Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Newcastle school (For Girls & For Boys)

20 replies

LogBurnerIsOn · 30/10/2021 12:17

Relocating from south to Newcastle & hoping for Newcastle School for girls and Newcastle School for boys. Looking for advice please on good locations to consider where we can be close to the metro for dd and ds to travel to school independently. Any help/guidance/experience will be useful - thanks

OP posts:
Vinorosso74 · 30/10/2021 17:40

Are you after single sex schools? I think most are mixed. Whitley Bay High School has a good reputation with decent results. They admit from age 13/Y9. That's about 10 miles out of Newcastle city centre but easy metro journey.
I'm not sure on other schools in the area as I no longer live there but North Tyneside have fixed catchment areas.
There are private schools in Newcastle, Royal Grammar School which is mixed, Newcastle High School for Girls.

Twinmummy79 · 31/10/2021 15:00

If you are after private schools then Gosforth/Jesmond is where you want to aim for. I grew up in Jesmond and my parents are still there it’s a lovely place to live but some areas are better than others because it’s got a large student population (this makes it quite fun and vibrant) Gosforth is much more family oriented. Near South Gosforth and Ilford road metro is also nice. If you just want to be NE based and looking at private schools Durham might also be an option for you. You will love the North East. One of the most lovely places to live.

WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor · 31/10/2021 15:04

Gosforth or Jesmond. But if they don’t get in gosforth has better state options.

JBFletcher90 · 31/10/2021 15:18

Agree with pp about RGS/NSG, I have had personal experiences being educated in both (although many moons ago) and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
In terms of areas, anywhere near a metro stop will get your DCs to those schools (Jesmond), however it depends on your budget and requirements.
Jesmond/Gosforth are great areas, close to town, good transport links, good culture, but it can be pricey to buy and you’d be limited to outdoor garden space.
If you have a car & are able to drop DC off to a metro station then might I suggest looking a bit further afield to Ponteland/Medburn. Beautiful houses with plenty of garden space.
But it all depends on what you need as a family. Newcastle is a lovely place to live & I can’t wait until we relocate back there as well.

LogBurnerIsOn · 31/10/2021 16:33

Thanks everyone- really useful info. We’re looking at Newcastle School for Girls & Newcastle School for Boys. I’ll research the areas you’ve all mentioned- thanks!

OP posts:
mids2019 · 31/10/2021 17:18

Dame Allen's I believe is still single sex until 6th form. Does not quite have the history of RGS but was fairly friendly when I went (some time ago now)

BeMoreSusan · 31/10/2021 17:46

Might be worth contacting the schools, I know that the girl school (no idea about the boys) has mini buses to pick up kids in the morning from areas not covered by the metro. Might give you a bit more scope

WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 31/10/2021 17:50

If you move to the coast you can get outstanding schooling for free or you will need to pay near the city centre for outstanding.

soapboxqueen · 31/10/2021 19:17

Newcastle school for girls has a number of buses that transport girls into Newcastle. We're at the coast and there's a bus that leaves from whitley bay.

I think there's a section of their website that you can explore where the different buses go, travel times and costs involved.

JaffavsCookie · 31/10/2021 20:04

RGS is an amazing school if you are after fee paying. Right next to the metro.

delightfuldaisy19 · 31/10/2021 20:58

Private schools in Newcastle

RGS - very good school - for girls and boys. Close to Jesmond metro

NHSG - am hearing lots of disappointing reports. Girls moving elsewhere etc - not sure what is going on. Close to metro

Dame Allan's - Lovely school. Girls and boys taught separately until 6th form. Nowhere near a metro. Will have to get a bus.

NSB/Westfield - less academic but okay schools.

Probably best to have look round.

PotteringAlong · 31/10/2021 21:15

If you want a private school in Newcastle go for RGS!

ChocolateHoneycomb · 01/11/2021 07:46

My DH went to RGS and seems to have had an amazing education. He and all his friends went to top universities.

ChocolateHoneycomb · 01/11/2021 07:49

I only know from being in Newcastle for a short period- not an expert- but if you can’t afford Jesmond/goes forth then there are some lovely bits of Benton (Victorian villas) which are close to metro and much cheaper. We rented a HUGE house 2mins from the metro and the location was ideal for getting into town and out to the coast.

LogBurnerIsOn · 01/11/2021 07:55

I saw a Victorian villa type property in Benton on rightmove a while back and totally fell in love with it…but we weren’t ready to move then…but it’s good to hear that it’s a good area, maybe another one will come on the market. Right, going to research RGS now!

OP posts:
RobinPenguins · 01/11/2021 08:02

Newcastle School for Boys and Westfield have the reputation (maybe unfairly I don’t really know) of being better for not particularly academic children.

Newcastle School for Girls and RGS are more similar to each other and more academic.

Dame Allans is somewhere in the middle. You can’t get to it on the metro but it’s just a bus from town so not difficult.

There are some lovely properties in Benton and it’s a lot more affordable than Gosforth. With the exception of a very small number of streets (High West Jesmond) I wouldn’t consider Jesmond now, too many students and rented properties.

If you are contemplating state as well, Gosforth or the coast are your best bets unless faith schools are an option for you.

russiandwarf · 01/11/2021 08:32

Just wanted to add that you can get the metro very easily from the coast in to Jesmond, lots of my friends did that when we were at school there. In case that's helpful when you're considering areas to live - you needn't be limited to Gosforth/Jesmond

Twinmummy79 · 01/11/2021 09:14

Another place to look if you want a lot for your money and a lovely area is Low Fell in Gateshead. Demographic and community is similar to Gosforth but you get double the house for your money. It’s not on a metro line but I know several Low Fell families with kids at various private schools that get picked up by the school bus laid on by the school. Particularly Dame Allen’s.

Whickham is also worth looking at as that’s a lovely semi rural area with good transport links

I echo what was said above about Jesmond the areas around the private Schools are generally quite nice and not too student orientated. I personally love the young demographic in Jesmond but it’s not for everyone!

If you want a good state school to have a look at - Gosforth High is excellent as is Emmanuel College on the Gateshead side of the river. Emmanuel has an entrance exam but it is not selective. There is also a superb state high school at the coast.

Wherever you choose the area is extremely well serviced by public transport so your kids will have no issue getting to whichever school you choose for them. If you are in catchment for a good state school and opt for that, then all the schools have a fleet of scholars buses that are specifically for kids at that school.

I would definitely shop around for private schools as they are all very different and what suits one of your kids might not suit the other. I agree with the summations made above about the private schools in the area.

RGS/NHFG very academically selective
Dame Allen’s a bit academically selective and separate girls/boys school
NSFB and Westfield not selective
Durham School not particularly selective

I have friends with kids at all these schools and they are all very happy with them.

WhathaveIdoneagain · 04/11/2021 11:01

I agree with PPs that RGS is fantastic. DS loves it. It is super intense in terms of academia and sports, but totally worth it.
Also commuting from Benton is easy. There are buses to Newcastle High School for Girls and possibly Dame Allan's from Benton and Forest Hall.
Good luck OP!

Skybluelight · 13/01/2022 21:20

I am seeking some information on the 6xth form (y-12) Newcastle High School for boys. Can someone pls help? Would it help to achieve better results in his A's? What's the experience of a parent/student there? RGS has a strict performance requirement for admission in GCSEs so this seems like another option.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page