ONE of the district's top-performing schools has been boosted with the opening of a new purpose-built teaching block.

Dignitaries gathered for the opening of Benton Park's £450,000 building by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Graham Kirkland, at a special ceremony last week.

And everyone at the Rawdon school - including MP Paul Truswell and ward councillor Brian Cleasby - welcomed the long-awaited addition which will mainly house modern languages but also geography and religious education classes.

Head teacher Ann Clarke welcomed staff and visitors to the ceremony. "This is a very special occasion, marking a welcome addition to our site.

"We are extremely grateful that the Lord and Lady Mayoress found the time to join us and make it an even better occasion."

Coun Kirkland spoke of the importance of high quality education and how Leeds City Council had a duty to maintain the standards continuously achieved by staff and pupils at the Harrogate Road school.

"I think here at Benton Park, judging by the results you have enjoyed, there is a good quality staff working as a team and getting the very best out of the youngsters who come here.

"This block is an important part of the education infrastructure in this area and I hope that through the inspiration and hard work of the head teacher, governors, staff and children, that this building will play its part in keeping Benton Park at the forefront of education in the region."

Visitors were taken on a tour of the building, which has nine classrooms with additional administration offices. Paul Truswell MP was among the admirers of the airy pleasant surroundings.

Tour guide Sue Mitchell, a teacher at the school, said: "It's very comfortable, and a very pleasant environment for teachers and pupils. The rooms have lots of storage space - which is very important."

The language classrooms contained within the new block will also include computer-assisted learning facilities and the staff are now hoping for new computer equipment to improve standards even further.

And it is nothing more than they deserve, according to ward councillor and school governor Brian Cleasby.

Reflecting on a set of GCSE and A'-level results which put Benton Park at the top of so-called 'league tables' in 1998, he said he was delighted to see the new building opened.

Coun Cleasby (LibDem, Horsforth), who is also shadow chairman of education at Leeds City Council, said: "It's about time something was done about getting rid of the dreadful temporary accommodation which has been at this school for far too many years.

"It is nothing less than this school deserves, the staff and pupils deserve the best - they are the best in Leeds. I cannot remember a year when they have not been in the top four schools."

The building would play its part in coping with the growing popularity of Benton Park - a direct result of its high achievements - said deputy head teacher Harvey Lambley. "It will create space and help relieve the pressure on the the rest of the school. We are a very popular school and the building will help accommodate the large numbers of pupils we are expecting," he said.

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