The Royal Grammar School (RGS), Newcastle, is a leading independent, fully co-educational day school for students aged 7–18 years (Years 3 to 13).
The School has been named in The 2024 Sunday Times’ Parent Power as both North East Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance and Overall Independent Secondary School of the Year. In 2023, RGS Newcastle also won the highly coveted Independent School of the Year for the whole of the UK, in The Telegraph Group’s Independent School Parent Magazine.
We regularly lead all northern schools in national academic league tables and pride ourselves on a combination of academic excellence, a high level of pastoral support, involvement in a wide range of sports and other co-curricular activities, and our commitment to bursaries and partnerships.
In recent years, we have grown substantially; we now have more than 1,300 students, nearly 250 of whom are in the Junior School. We have one of the largest co-ed Sixth Forms in the independent sector, with more than 330 students.
The School is located in the heart of the city, immediately opposite Jesmond Metro station, and therefore has outstanding transport links. RGS occupies over 30 acres of land and has state-of-the-art facilities, including a 25 m swimming pool, two Sports Halls, a professional standard Performing Arts Centre, extensive outdoor football/rugby and hockey pitches and the former County Cricket Ground.
Heritage. Few schools can claim a 500-year history, and we are proud to be marking our quincentenary in 2025. Thomas Horsley, the original settlor of the Royal Grammar School Newcastle (RGS), pledged his legacy to the School in 1525. Today, as the oldest school in the city, RGS continues to flourish as the premier independent school in the North-East of England and as one of the country's leading schools.
Exam results. RGS exam results are consistently outstanding. In 2024, our A Level students achieved 91.1% of grades at A*–B, 70.7% at A*–A, and 37.1% of grades at A*, while our GCSE students achieved 85.6% grades 7–9 (equivalent to A–A*), 70.1% grades 8–9 (equivalent to A*) and 44.7% at the highest possible grade 9.
Notably in 2024, RGS had 1% of the GCSE students in the UK who achieved all 9s and our results placed us in the top 1% of schools in the country for its ‘value added’ for GCSEs.
Academic. The aim of the curriculum up to Year 11 is to offer a general education, culminating in GCSE in a wide range of subjects. All students study English (Language and Literature), a Modern Language (French, German or Spanish), Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry to this level, and three further examination subjects are taken at GCSE level from Ancient History, Art, Computing, Design Engineering, Drama, Economics, Geography, German, Greek, History, Latin, Music, Academic PE, Product Design, Spanish. Additionally, there is a programme of Art, Computing, Drama, Music, and Design Engineering or Product Design for all in Years 7 to 9.
Sixth Formers will normally choose three A Level subjects. In addition, students will be required to select either a fourth A Level or a combination of two complementary courses from EPQ or non-examined subject. The range of A Level subjects is currently: Ancient History, Art, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Greek, Computing, Design Engineering, Film Studies, Product Design, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, History, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Sports Science, Politics, Psychology, Spanish and Theatre Studies. There is also a compulsory series of lectures and talks/workshops designed to provide cultural and personal broadening and development.
Almost all Sixth Formers go on to university. Over three-quarters of the Class of 2024 went onto Russell Group Universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, as well as medical schools, to study various courses from Aerospace Engineering to Egyptology, from Law to Landscape Architecture, and from Theoretical Physics to Zoology.
Co-Curricular. While we are renowned for our award-winning academic achievements, we also prioritise opportunities beyond the classroom.
Throughout the year, over 170 co-curricular activities are available across the school. These range from traditional pursuits like sports, music and drama to more niche interests such as Dungeons & Dragons, knitting, and DJing. The Fabricarium, a girls-only gaming design space and ArchSoc, a research-focused group using the school archive, highlight our commitment to providing activities that cater to all interests.
There is also a thriving Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme as well as an entirely voluntary Combined Cadet Force Contingent. Annual overseas visits include sporting tours, Classics trips, visits to art galleries and to the battlefields of World War I.
Sport. All students are required to take part in a Physical Education and Swimming programme which, up to Year 11, includes Gymnastics, Dance, Invasion Games, Cross Country, Athletics, HIIT, Yoga, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Trampolining, Badminton Handball, Stroke Technique, Life Saving, Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming.
As students progress to the upper years, they have the opportunity to tailor their Physical Education and Games programme to their interests. In addition to the mandatory activities, they can choose from a range of options such as Badminton, Basketball, Climbing, Fencing, Fitness training, Squash, Tennis, Table Tennis, Trampolining, Volleyball and Dance. The co-curricular programme further expands the range of activities available to all.
Pastoral. Ensuring that our students at RGS are happy and thriving is absolutely paramount to us, and a central thread to all that we do at the School. That is why we provide robust pastoral support, to help students build confidence and to realise their full potential.
Each student is within the care of a (a) Form Supervisor and (b) Tutor. The Form Supervisor is part of a dedicated year-group pastoral team and is the student's primary point of pastoral care on a daily basis.
Each year group is under the care and guidance of a dedicated Head of Year and Assistant Head of Year who leads on their pastoral care and personal development in school.
Tutor groups are associated with our House system and comprise students across different year groups. Tutors typically support the student throughout their school career, and the aim is to forge an enduring link with students (of different ages) and their families, and to promote the child's involvement in the co-curricular aspects of school life.
To support our students further, they have access to the School’s Medical Team, with two school nurses who are available regularly for consultation and support of our student's physical and mental health, plus we have a dedicated GP visiting the school once a week. Our community is further supported by two School Counsellors.
Junior School. The Junior School is housed in dedicated areas on the main school site, creating its own Junior School culture (where the ‘Junior School Superpowers’ of Calm, Able, Strong and Kind are indelible in all we do), with the added benefit of immediate access to the extensive Senior School facilities. Junior School students use the Sports Centre, Swimming Pool, games fields and dining hall. English and Mathematics are taught by Form Teachers, while History, Geography, French, Science, Religious Education, Music, Art and Physical Activities are led by specialists.
Junior School at Year 3 and Year 5: Prospective students attend Assessment Days held in November (Year 5) and January (Year 3) when prospective students take part in a number of activities and sit a number of short assessments. A reference is sought from the previous/current school.
Senior School at Year 7: The Senior School examination is held each January, after which a shortlist of students will be invited to attend an activity day, for prospective students who will be 11 on 1 September of the year in which entry is desired. Applications by December (later application at School’s discretion). A reference is sought from the previous/current school.
Sixth Form at 16+: Applicants are considered for entry to the Sixth Form if their predicted GCSE results meet our subject entry requirements, after which applicants are interviewed alongside taking a short aptitude screening exercise. A reference is sought from the previous/current school.
Each year a small number of places may be available at entry points other than the main ones listed. Please contact the Head of Admissions for details: admissions@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk Term of entry. Autumn, although a small number of places may become available throughout the year.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Pre VAT fees Senior School: £5,758 per term (£17,184 per annum); Junior School: £4,825 per term (£14,475 per annum). Post VAT fees Senior School: Autumn term £5,728; Spring Term £6,186; Summer Term £6,186; Per annum £18,100. Junior School: Autumn Term £4,825; Spring Term £5,212; Summer Term £5,212; Per annum £15,249.
Bursaries. Some bursaries, awarded on the basis of comprehensive means testing, are offered. Details are available from the Head of Admissions.
Charitable status. The Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School is a Registered Charity, number 1114424.