We are delighted at long last to be able to announce that we are planning to open Great Park Academy for the first sixty Year 5 students in September 2021. This is subject to the Gosforth Group’s funding agreement being finalised with the Department for Education.
We will open in a purpose-built temporary block on the Gosforth Academy site.
Admissions are now open and parents are cordially invited to apply for the limited number of places available. The first students will progress to GCSE in 2028 and will transfer to the Great Park Academy permanent site as soon as their brand new school is completed. Progression to Gosforth Academy’s Sixth Form to pursue academic and / or vocational courses of their choice will further support them in their next steps to university, an apprenticeship or employment. From day one our students will have every opportunity to create their future!
George Snaith Chair of Trustees for Gosforth Group says:
‘We have been working on this project for a number of years to provide much needed school places for families moving into the many housing developments around our area. Although it may still be some time before the new building is complete on the Great Park itself, excellent accommodation will be provided in a brand new, self contained, classroom block at the Knightsbridge site.’
Hugh Robinson CEO of Gosforth Group says:
‘We are truly excited to be moving forward with opening this new school on Newcastle Great Park and look forward to welcoming our new Y5s into the brand new classroom block on the Gosforth Academy site while their state of the art permanent building is under construction.’
As the new school is not yet open, Gosforth Group are working in partnership with Newcastle City Council to ensure that the admissions process runs smoothly. The application process will operate in parallel to the usual secondary transfers process using Newcastle’s on-line admissions portal.
This means that parents wishing to apply for a place for their child at Great Park Academy in year 5 must make a separate online application for the school as well as an online application through the local authority for first to middle schools transfers. This ‘dual application process’ is required when a new free school is opening, as offers are conditional until the funding agreement with the Department for Education is signed.
Once the school sites and plans have been finalised, and the free school funding agreements signed, then the two applications from parents will be combined to make one application.