Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School

Thinking ahead to GCSE Results Day? 💭

If your plans change, we’re hosting a Sixth Form drop-in on Friday 21st August where you can talk through your options with our Sixth Form staff.

We currently have availability across a range of subjects, including:

📚 Humanities & Social Sciences
🎭 Creative & Performing Arts
💻 Technology & Innovation
📈 Business & Economics
🌍 Languages & Classics

Step Forward with RGS Sixth Form. ⤵️
https://www.ticketsource.com/royal-grammar-school-newcastle/step-forward-rgs-sixth-form-drop-in/e-zpmpzk

🎖️Our CCF cadets were honoured to play a key role in welcoming HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to bring our year-long Quincentenary celebrations to a memorable close.

From Prachi A (Y12) His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet, for Tyne and Wear, opening the car door, to cadets lining the route, being part of the Guard of Honour, talking about their Cadets In Schools and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award experiences and then singing the school song: what a truly amazing experience.

Cadet reflections:

🗨️ “It was a pleasure to meet The Duke of Edinburgh. He asked about my experience of working towards the Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, having completed the expedition over the weekend.”

🗨️ “It was a lovely experience meeting HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. He asked me how I’m preparing to finish school in two weeks, as well as asking about the flight simulator we had on display.”

🗨️ “He asked me what I enjoyed about the DofE and CCF. It was a wonderful experience meeting him and clearly a historic moment for the school”

Scalextric4Schools🏁National Finals

Our Scalextric4Schools team travelled to Coventry earlier this month to compete in the national finals.

The team, made up of Year 7 and 8 students, have spent the academic year designing and developing their own Scalextric car to compete against 35 other schools from across the country.

Sid B (Y8), Team Captain, said: "My team, Speed Tickets, and I were proud of getting close to qualifying in our very first time competing as rookies. During the preparation stages and the actual competition, there is definitely room for improvement.

"Since we now know what the competition is like, we have more of an understanding of what we need to do to get better."

In their group of 12, only the top four teams went through to the final. Speed Tickets spent all day in a fierce battle with Northgate School from Norwich for 4th place, with each team leapfrogging the other by a second at most attempts. Unfortunately for Speed Tickets, Loughborough Grammar School finally got their car working and jumped straight to second.

"As the youngest team there and it being their first competition, they performed admirably and learned lots of lessons for next year," Mr Lowe, Teacher of Engineering, Design and Technology, added: "The judges were particularly impressed by the team's pit display and their ability to explain the development of their car. As a result, they won a Judges' award and a Scalextric car each."

A HUGE thank you to the team's sponsors Piranha Print for their support and for providing Speed Tickets with team hoodies, free of charge.

✨An Education That's More Than the Sum of Its Parts.

We are delighted that RGS Newcastle has once again been rated 'Very Good' in The Telegraph's Best Value Private Schools Guide and has also been recognised as the Best Value Independent School in Borders & Tyne.

For us, value isn't simply about fees. It's about everything those fees make possible.

From outstanding teaching and exceptional academic outcomes to more than 200 co-curricular opportunities, extensive sport, music and performing arts programmes, and superb facilities in the heart of Newcastle, an RGS education is designed to help every young person flourish.

It also means the things families rely on every day: supervised care from 7.45am until 5.45pm, Saturday sport, inspiring educational visits, and a caring community where children are known, supported and challenged to achieve their very best.

High expectations. Outstanding opportunities. Genuine pastoral care. An education that develops not only academic excellence, but confidence, character and curiosity for life.

Headmaster, Mr Stanford, said: “We know that choosing an independent education is a significant investment for families.

"At RGS Newcastle, we are committed to ensuring that investment delivers exceptional opportunities, outstanding teaching and an education that transforms lives.

"This recognition reflects the breadth and quality of the experience our pupils enjoy every day.”

Discover the added value of an RGS education and why there's more to life at RGS.

📍RGS Insights Evening - Thurs 24th Sept
📍RGS Sixth Form Open Evening - Thurs 15th Oct
📍RGS Open Morning - Sat 14th Nov

Book onto our admissions events⤵️
https://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/admissions

Five Centuries of RGS.✨One Special Issue.🗞️

This week, copies of Issue 116 are landing on Old Novocastrians' doormats, while our wider community can enjoy reading our special Quincentenary Edition online.⤵️ https://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/rgs-family/on/ona-magazine

Thank you to all of our contributors for sharing their insights into school life and their favourite RGS stories, and to our interviewees:

🔹Tom Goodman-Hill (ON 76-82), who recently appeared as Darren O'Connor in Netflix's Baby Reindeer.

🔹Richard Harpin (ON 76-83), British entrepreneur and author of 'How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps'.

🔹Kate Waugh (ON 10-17), Olympic triathlete who finished 15th in the Women's Individual event at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

🔹Jemima Barreto (ON 13-20), who reflects on her RGS bursary journey and the lasting impact it has had on her life.

We hope this issue brings back memories and sparks a few conversations!

"It's so much more than a Prize Giving ceremony; our Year 6 Leavers' events are a celebration of the collective effort and progress of 145 children over the past 12 months." - Mr Miller, Headmaster of RGS Junior School.✨

Before the end of term, the historic surroundings of the Main Hall provided the perfect setting to bring together our Year 5 and Year 6 families in celebration of our students' achievements and progress over the past academic year.

Mr Miller added: "Our Leavers' events allow the Junior School team, teachers and me to put the finishing touches to our time with Year 6 as they move on to Senior School.

"It is such a privilege that it falls to me to comment on their time with us and share some thoughts on what they have achieved and how they might use the strength of their character to continue their success."🎒📚

📍Threadaware Pop-up Shop | 4th - 14th August (10am - 1pm)

Our in-school Threadaware Pop-up Shop enables parents to purchase pre-loved school uniform and PE kit ready for the new academic year.

Unfortunately, Kitlocker are unable to provide us with stock to run a sports kit sale in school this summer. However, during the Threadaware sale, we will have Kitlocker sample sizes available to try on, which parents can then order online 👉 https://www.kitlocker.shop/rgsnewcastle/

During the last week of term, we welcomed RGS Junior School families into school for our final Friday café.🎭🎶

Our celebration of junior performing arts featured a variety of students, including: first-time performers; exam preparation performances ranging from prep tests to Grade 7; singers; cellists; pianists; trumpeters; flautists; guitar players; plus, a fabulous performance from Year 5 Drama Club.

It was a fabulous way to bring our annual programme of Junior School cafés to a close!

A HUGE thank you to all of our 2025-25 performers as well as our families for your support - it really means the world to our budding musicians, singers and actors.✨

"Rarely does a single day capture both the heritage and the future of a school. The recent visit from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh proved to be one such occasion, bringing our year of Quincentenary celebrations to a meaningful close."

In this month’s Northern Insight, our Headmaster, Mr Stanford, reflects on a historic royal visit that will remain part of our story for generations to come.

Read more➡️ https://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/current-families/news-events/news-detail/~board/news/post/royal-occasion