Benfield School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

In its own words: "Our Purpose: To work as one community to achieve the very best for our pupils. Our Vision: To be one community with a relentless ambition to grow leaders, inspire the extraordinary and achieve excellence for all."

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher of Benfield School, Newcastle it gives me great pleasure to welcome you. Our School is a vibrant, diverse and welcoming community, which is not only an outstanding place to learn but also work. At Benfield, we unashamedly focus on the educational outcomes of our students."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, basketball, dance, drama, choir, chess, Lego and STEM.

Coming up: an open day on Saturday 31 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Benfield School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 31.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 42.8 in Newcastle upon Tyne and 47 across England.

24% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Newcastle upon Tyne and 47% in England.

That is down from 33.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.09: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 27.7, against 42.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Social Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 47 families put Benfield School as their first choice and 273 named it as one of their preferences, for 159 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Benfield School are Walker Riverside Academy (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.1); Jesmond Park Academy (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 53.1); Burnside College (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42); and St Mary's Catholic School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Benfield School.

Benfield School is one of 8 schools run by Neat Academy Trust, an academy trust.

69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Benfield School (as of September 2025): 38% would recommend the school, 55% say their child is happy there and 34% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (59%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (34%).

Of the 194 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 73% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 60% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 21 students who left the sixth form in 2022/23, 24% went on to university or other higher education and 33% into work. 11% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

69.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 39.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (55%), Black (17%) and Asian (8%).

Benfield School has a resourced provision (7 places, 7 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (24 places, 23 pupils on roll) for autism and physical disability.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Walkergate (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 490 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Benfield School (s-bound), 90 metres away.

In 2024/25, Benfield School issued 905 suspensions, 98.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 12 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Benfield School are Walkergate Community School (0.4 miles); Western Community Primary School (0.7 miles); Ravenswood Primary School (0.7 miles); and St Alban's Catholic Primary School, Walker (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.