International Outlook
We are proud to celebrate the richness of global culture and the strength of our international partnerships. From student-led societies – including our Polyglot and Diversity societies – to annual events such as Culture Week, International Music Day and Express Yourself Festival (Northeast) for Languages. Our community is vibrant, outward-looking, and inclusive.
Our international links span across Europe and North Africa, including active partnerships with Hilali Targa School in Marrakesh, Max-Planck-Gymnasium in Gelsenkirchen, and IES Margarita Salas in Málaga. These collaborations not only enrich our language curriculum but also create opportunities for meaningful exchange through student trips and visits.
We also welcome trainee teachers from the University of Borås in Sweden and encourage our A Level linguists to explore work experience abroad through our partnership with Blue Stamp Travel.
This page celebrates the many ways in which the whole RGS community (from our staff, students and Old Novocastrians) connects with the wider world - nurturing cultural awareness, global citizenship and lifelong curiosity in every student.
International School Award Certificate
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the Full International School Award by the British Council. This prestigious recognition celebrates our ongoing commitment to embedding international learning throughout our curriculum and bringing the world into our classrooms.
This achievement, which follows on from our Intermediate Level Award last year, reflects our commitment to embedding an international dimension at the heart of academic, co-curricular, and pastoral life at RGS.
North East Festival of Languages
In 2026, RGS students will once again take part in the North East Festival of Languages. Click here to view the 2026 schedule of events.
Organised by Express Yourself, the festival is designed to spark curiosity and creativity and open doors to future opportunities, inspiring a generation of future linguists and global citizens.
Languages for Life: RGS Alumni
School Partnerships
Max-Planck Gymnasium Gelsenkirchen
As part of our long-standing partnership with Max-Planck-Gymnasium in Gelsenkirchen, in April 2025, we welcomed 20 students and their teachers for a week of cultural exchange and friendship. From exploring Newcastle’s landmarks - including a memorable meeting with the Lord Mayor - to visiting Beamish Museum and the Quayside, our students proudly showcased the best of the North East.
The visit highlighted the 75-year bond between our twin cities, with a special moment in the Lord Mayor’s Silver Gallery where students saw a commemorative plaque from Gelsenkirchen.
The exchange offered an invaluable opportunity for language immersion, new friendships, and unforgettable experiences - described by one student as “es war der Hammer!” Plans are already in motion for our next visit to Germany in 2026.
Hilali Targa
In February 2026, 19 students and three staff visited Marrakech, spending three days with our partners at Hilali Targa International School.
Students took part in a range of activities, including basic Arabic lessons, sports fixtures, and a fashion show wearing traditional Moroccan dress.
They met their Moroccan counterparts, practised their language skills in real-life contexts, and developed key skills such as cross-cultural communication and intercultural awareness.
The group also visited famous sites, ate in traditional restaurants, and bargained in the souks. We look forward to welcoming our friends from Hilali Targa to the RGS in the future.
IES Margarita Salas
Our partnership with IES Margarita Salas in Málaga, supported by Newcastle Civic Centre and International Newcastle, continues to grow from strength to strength.
In 2025, our Year 9 Spanish students have embraced a pen-friend-style exchange, regularly sending handwritten, personalised letters to their partners in Málaga. These thoughtful messages have shared insights into life at RGS and the wider North East, helping to build meaningful connections across borders.
We were thrilled to receive this message from Pilar, a teacher at IES Margarita Salas: “Transmite nuestro agradecimiento a todos tus compañeros por el compromiso y la constancia en mantener esta actividad tan bonita entre nuestro alumnado y el vuestro... será un encuentro muy bonito.”
"Please pass on our thanks to all your colleagues for their commitment and consistency in maintaining this lovely activity between our students and yours... it will be a very special meeting."
Interest in the partnership has surged, with nearly 60 students expressing a desire to participate in our upcoming visit. In October 2026, a group of 30 students, will travel to Málaga to meet their partners in person – a much-anticipated moment in this enriching cultural exchange.
Student Led-Events
Since 2024, RGS Diversity has run the student-led RGS Culture Festival which is a spectacular and moving celebration of the range of world cultures here at RGS, aimed to help people become more confident and prouder of their backgrounds and ethnicity.
RGS Diversity – is a passionate group of students dedicated to educating and empowering their peers on the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in society – who encourage the whole RGS community (staff and students) to join in the week-long celebrations.
In January 2026, our Modern Languages Department proudly celebrated 'Shout Out For German' week, which aims to highlight the strength and vibrancy of studying German.
From curriculum learning to cultural immersion, German at RGS offers students a wealth of opportunities - not only to learn a new language, but to engage with another culture, broaden their world view, and develop confidence alongside vital soft and transferable skills.
Students studying GCSE and A-Level German at RGS benefit from a long-standing partnership and exchange programme with Max-Planck-Gymnasium in Gelsenkirchen. Plus, students are encouraged to participate in national and regional competitions, such as, the European Day of Languages.
Each year, on June 21st, students collaborate with the RGS Performing Arts to celebrate World Music Day through vibrant performances that echo throughout the school - culminating in a show-stopping cultural takeover of the popular, student-led Friday Agora Gig.
From the rhythmic energy of percussion ensembles to soul-stirring solo performances, students bring global sounds to life - showcasing the rich tapestry of music and talent that defines our school community.
Musical highlights included heartfelt renditions in Hindi, Mandarin, and French; original jazz compositions; and powerful performances on traditional instruments such as the mridangam and djembe.
Global Old Novocastrians
Our ONA Magazine offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives and accomplishments of our Old Novos showcasing where life has taken them beyond our school gates.
From Oscar-nominated film directors and professional athletes to pioneering architects, diplomats, and explorers, many of our ONs have made their mark on the world stage.
