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Dame Allan's School

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Coordinates: 54°58′55″N 1°39′07″W / 54.982°N 1.652°W / 54.982; -1.652
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Dame Allan's School
Address
Map
Fowberry Crescent

Newcastle upon Tyne
,
NE4 9YJ

United Kingdom
Information
TypePrivate day school
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
Established1705; 320 years ago (1705)
FounderDame Eleanor Allan
Local authorityNewcastle upon Tyne
PrincipalWill Scott
Head of Junior SchoolGeoff Laidler
GenderCoeducational; single-sex (Senior School)
Age3 to 18
Enrolmentapprox. 1250
Colour(s)     
Former pupilsOld Allanians
Websitehttp://www.dameallans.co.uk/

Dame Allan's Schools is a collection of private day schools in Fenham, in the west end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It comprises a Junior School, Senior School and a Sixth Form. Founded in 1705 as a charity, the original schools are two of the oldest schools in the city. It was originally founded to provide education for "40 poor boys and 20 poor girls of the parishes of St Nicholas and St John" and now charges £5,607 per term (Junior School) and £6,901 per term (Secondary School and Sixth Form) for pupils to attend.[1]

History

[edit]
The building in College Street in use by the school from 1883 to 1935; now part of Northumbria University.
The current building in Fenham in use by the school since 1935

They were founded by Dame Eleanor Allan,[2][3][4] the daughter of a local goldsmith and the widow of a tobacco merchant, to provide a proper education for "40 poor boys and 20 poor girls of the parishes of St Nicholas and St John". The schools were endowed with land at Wallsend, to the east of Newcastle. The original school seems likely to have been near St Nicholas's Church, and certainly was by 1778.[5] It moved to Manor Chare near All Saints' Church in 1786, to Carliol Square in 1821, to Rosemary Lane off Pudding Chare in 1861, and to Hanover Square in 1875.[5] The school then moved to College Street in Newcastle in 1883 and remained there until 1935 when it re-located to the present site in Fenham.[5]

Until 1988 the schools operated as separate boys' and girls' schools with a joint governing body. The governors then took the decision to appoint a principal with overall responsibility for the management of the two schools. At the same time, they created a joint mixed sixth form and reintroduced a mixed junior school. In effect, Dame Allan's consisted of four different schools: the co-educational Junior school for nursery to Year 6 are located in a separate building in Spital Tongues; the single sex boys' and girls' schools for years 7 to 11; and the co-educational sixth form (years 12 to 13). [6]

In 1994, an early day motion was brought before the UK Parliament citing incidences of racially motivated bullying at the school.[7]

In 2022, the Schools introduced a Therapy Dog to support pupils through exams and moment of stress.[8] They also launched The Lectures, a series of inspirational speaker events for pupils and their families. Since the start of this programme, lectures have featured figures like Dragons' Den star Sara Davies,[9] Historian Lucy Worsley,[10] and renowned speaker Marcus Child.[11]

In September 2023, the Schools made headlines for their approach to educating children with colour blindness, working with a parent to highlight this issue in local press.[12]

Dame Allan's was named 'Independent School of the Year' in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide in 2023.[13]

In 2023, Robert Johnson, who taught at Dame Allan's for over a decade, was found guilty of making indecent photographs of children between 2009 and 2020. He was sentenced to one year in jail and banned from teaching for life.[14]

In 2024, the Schools appointed their first-ever Artificial Intelligence Lead, a position believed to be the first of its kind in a North East school.[15]

Staff walked-out in a dispute over pensions in March 2024: the school subsequently made an improved offer.[16]

In 2024, Dame Allan's launched their Rowing Programme, known as Dame Allan's Boat Club, under the leadership of Miss Faye Mileham. This was in partnership with Tyne United Rowing Club.[17]

In 2025, the Schools launched the 'Endangered Instruments Programme' thanks to funding from an alumnus, which supports pupils to learn an instrument that is in danger of dying out in the orchestra space.[18]

In 2025, it was announced that the school was to abandon the diamond structure and go fully coeducational, with the incoming Years 7-10 becoming coeducational in September 2026 and the incoming Year 11 adopting the change in September 2027.[19] Some parents were vehemently opposed to the changes, prompting negative articles in local and national press.[20]

Facilities

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A number of new classrooms were built between 2004 and 2005 to replace older facilities, with some intended specifically for the sixth form centre.[21] The Sixth Form Centre was opened by Queen Elizabeth II during an official visit on 14 October 2005 and was named the Queen's Building.[22]

September 2012 saw the opening of the new nursery and junior school in Spital Tongues.[23]

2015 saw Dame Allan's chosen as the recipient of a £250,000 grant to help fund a £500,000 project. The grant was given by the Reece Foundation which promotes the improvement of education in engineering, technology and related subjects. The new facility will build on the Schools' existing master class programme.[24]

In February 2022 Dame Allan's Schools celebrated the opening of its Jubilee Building. The £8 million transformative development consists of a light and airy art exhibition space, purpose built science labs, a dedicated design technology space for sixth formers, as well as MFL, Art and maths classrooms.[25]

Academics

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Scholarships of up to 50% are available on the basis of academic merit, and bursaries of up to 100% are available on the basis of academic merit and financial need.[6]

Being a private school, Dame Allan's does not strictly adhere to the National Curriculum. It does enter all its students in public examinations such as GCSEs and A-levels, so the subjects taught are closely tied into their national counterparts. All students must study English, mathematics, and the sciences to GCSE level, and it is strongly recommended that at least one foreign language be studied to this level. Sixth form students have a much wider range of study, with no mandatory subjects and the introduction of many new subjects in year 12, including A-levels in politics, psychology, sports, business and theatre studies. Dame Allan's is an Anglican school.[26]

In 2005 the school recorded its best ever set of exam results, including a handful of Top 5 results in several subjects, notably GCSE languages.[27] Furthermore, two pupils were awarded 6 grade As at A-level. The school consistently performs to an extremely high standard in public examinations, with the girls' school often slightly outscoring the boys' school at GCSE level.[28] The school has not yet been inspected by OFSTED[29] but received a positive report from the independent schools Inspectorate in 2000.[30]

The 2000 inspection summarised the schools as "a civilised and civilising community ...[which provides] a well-rounded education for pupils from the age of 8 to 18"[30] and the 2006 report states "Dame Allan's are good schools with several great strengths and no significant weaknesses. The schools succeed very well in their key aims of providing a broad education for their pupils, where academic success is greatly valued but so is the moral, social and spiritual development of pupils."[31]

Notable former pupils

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See also: Category:People educated at Dame Allan's School

Former pupils are known as Old Allanians.

References

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  1. ^ "Fees and finance". Dame Allan's School. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Allan, Dame Eleanor". Philanthropy North East. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Dame Allan's Schools". Open Plaques. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Statues on campus". University of Northumbria. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "History of Dame Allan schools commemorated". The Journal. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Boys". Dame Allan's School. Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Dame Allan's Boy's School, Newcastle upon Tyne". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  8. ^ Graham, Hannah (23 January 2022). "Adorable new staff member helps Newcastle teens with GCSEs". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Dragons' Den star reveals £500k investment plans for Newton Aycliffe". The Northern Echo. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Lucy Worsley visits North East school for gripping talk on UK's murder obsession". The Northern Echo. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  11. ^ Magazine, Newcastle (18 February 2025). "Marcus Child Returns to Dame Allan's to Inspire Pupils with Lessons on Resilience and Success - Newcastle Magazine - Your source for inspiring Newcastle news". Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  12. ^ "North East mum battling for more recognition of condition that impacts her son's life". The Northern Echo. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  13. ^ Davies, Helen (9 December 2022). "Best schools in Northeast England 2023". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Classroom ban for Newcastle child abuse images teacher". 23 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Newcastle School appoints Artificial Intelligence Lead in 'first of its kind' move". Bdaily Business News. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Staff at Newcastle's Dame Allan's walk out for second time". BBC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Historic North East school launches rowing club with 'visionary' coach". The Northern Echo. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  18. ^ "School launches initiative to save disappearing orchestral instruments". The Northern Echo. 23 March 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  19. ^ "A New Shape for the Future". Dame Allan's School. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Backlash as private school moves to become mixed". BBC News. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Dame Allan's School website". Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2006.
  22. ^ "Crowning glory of our 300th birthday". The Chronicle. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  23. ^ Weatherall, Nicola (18 September 2012). "Dame Allan's School pupils get a blessing from the Bishop of Newcastle". The Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  24. ^ "Reece Foundation". Dame Allan's School. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Dame Allan's Celebrate New Jubilee Building". Howarth Litchfield. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Curriculum from dameallans.co.uk". Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2006.
  27. ^ "Top marks at Dame Allan's" (Press release). Dame Allan's School. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2006.
  28. ^ "Newcastle-upon-Tyne league tables, 2005". BBC News. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  29. ^ "OFSTED reports for Dame Allan's". Archived from the original on 3 March 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2006.
  30. ^ a b "Independent Schools Inspectorate report, 2000". Independent Schools Inspectorate. Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2006.
  31. ^ Independent Schools Inspectorate report, 2006
  32. ^ "Fenwick Allison: Rugby international and Roundhay coach". The Times. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  33. ^ Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
  34. ^ Mary Alvey Thomas (2004). "Curtis, Dame Myra". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/40538. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  35. ^ Who Was Who in the Theatre:1912-1976 vol.2 D-H p.586; from editions originally published annually by John Parker..Retrieved July 2, 2015
  36. ^ "Elizabeth Fallaize obituary". The Guardian. 3 January 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  37. ^ "School record that will never be broken". The Journal. 15 August 2005. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  38. ^ "The Northern Echo: Prestigious awards for school's old boys". The Northern Echo. 4 November 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  39. ^ "Interview: Vick Hope". Living North. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  40. ^ Richard Webster; Dick Clement; Ian la Frenais (2001). Porridge The Inside Story. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-3294-6.
  41. ^ "Vera actor David Leon teams up with Boardwalk Empire's Stephen Graham for debut feature". The Chronicle. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  42. ^ "Lumsden, Sir David (James)", Who's Who, online edition, Oxford University Press 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2017 (subscription required)
  43. ^ "Profile of Philip Nicholson". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  44. ^ "Seb Payne's schooldays". The Spectator. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  45. ^ Obituary The Daily Telegraph, 15 February 2011
  46. ^ "Geordie actress Aimee Kelly in line for film award". chroniclelive.co.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
  47. ^ "WRIGHTSON, Prof. Keith Edwin". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
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54°58′55″N 1°39′07″W / 54.982°N 1.652°W / 54.982; -1.652

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