Health and Safety Failings Exposed". The Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- Beecham, Richard (13 February 2019). "£20m revamp of Benton Park School gets green light". LeedsLive. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- "Talking to Talent Team Star Rider, Anna Blyth". British Cycling. 11 February 2005. Archived from the original on 26 August 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
- "David Miliband: George Osborne and David Cameron are just updated Thatchers in trousers". Daily Mirror. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- McIntyre, Annette (16 July 2010). "Billy Pearce wants to reunite Benton Park class of 66". Ilkley Gazette. Retrieved 23 March 2017.