'We are thrilled to open the doors to our new academies'

TWO schools in Newcastle have officially opened after years of students learning in temporary sites. Gosforth Group has now opened the new facilities, which will permanently house Great Park Academy and Callerton Academy.

- OWEN YOUNGER

Since 2021, both schools have operated in temporary accommodation, with Callerton being originally opened in the former Discovery School building on Blandford Street, and Great Park in temporary buildings at Gosforth Academy.

Gosforth Group has hailed the opening of the purpose-built schools as 'marking a significant investment in the region's future education,' with the project being funded through substantial investment by the Department for Education (DfE).

Newcastle City Council, the Community Infrastructure Levy and Basic Need funding all contributed financially to the scheme, with the schools forming part of the DfE Free School Programme, ensuring much-needed secondary school places in the city.

This comes after a row over a random allocation system last year, which saw students who had come up through the Gosforth framework be allocated a place at Great Park, and even split up grandchildren to separate schools. In September of 2024, the trust was ordered to revise its admissions process.