We are delighted to announce the official opening of our brand-new school building. This remarkable milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional education and enhancing learning opportunities for the children and young people we serve in our community.

The opening of these purpose-built schools marks a significant investment in the region's future education and the projects were funded through substantial investment by the Department for Education (DfE), with support from Newcastle City Council (NCC) via Section 106, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Basic Need funding.

Our academy, and Callerton Academy, initially opened in 2021 in temporary accommodation as part of Wave 10 (Great Park Academy) and Wave 13 (Callerton Academy) of the DfE Free School Programme, ensuring much-needed secondary school places in the city. Both buildings opened to students for the start of term in September 2025.

Our new school building boasts outstanding facilities and modern learning spaces, complemented by a dedicated sports complex that will be open to the community outside of school hours. Our students will benefit from contemporary classrooms and specialist facilities. The building design includes spacious, open central areas for lunch and break times, surrounded by classrooms, learning spaces and other facilities, as well as specialist areas for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), ensuring a collaborative and engaging environment. Additional features include ICT rooms, well-stocked libraries, science laboratories, drama studios, music rooms, art rooms, a theatre-style main hall, and design & technology rooms. The sports facilities comprise dance studios, sports halls, outdoor multi-use games areas, and large fields for football, games, and athletics. 

Last week, we celebrated the official opening of our facility with our students and welcomed guests from the Department for Education (DfE), Newcastle City Council (NCC), community groups, Gosforth Group employees and Trustees. We were honoured to have Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, as our Guest of Honour. Our guests enjoyed exceptional performances by our students, including a poem they had written about life in the new building, as well as musical performances. The event also featured speeches and the unveiling of commemorative plaques.

Catherine McKinnell expressed her pride in officially opening the building, commenting, “It’s a real privilege to open Great Park Academy, now rightly at the heart of its community. This new building is a state-of-the-art space where young people can truly achieve and thrive, learn and be creative. It has been a long journey to get to this point, but I want to thank the staff, students and the community for their determination over the past few years. Having a permanent, high-quality school will allow children to unlock opportunities, and I look forward to working with the Gosforth Group to make sure it goes from strength to strength.”

As part of the Gosforth Group, our Trust is excited to expand its dedication to inclusive, high-quality education and strong community partnerships across Newcastle and beyond. Our Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Alexandra Thorp, shared her excitement, “We are thrilled to open the doors to our new academies. These learning spaces have been thoughtfully designed to inspire learning, foster creativity, and support the wellbeing of every student. It’s more than just a building; it’s a foundation for future success.”

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