Senior School Information

Three girls laughing while conduction a science experiment

Welcome to the Senior School section of the RGS website. 

On this page you will find information you need including term dates, how to report an absence, photos, news and more. 

In the Senior School at RGS, we strive for excellence in academic study and achievement. Our students are supported in this by a curriculum that promotes both breadth of study in the early years to develop the subject knowledge, and development of the key skills that students will need to allow them to access learning at a suitably high level for success at GCSE and beyond.

KEY STAGE 3

In Years 7-9, all students study the same wide core of subjects that embrace and develop numeracy, literacy, scientific knowledge and understanding, development of language, appreciation of the humanities, artistic and creative learning, dramatic performance, sporting and physical development and social and emotional well-being.

Students study all subjects in mixed groups with the exception of Maths, where the groups are setted according to ability and attainment. Students therefore develop good social interaction skills within these groupings.

In Year 9, the curriculum allows a degree of choice to give students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge into new areas and to deepen their understanding of others. The broad core remains common to all. The arrangements for Maths continues as in Years 7/8.

KEY STAGE 4

At GCSE, students are given greater freedom of choice of academic subjects but within the constraints of what we consider a good RGS education should provide; namely a solid grounding in Maths, English and Science. New subjects are introduced in Year 10 that give opportunities for further knowledge and understanding to be developed.

Throughout these formative years students are encouraged to think carefully about their emotional, social and physical well-being through our PSHE programme together with a combined Philosophy and Religion course that allows them to explore spiritual and ethical ideas. This encompasses not only timetabled lessons but also time off-timetable to explore ideas in greater depth.

All students take 10 GCSE exams at the end of Year 11, with some taking an extra GCSE in Further Maths. Many of our subjects offer the IGCSE exam as opposed to the mainstream GCSE. These are directly equivalent in terms of university applications but we think they provide better courses more suited to our students and certainly a better preparation for A Level.

For a list of our exam boards and specifications, please click here.

KEY STAGE 5

In the Sixth Form, students have complete freedom of choice to choose the subjects they wish to study. We expect all students to study three or four subjects to A Level. Full details can be found in the Sixth Form Guide and here

For a list of our exam boards and specifications, please click here.

 

News & Events

Transforming Lives through Philanthropic Generosity

At last week’s Philanthropy Dinner, members from all corners of our school community gathered to celebrate the eclectic diversity of RGS, in a bid to drum up continued support for RGS Bursaries and RGS Partnerships. 

Miss Harvey's Film Mission to Brazil

RGS Art Teacher, Miss Harvey is flexing her altruistic muscle in February half-term by volunteering on a project in Rio, Brazil, as part of a working trip to  film Carnival in Recife...

Big Festive Sing 2023

Our eagerly anticipated annual festive message is here! As always the Royal Grammar School Newcastle radiates the warmth of our school community.  This year's release, however, has an extra special dynamic...

DOUBLE AWARD WINNERS IN PARENT POWER LEAGUE TABLES

We are celebrating once again topping the region’s school academic performance league tables, with a stellar rise to 51st place in the national league table for Independent Schools, up from 73rd place last year.

First page of the PDF file: NorthernInsightsOctober2023coverstoryDPS

Four of our Junior School students were thrilled to be featured in this month's Northern Insights Magazine.  Inside Mr Stanford's regular blog emphasised that at RGS we seek the superpowers within every child.

Reporting an Absence

If your son/daughter will be absent from school, please call 0191 281 5711 before 9am giving their name, form and reason for absence.

If they are to be absent for a second day or longer, please keep us informed by phoning the number above on each morning of the absence, or email 

registration@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk

Medical or Dental appointments Year 7-11

If your son/daughter has a medical or dental appointment and will be absent for part of the school day, please let the Form Supervisor know by sending a note* or email giving dates and times.

If the arrival time at school will be after 8.45am, please make sure they have a note or copy of the email which must be shown when they sign in.

If the appointment is during the school day, a note or copy of the email must be shown when your son/daughter signs out at Reception.

Contact will be made with a parent if confirmation of an appointment has not been seen.

*note – this can be a letter or a note in the School Planner