Benton House School Officially Opened by Local MP Catherine McKinnell

We were delighted to welcome Catherine McKinnell, Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne North, to officially open Benton House School.

Our school, which is part of Acorn Education, has been carefully developed to meet the growing local need for high-quality, tailored SEMH provision. Located in a newly refurbished building on Front Street – formerly a Conservative Club – Benton House has been transformed into a modern, nurturing learning environment ready to support pupils aged 5 to 14.

During her visit, Ms McKinnell enjoyed a guided tour of our facilities with Executive Headteacher Belinda Young and Headteacher Vincent Sinclair. She had the opportunity to meet staff, including our on-site clinical team and Occupational Therapist, who are central to the school’s therapeutic and holistic approach. To mark the special occasion, Ms McKinnell took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially declare Benton House School open.

Speaking about the visit, Ms McKinnell said:
“It was a pleasure to open Benton House School and see such a high-quality, specialist facility. It was great to meet the staff and see the lovely school. It’s clear that the whole team is committed to ensuring children with complex needs can get tailored support with their education right here in Benton.”

The visit also included a discussion with David Leatherbarrow, CEO of Outcomes First Group, and Michael Blakey, Chief Education & Quality Officer, on the wider challenges and opportunities in local SEND provision. Together, they explored how independent schools like Benton House can work in partnership with mainstream settings to ensure every child receives the right support at the right time.