While classes got right into school work, there was still plenty of time for exploring and getting to know innovative new learning and play spaces.

Thea, who starts grade two, loved the comfortable-looking bean bag seats.

"I like seeing all the places," Thea said. "My favourite thing at school is art, because we get to do lots of painting and drawing."

Toby, in grade four, liked the open areas with lots of natural light. He says he now lives close enough that he can ride to his new school. Toby also liked his new teacher was a bit of a Harry Potter fan - there was even a Sorting Hat in the classroom.

Lucas Primary School is built for 475 pupils and empty rooms are expected to fill quickly from within the school's catchment area.

Opening day featured 21 preps joining more than 81,000 preps across the state today. The school also opened with three composite classes for grades one-two, three-four and five-six pupils.

Lucas Primary School principal Sue Sawyer has been working behind the scenes the past six months with assistant principal and grade one-two teacher Danielle Lee and a school business manager joining her last term.

"We've come to the building site in our gumboots in lots of wet and muddy days and we've seen the building grow from the ground up and built a good relationship with all the builders and architects but today really is putting all our vision into action," Ms Sawyer said.

"...We're very proud and excited for our first day. All our students are very privileged to be part of something special."

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino and Wendouree MP Juliana Addison, who was a foundation pupil at St Thomas More in Alfredton, officially opened the school after the first bell.

Minister Merlino said this was a momentous day for the whole Lucas community amid what has been the biggest school building program in the state's history. He would not, however, be drawn on future plans for a new high school in Ballarat's western growth corridor with Ballarat High School's bursting enrollments.

"The Victorian School Building Authority works very closely with local government and local schools. We keep a close eye on where the demand is," Minister Merlino said.

"In some suburbs you start with building brand new primary schools and as the demographic of the community increases, then there is a need for a new secondary school. Make no mistake, if and when a secondary school is needed, it will be provided."

Victoria boasts more than one million school enrollments for the first time to start the school year. This includes Catholic and independent school students.

Lucas Primary is one of 11 new schools opening in Victoria this year.

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