The Royal Grammar School (RGS), Newcastle, is a leading independent, fully co-educational day school for students aged 7–18 (Years 3 to 13).
The School is consistently named The Sunday Times’ (Parent Power) Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence in the North-East. In 2025, RGS also won Senior School of the Year (Independent) in the highly respected Tes School Awards.
We 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. We have more than 1,300 students across our Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form. We have one of the largest co-ed Sixth Forms in the independent sector, with more than 310 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-metre swimming pool, two Sports Halls, extensive outdoor football/rugby and hockey pitches, the former County Cricket Ground and a professional standard Performing Arts Centre.
Heritage. Few schools can claim a 500-year history, and RGS Newcastle is proudly celebrating its Quincentenary, marking half a millennium of educational distinction. 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 Newcastle’s exam results are consistently outstanding. In 2025, our A level students achieved 86.3% of grades at A*–B, 62.5% at A*–A, and 24.9% of grades at A*. Our GCSE students achieved 80.6% 9–7, 63.8% 8–9, and 40.7% 9. Notably, for the second consecutive year, the school was placed in the top 1% of schools in the country for its ‘value added’ for GCSEs, as measured by ALPS.
Academic. The aim of the curriculum up to Year 11 is to offer a broad 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, Classical 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 typically choose three A level subjects, with EPQ and Complimentary Studies also available. The range of A level subjects 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, Religious Studies, 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 2025 went onto Russell Group Universities, including nine who joined Oxford and Cambridge.
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 (DofE) 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. Our physical education programme follows an ‘ME in PE’ approach. The core aim of this approach is to provide meaningful experiences for all students, develop active and lifelong learners who enjoy physical activity, while building knowledge and movement, as well as developing confidence in their ability, so they are able to lead a healthy and active lifestyle now, as well as in the future. Swimming Separately, Years 3–6, receive a weekly swimming lesson; Years 7–9 swim once a fortnight, where the schemes look at water skills and water confidence, stroke development, endurance and water polo. Games Dedicates games lessons give opportunities to allow pupils to develop physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually through a variety of activities. This structure follows a rotation system, with three activities being covered each term. In senior years, students can choose freely from a range of sports offered at RGS. Students are required to register for each game’s afternoon. This is compulsory. The sport offered in each of the terms does vary; however, the main team sports remain the same.
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 realise their full potential.
Each student is within the care of a Form Supervisor who is the student’s primary point of pastoral care on a daily basis and is part of a dedicated year-group pastoral team. 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.
Senior School students also have a Tutor. Tutor groups are associated with our House system and comprise students across different year groups, the aim being 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 students take part in a number of activities and sit a number of short assessments. A reference is sought from 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 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 (2025-2026). Junior School: £16,863 (incl. VAT); Senior School: £20,016 (incl. VAT).
Bursaries. The RGS Bursary Campaign, funded entirely by voluntary donations, has supported 500 students since the campaign was launched in 2002. Currently, one in 13 RGS students are benefitting from bursary funding, the vast majority on a 100% bursary in line with our commitment to direct our finite funds to those who demonstrate the greatest need. The immediate practical impact is tangible. For more information on these, please contact the Head of Admissions: admissions@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk
Charitable status. The Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Grammar School is a Registered Charity, number 1114424.