Newcastle’s RGS supports thousands of students in state schools through academic support

Newcastle’s Royal Grammar School (RGS) is celebrating its achievement of working with 105 local state schools, supporting their students through innovative academic support.

RGS, which is Newcastle’s oldest school as it approaches its 500th anniversary in 2025, has partnered with schools across the region to deliver and create educational opportunities for thousands of students.

The school is embracing new technology in learning and teaching, and delivering real social impact to children and young people through means-tested bursary places.

The bursaries offered are targeted towards families who live in deprived areas in the region, and over the past 20 years, RGS has supported 447 families through bursary, which is supported by donors. Now, 1 in 16 children at RGS receive a free education, through bursary funding.

RGS are also running 50 different projects with schools across the North East, with subjects focusing on physics, chemistry and biology, computer science and technology, engineering and robotics, arts, languages, classics, debating, UCAS mentoring and sport.

RGS have recently launched their 2023 social impact report, which details the difference the school has made to students, which includes mock exam grade rises.

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Other work by RGS includes mentoring students with Oxbridge applications, maths coaching and leading ten primary schools through the First LEGO league.

This year, RGS has become a part of the National School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) scheme, which directly recruits and trains teachers to help fill vacancies in Maths and Physics.

RGS director of partnerships John Smith said: “We believe that every child should have the

opportunity to fulfil their potential and to explore their passions. We’re dedicated to finding long-term cross-sector approaches to create sustained impact for young people in our region, through providing intervention to individual students today, and supporting our region’s amazing teachers for tomorrow.

“We’re proud that RGS is bringing diverse partners and funding streams together towards a common goal, and that the North East has a schools partnership model which is unique in the country.”

A number of companies and foundations support RGS, including The Reece Foundation, British Engines, The HMCK Charity, Classics For All, Newcastle Building Society and Virgin Money Foundation.