Who We Are
Founded in 2023, our academy sought to redefine what online education could be. Benbridge Academy’s Vision is of a learning environment that not only provides bespoke academic pathways for all students but also nurtures their emotional, social, and personal growth. We are committed to:
- making every educational pathway as unique as every student who walks through our virtual doors.
- fulfilling the promise of a curriculum that is relevant and responsive to the evolving landscapes of the 21st century.
- ensuring that every learner is prepared to be a well-rounded individual ready to take on the world.
Have A Chat With Us
Want to get to know us better? Contact us today for an informal conversation and to find out a little more.
Our Mission
Benbridge Academy’s Mission is to be more than just an online school. It is:
- To be a community where students and their families come together to design a bespoke educational journey.
- To be the gold standard for the personalised learning experience and stand as a beacon of top-quality, next-generation education
- To prepare our students for a future that increasingly values digital literacy, independent resilience and collaborative creativity
- To develop a curriculum that values choice, individuality, and the personal freedom to ‘design your life.’
- To tailor the educational pace of each student’s needs, ensuring that if a child is ready to advance, we’re ready to facilitate that growth.
The Benbridge Learning Philosophy
- Learning should be co-owned. It should be socially vital and geared towards promoting emotional intelligence and all-encompassing inclusivity.
- Learning experiences should facilitate opportunities for the development of independent and interdependent skills.
- All learning should be purposeful and formative.
- Successful 21st century learners should be given every opportunity to make connections and to integrate their learning into other areas. They should be encouraged to become problem solvers; the skill and knowledge they acquire should be relevant to real life scenarios.
- Our homes, our communities and the wider world offers enormous potential and sources for learning.
Can all of this be achieved online? Absolutely.
Everything You Need To Know
Download our prospectus today to read more about:
- Our mission and promise to you
- Our curriculum and subjects
- An example timetable
- Our outstanding pastoral care
- Live lessons
Our Journey
Emma Bennett
Emma Bennett is the co-founder of Benbridge Academy and a Headteacher with 18 years of experience in a wide range of educational settings. Before devoting her time and energy to this exciting new venture, Emma travelled extensively, living and working abroad, enabling her family to immerse themselves in rich cultural experiences. With her husband, Nicholas Bennett – an educator of 27 years – she put into action a long-held ambition to give parents back control over the educational choices they make for their children.
With careers divided between UK and overseas schools; both Nicholas and Emma have worked in the public and private sector including highly rewarding posts in the Middle East, South East Asia and Europe, both in the classroom and in various leadership positions.
Their love of teaching, combined with the successful implementation of a highly effective remote learning platform, led them to realise their vision of Benbridge Academy and they are immensely proud of what they are able to offer families in their community.
As a teaching parent, Emma has a deep understanding of the importance of developing individuality in students and encouraging and promoting a sense of belief and self-worth. Knowing the profound impact an educational experience and environment can have on a child’s life is what has driven her determination to make a positive difference in whatever way she can. Emma believes that Benbridge Academy has something special to offer students and is committed to ensuring its success.
Take the First Step Towards Your Child’s Education Today!
Fill in our Contact Form to begin the admissions process.
Our Team
Lydia Adelin
BA Art Psychology Masters in Education
Unleash your creativity with Mrs Adelin, a British-born art educator with a Master of Arts Education distinguished by a Distinction and a dual degree in Art and Psychology. Mrs. Adelin has over 19 years of teaching and leadership experience across prestigious British International Schools in the UK, Spain, and the UAE, and her students have a track record of excellence in Art A-Level and GCSE grades.
Encompassing an array of skills in a vast range of media, Mrs Adelin aims to empower every student to have the confidence to express themselves creatively and eloquently as well as explore the historical and modern methods of art as a means of persuasive communication. Mrs. Adelin actively encourages students to be at the forefront of 21st-century innovation and design, and can guide students through advanced digital photography, editing, film, and animation.
Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Adelin can be found indulging in her love for the outdoors, exploring the world on her bicycle.
Keighley Stevens
BA (Hons) Film & English
Sarah Routledge
BA French
Miss Routledge is a dedicated Primary and French teacher devoted to enriching the learning journey for all students. With extensive teaching experience in the UK, international settings, and as an online educator post-COVID-19, she excels in both traditional and virtual teaching environments. Quickly realising the unlimited possibilities of virtual learning, she has spent the last few years honing her skills through actively exploring and implementing innovative online teaching tools and techniques. She is passionate about cultivating open-mindedness, independence, and critical thinking and sees the online classroom as an ideal platform to foster a creative and inclusive learning environment.
While Miss Routledge loves teaching all subjects, she is particularly passionate about sharing captivating stories with her students. She believes that literature has a unique superpower- simultaneously igniting creativity, cultivating empathy and resilience and developing confident young communicators. In Miss Routledge’s class you can expect immersive and engaging lessons across all subjects. She ensures a range of online tools are used purposefully to inspire curiosity, collaboration and critical thinking. With a careful blend of creativity and structure, Miss Routledge motivates students to participate in meaningful learning experiences that will equip them with the tools to become digital citizens of the future.
Outside the classroom she enjoys travelling, jogging, learning new languages and has recently started sewing lessons. Kind, committed, and fun-loving, Miss Routledge strives to make her classroom a lively and welcoming online community that students are proud to share with one another. She is eager to meet her new class and embark on an exciting journey with them at Benbridge Academy!
Heather Noel
BSc Chemistry,
MSc Electronic Innovation and
Management
Heather is an experienced and dynamic science teacher. As a GCSE examiner and ex Head of Science, she uses her wealth of skills to provide engaging, fun and stimulating lessons. Her learners are motivated due to the encouragement and multiple intelligence strategies that she uses to stretch and challenge them. Heather creates a supportive and nurturing environment for all her learners regardless of their background and ability, where they can thrive and feel like a valid member of the science classroom.
Following her PGCE in Secondary Science, Heather’s love of education led her into mentoring others to take the step to becoming science teachers. She has combined her creativity and knowledge to lead teams in producing high quality resources and schemes in all three sciences, for a range of learning styles. The fact that her learners make remarkable progress, is a testament to her passion for teaching. Heather relaxes by reading, salsa dancing and attending shows/theatres.
Jilin Liu
BA Language & Literature
MA Education BEcon & Finance
Jilin Liu is a vibrant and passionate teacher with nearly a decade of teaching experience. With a background in teaching Chinese language and literature, as well as Chinese language acquisition in various international school systems, she has a profound understanding of major curriculum frameworks across various mainstream education systems.
Ms Liu holds a Master’s degree in Education and possesses Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in the UK. Additionally, she is certified as a Chinese language teacher in the United States and holds an International Chinese Language Teaching Qualification in China. Her teaching style is a blend of immersion and conceptualisation, often spiced up with educational games to ignite students’ language interests and proficiency. Through her approach, she aims to mould students into critical thinkers in language acquisition. She believes her role is to transmit the invaluable observations, experiences, and insights of countless individuals to the students in a systematic, creative, and easily understandable manner.
Beyond the classroom, she’s an adventurer at heart, indulging in outdoor pursuits like hiking, stand-up paddling, and hot yoga. Her love for learning extends to reading and staying updated on the latest educational technologies. She also has a passion for nature and enjoys gardening. Currently, she is actively pursuing a counselling degree to enhance her ability to provide students with a more supportive education beyond language instruction.
Ms Liu is excited by the opportunity to bring a unique blend of experience and passion to Benbridge Academy, empowering students to excel academically and beyond.
Kathryn Moran
BA Geography
With eleven years of experience as a Geography teacher Kathryn has a track record of excellence in her field. She has spent eight of those years as the Head of Geography in two different schools. With a passion for bringing geography to life, she has taught across Key Stages 2 to 5, inspiring students of all ages with her dynamic and engaging approach. Her career has spanned a diverse range of schools, enriching her teaching methods and broadening her understanding of various educational environments.
Kathryn’s enthusiasm for geography extends beyond the classroom. She is committed to providing students with hands-on learning opportunities, believing in the value of first-hand experiences. To this end, she has organized and led numerous trips across the UK and internationally, including destinations as far-reaching as Cambodia. These excursions have helped students foster a greater appreciation for the world’s diverse landscapes and cultures.
Begoña Mumary Lorenzo
Degree of Fine Arts
MA Language teaching
Begoña Mumary Lorenzo is an integral part of Benbridge Academy, bringing with her a wealth of experience in language education spanning several prestigious institutions across the UK, from beginner to A-Level students. With a solid background as a language coordinator, she prioritises nurturing students’ language skills and cultural awareness, aligning seamlessly with the Academy’s online education objectives.
Begoña fosters dynamic, student-centred learning environments, imparting not only linguistic proficiency but also a genuine appreciation for Spanish heritage. Her teaching style reflects the Academy’s commitment to excellence, promoting engagement and growth.
A lifelong learner herself, Begoña adeptly navigates digital education complexities, ensuring a transformative learning journey for students. Known for her curiosity, with a love for travelling, different cultures, art, and sports, Begoña is recognized as a proactive, positive, and energetic individual, boasting a plethora of interests. She harbours a profound passion for teaching and learning, cherishing the personal relationships fostered with students and colleagues alike.
Above all, Begoña sees teaching as a life philosophy, grounded in fostering connections, curiosity, and a love for learning, embodying the ethos of Benbridge Academy.
Richard Human
MBA Educational Leadership
As well as being a curriculum ambassador and trainer, Richard is an experienced teacher with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Educational Leadership and extensive experience as a teacher and school leader in the UK and internationally. In the last couple of years, he has gained extensive online teaching experience – teaching students remotely in Hungary, Ukraine and Britain.
Driven by a commitment to achieve inspiring learning and sustainable lives, Richard volunteers at Svitlo School, an online school for children in Ukraine, and with CharChar Literacy, working with teacher trainers in Malawi. His dedication to bridging the gap between educational practice and research led to his recognition as a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in 2018, and he shared the influences that shaped his worldviews in a TED Talk: Small Steps to Change the World.
An ILM-qualified performance coach, Richard has worked with a wide range of learners, from Key Stage 1 to adult learners, drawing from his diverse experiences. His commitment to educational excellence has made him a respected voice in the field of education over many years.
Rosemary Burton
BA History
Rosemary has been teaching History since 2005. She began teaching in the North of England, quickly becoming Head of History and Senior Teacher in charge of Safeguarding before relocating to the Middle East, where she taught in two of the most prestigious schools in Dubai. Rosie has an Honours degree in History, specialising in German History, from The University of Wales, Bangor and a Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education from the University of Lancaster. She is a passionate teacher who loves nothing more than teaching pupils about different aspects of History.
Rosemary has successfully taught GCSE, A-level and A/S History. Her knowledge and teaching have been rated outstanding by Ofsted. Her students have achieved excellent grades in their exams each year.
Rosie’s exam marking of both the A-level NEA for AQA and the coursework for Edexcel have been commended by both examination boards and for the last few years she has received a special mention in their exam feedback.
Rosie engages with her students and her lessons have pace and challenge. She believes that Online education is the way forward for pupils as it offers flexibility, accessibility and personalised learning experiences tailored to individual needs, fostering a more inclusive and adaptable educational environment.
Sarah Mears
BSc Maths NPQSL
Sarah has extensive experience of providing first-class results in maths education throughout her teaching career as Head of Maths and a Senior Leader responsible for the quality of education.
She has taught across a range of school contexts at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, and to students of all abilities, including those with SEND or EAL needs. With an in-depth knowledge of the mastery approach to teaching, Sarah uses a diverse variety of techniques to ensure her lessons are challenging yet accessible to all.
Sarah believes a positive student-teacher relationship is the key to every student reaching their full potential. Her open and approachable manner means that she quickly develops a supportive and encouraging environment, where students build their confidence and develop a genuine appreciation for the subject. Through personalised approaches, innovative and interactive learning activities, Sarah helps students not only improve their mathematical skills and knowledge but also cultivate a positive mindset towards the subject.
Sarah is passionate about using technology to enhance teaching and learning as it allows abstract mathematical concepts to be demonstrated in a concrete manner. She encourages students to explore and test their own conjectures to gain a deeper understanding of a concept, using mathematical software packages as an integrated part of a student’s learning journey.
Outside of her own classroom, Sarah has led on school-wide professional development programmes and facilitated the Early Career Teacher programme, mentoring teachers from allsubject areas. She has used this experience to continually refresh her own teaching practice.
Beyond this, Sarah likes to travel and in 2023 she took a year-long career break, which she spent touring USA and Canada in a motorhome. She likes to spend time outdoors being active, with hiking, running and skiing being some of her favourite sports. When looking for
something a bit less adventurous, she loves to relax reading a good book.
Ayman Al Manajra
BA Arabic
With extensive experience in teaching Arabic as a second language, Ayman Abdo has dedicated many years to helping students master this rich and beautiful language. Having taught at an international school for several years, Ayman has developed a deep understanding of diverse learning needs and cultural contexts.
Passionate about language education, Ayman is committed to creating, engaging and effective learning experiences that empower students to achieve fluency and confidence in Arabic.