Celebrations as RGS Newcastle Named North East Independent Secondary School of the Year
The Parent Power league table, the go-to guide for school performance across the UK, has recently unveiled its 32nd edition —and it’s brought even more fantastic news for the North East!
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle (RGS), the city’s historic gem and oldest school, has once again been named North East Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence. This incredible recognition comes just as the school approaches its monumental 500th anniversary in 2025, making the accolade all the more special.
This year, RGS celebrated record-breaking results:
- 91.1% of A-Levels achieved grades A-B*
- 85.7% of GCSEs achieved grades 7-9
This performance places RGS 56th nationally and crowns it as the highest-performing independent school north of Manchester—a truly remarkable feat!
The school’s Class of 2023 have headed off to a wide range of exciting futures, with over 75% of leavers securing places at prestigious Russell Group universities. The courses they’re pursuing are as varied as they are inspiring, from Aerospace Engineering and Law to Egyptology and Zoology.
And RGS isn’t celebrating alone—this year has been a huge success for schools across the North East, with several making headlines:
- Durham High School has jumped an astonishing 62 places to rank 126th nationally and is now North East Independent Secondary School of the Year.
- Durham Johnston Comprehensive School is celebrated as both North East State Secondary School of the Year and North East State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence, ranking 155th in the UK.
- Springwell School, County Durham, took the title of National Parent Power Small Primary School of the Year.
- St Charles’ RC Primary School, Northumberland, earned the prestigious title of Primary School of the Year in the North East.
RGS Headmaster Geoffrey Stanford shared his pride: “For RGS to be recognised again is a huge achievement. It demonstrates that children in the North East are just as capable as any other child, given the right support.
“Our region faces unique challenges, and the gap in academic performance between the North and South has never been greater. At RGS, we are determined to work hand-in-hand with our partner state schools to change that.
“It’s rewarding to know that excelling in our own school and contributing to the broader North East community can go hand in hand. We remain ambitious—not just for our 1,330 students, but for the 10,000 young people we work with in our partner schools.”
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “Congratulations to Royal Grammar School Newcastle and all the other North East schools celebrated in this year’s Parent Power guide! These achievements highlight the incredible dedication, passion, and innovation of teachers and students alike.
Our region is not only setting the benchmark for academic excellence but also demonstrating the power of education to transform lives and communities. Well done to everyone involved!”
Royal Grammar School is a Schools North East Partner School. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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