The modern new facility has been built on the school's existing site and provides an inspiring, energy-efficient learning environment designed to meet the needs of current and future generations of pupils.
The project has been delivered and funded through the Department for Education's School Rebuilding Programme, with the school selected in 2022 as one of a number of schools across the country identified for rebuilding or refurbishment due to their condition.
Newcastle City Council has contributed funding towards improvements beyond the Department for Education's standard specification. These enhancements include additional facilities to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as furniture, fittings and equipment for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Councillor Christine Morrissey, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families at Newcastle City Council, said: " I'm absolutely delighted to see staff and pupils move into this impressive new building and begin enjoying the benefits of a modern learning environment designed for the future."
"This investment will provide generations of children with high-quality facilities that support learning, wellbeing and inclusion. We're particularly pleased that the project includes enhanced provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, helping ensure every child can access the support they need to thrive."
The new building has been constructed to the latest net zero standards and includes a bio-solar green roof system and native hedging to parts of the site boundary, supporting Newcastle City Council's ambitions to reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity.
Domnic Martin, Headteacher at Benton Park Primary School, said: "Benton Park: our children, families and staff, are very grateful to receive this significant investment in our school community.
“From start to finish the project has been about providing the very best for all our children and I think we've achieved that. There have been wonderful contributions from everyone who has worked on the project. Sympathetic to the environment and designed to provide our children with light and spacious places to learn and play; we're delighted with our new building, as are our children and families.”
The former school building, which was more than 70 years old, will now be demolished. Once this work is complete, the wider site will be further developed to create improved outdoor areas for learning, sport and play, including a new multi-use games area.
Benton Park Primary School, located in the Dene and South Gosforth ward of Newcastle, has 420 mainstream places for pupils from Reception to Year 6, a 26-place nursery and an integrated additionally resourced provision for deaf pupils.
The completion of the new building marks a significant milestone for the school and will help ensure pupils continue to benefit from high-quality educational opportunities in a modern, sustainable setting for many years to come.